I'm having to learn a whole new set of skills just to progress these days.
So I'll be honest here (not that I would consider doing otherwise) I don't exactly have a lot of experience in certain areas of life. When I grew up, I didn't like work all that much. I pretended to be afraid of the vacuum cleaner for years, and never had to vacuum. I did a horrible job on the riding lawnmower, so my younger brother had to take over.
As I grew things didn't change much. I would buy fast food rather than cooking, have someone else change my oil, and basically only do what I wanted to do, which was mostly partying. Other than when I needed a paycheck, I didn't really work hard at anything. Basically, I became a giant lazy child.
As I grew older, I became an older, giant lazy child. Bringing such a skill set into my marriage and now my parenting was not really a huge benefit. Trying to adjust into the homesteading lifestyle has come with a learning curve, but thankfully I remain humble and teachable.
AGE ISN'T A FACTOR
In my neighborhood, there are seventeen year old kids who know more about a lot of things than I do. Simply put, they grew up differently than I did and therefore have a different understanding and skill set than I do. When I used to lay hardwood flooring in the Branson, MO area, I had to take quite a bit of instruction from the main contractors seventeen year old son.
For some, "being bossed around" by someone half their age may not be appreciated. However, this "kid" has been around this type of work his entire life and is now becoming the fourth generation of hardwood floor guys in his family. Even by helping his dad during summer vacation he would have been exposed to more of that particular job than I would, having never done it before.
It is not the age of man that matters in a situation like this, it is the understanding. If I would prefer to not receive help or pointers from someone a few decades younger than me because of pride, then I could continue being ignorant and miss out the understanding that he could impart.
A lot of the work that I am currently doing on my land is able to be done more quickly by using heavy machinery. I actually have friends who have lent me their tractors, skid steers, and a stump grinder. However, I have no experience in any of this. I've never operated these types of machines before. It is a huge blessing that someone would let me use theirs, but they have their own lives and own business to take care of. To get the job done, I'll need to do it.
MOVING AT THE SPEED OF MY LEARNING CURVE
Because I have no previous experience with these things, how quickly the tasks get completed depend on how quickly I can learn how to do it. Also, I am then responsible for maintaining the equipment. I've spent some time and money making sure that things like oil, hydraulic fluid, and diesel fuel level are all being maintained.
Also, to prepare the house site on my land I have to periodically switch between the stump grinder and the angle blade that I user for scraping. This means detaching one attachment and hooking up the other. Sometimes it can be trickier than you would think, especially for a novice.
Earlier this week I had to have another teenager help tell me what to do. He's an incredibly capable young man with a lot of experience in certain things, while I'm mostly clueless but willing to learn. In some weeks of his life he's probably dealt more with tractors than I have my entire life. How could I not allow him to tell me what to do?
It's not only my learning curve, but my willingness to be taught that is going to allow me to succeed in these things. In order to learn the skills that I need, I must be taught. If the only one available to teach me is a "kid," then I had better be willing to let him teach me.
I haven't really equipment like this before, but I haven't even really used tools before either. I'm not proud of it, it's just the way that I chose to live my life. Now, I'll need to learn how, and thankfully I can show my children a few things along the way. Some things they will be able to learn with me, and not have to wait until they grow up to learn.
I hope that there is something that you can take away from this post, and I hope that you remain humble and teachable. I know that I'll have to, or these things will take me forever!
I think that the main reason people say "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is because of the mindset of the dog. If we want to, we can learn all sorts of things no matter how old we get, and there is no reason not to.
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-i-am-learning
Until next time…
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Hahaha this is so true: It is not the age of man that matters in a situation like this, it is the understanding. @papa-pepper you are so correct and I am so proud of your willingness to learn and take action. Keep up the good work and send my greetings to @papa-pepper tribe . Do not forget to see my post on Dtube ability to kill Youtube when you are free...wish you success
Thank you! I appreciate that!
Man this one hit me where it hurts! We bought our farm just over a year ago and it is exactly what this lazy man has been waiting for my whole life.
Something about doing work for a paycheck is just soul sucking while doing work to provide for you and your family gets me moving from dusk til dawn.
Also, I'm never worried about the ridicule I get from men of all ages when asking about something they just take for granted. After they're done laughing and realize I seriously don't know then they are happy to teach me and lend a hand.
That's right! They get a good laugh, and an opportunity to help!
Never Stop Learning, Always be a Student. That is my motto. I try to learn something new every day.
Well said my friend!
Very humble and a great way to remind me of how I need to be more willing to try new things. Learning how to tile, enclose a carport, lay flooring, etc was mostly self-taught; however, I'm timid when it comes to heavy equipment like that. I'll keep your story in mind next time I have a chance/need to jump on one. Thank you.
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Thank you! I get a lot of self taught things too, but some stuff you just need to be taught.
Very true. ....plus, having someone else around for 1:1 can be kind of nice... youtube videos showing me how to do something don't exactly answer me when I talk to them....
wish you a good luck.
New skills will keep us all living life to the fullest. Thanks for sharing. Love the images and grit displayed!
Thanks man!
Another saying "never to old to learn" .You are living PROOF.
That is right, and it is also correct! Thanks @manorvillemike!
Well done! At some point in each of our life we will all be a student, keeping the mindset of the student even after becoming the master is what will set apart the greatest of humans. Keep the mindset youngin you will make it ;-)
So do we now need to not just get the littleman some tools but papa-pepper as well?
Sharing for others to get the education..
Very true, and yes, I am starting to get a collection of real tools. I never really owned any before.
Hmmm maybe you need a post asking others what you will need..
Thank you for sharing such a great inspiration @papa-pepper. maybe we can imitate the good. success with the job is papa
One of the MOST important parts of being a human is to ALWAYS be learning. If we are always looking to learn then we are always in a receptive, teachable state. Homesteading is killer for immersion training and just like immersion language learning, will generally be the fastest way to learn YOUR way of doing things.
You are so right! Thanks!
God bless you. Constancy and discipline is my advice to you.
Thank you!
Nice post, full of lessons and reflexions, and thanks for the final lessons!!
Powerfull part:
"I hope that there is something that you can take away from this post, and I hope that you remain humble and teachable. I know that I'll have to, or these things will take me forever!
I think that the main reason people say "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is because of the mindset of the dog. If we want to, we can learn all sorts of things no matter how old we get, and there is no reason not to."
I agree with you. Attitude is the key.
Awesome, a little grease under the finger nails. Nice. I used do that everyday for a long time, but on motorcycles. It was fun.
More like a lot of grease everywhere, but yeah!
Greasy post but I like it! You have to be humble to learn and from what you have created on Steemit in a relatively short time shows you have what it takes. Lazy kid no more! Its also great to hear about neighbors helping neighbors thats what makes this country great!
Lazy kid no more! I like the sound of that!
Thanks @otage!
Hey, @papa-pepper! You can teach an old dog new tricks. It sometimes takes a little longer, as in my case. I don't learn as quickly as I once did. You are right. We have much to learn from some of the younger generation. The more we learn, the better it is. It keeps the mind working and in turn, keeps us young at heart.
Yes, sometimes it does take a little longer, even when the old dog is willing.
This certainly applies in my case. And when I do get it, sometimes the mind is willing but the body isn't...lol
nice post,interesting and fun
humble and teachable is the way to go my friend. you are a shining example of that.
Thanks @teamhumble!
@papa-pepper spot on my friend. I truly enjoy reading your posts and how you make us all think...for the better of ourselves and those around us. So true do we need to constantly learn. Successful people don't simply stop once they have accummulated wealth or hit their target goal. They have continued goals they want to reach and new goals they set for themselves and learning new things constantly is all apart of that process.
That's right @cryptobeans! Thanks for the encouragement!
I think we should refresh something right from the mouth of a child, even though he is below us, will we have to appreciate what he said is true. because something that is right should not be from a person who is a pint.
Good job @papa-pepper💪
Keep on learning dude!
Sometimes the old addage "eyes open, mouth shut" will make you the smartest person in the room, garage, workshop, build site etc.
LOL - You are very correct with that one! Thanks!
Never stop learning man!
NEVER!
Education is so important in life, especially for me. I do not always like the things or parts of the things I am learning, but I do so anyway because it is important to know as much as possible. I want to have the most experience I can get to achieve the potential to always have skill setts that can benefit me :)
Excellent attitude! Keep that up!
Yes .. with school, work, and dealing with dingy people on a regular, I hardly have the time for fun and play :)
WOW!! Such insight from such a young guy. ;) This truly was a great article. Thanks.
Thank you for reading it!
As you say, it is what you did before that counts, how fast will the tractor kid be moving if a snake curls up on his tractor seat?
I have been told from a young age ' mif you don't know, ask, it is easier and cheeper to done the job once, the right way'.
Besides, if they laugh with you they will work with you more willingly.
Actually, he's been learning a few things from me too I guess!
good learning is a two-way street, you both give and both receive
Age is only a number.
I firmly believe one only begins to "grow old" when they stop learning new things. Once someone gets so set in their ways and adamantly rejects the new, that is when the brain cells begin to stagnate. Once that happens, they begin to deteriorate, and of course it's a chain reaction from there.
Great share!
You be on to something there! Thanks!
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Good to see you learning and improving yourself and your families strength.
Thank you @hypexals-spiral!
Good for you for accepting the challenge. I was lucky (?) enough, from the time I was a teen, to live in a place where if you didn't do it yourself it just didn't get done. If your car broke down, you fixed it. If the plumbing backed up, you fixed it. If the well pipes froze when it hit 30 below, you got out there with a pick and chipped away the ice and dumped boiling water on the pipes until they thawed out. All that practical knowledge turns you into one self-reliant SOB. I've spent the last few years building a log cabin all by myself, winching the logs up the walls by hand, cutting the notches, fitting the logs and rolling them into place. No way could I have done that without suitcase of eclectic skills I've collected over the years. Can't say it was all smiles and giggles, though. You look like you're having a real blast monkeywrenching that piece of equipment. I have a picture somewhere in the old album of me standing next to the Xmas tree on Christmas day. I'm in coveralls covered in grease and my hair is matted with transmission oil because I had to pull the old transmission out of my Toyota Corolla and put in a new one because I had to go to work the next day and we only had one car. That's life. Wouldn't have missed those experiences for the world. Keep it up @papa-pepper. It grows on you.
Wow! Very cool. Thanks for the encouragement, and your cabin sounds amazing!
You are amazing. With so many posts and so many commenters, how do manage to reply to all of the comments? I have 32 followers with maybe two or three commenting and I'm getting behind. Amazing! Are you sure you aren't twins? You don't have to answer. It's just an observation.
@meesterboom is my twin, and I don't get all my comments either.
Boy, I do still have a lot to learn, don't I? LOL.
I'm in my 60's and happily learn new skills on a continual basis. I don't care what you look like or how old you are. My question is, do you know your business and can you teach some of it to me?
We all have different skill sets. You might not have learned mechanical things prior to this but you have lots of knowledge that you are passing on. We were all young and care free once. Accepting or asking for education is a sign of maturity. I think we just might be growing up Papa, haha.
Yay! I'm mature! Thanks!
.. You will learn ... and thats good for your kids ... keep learning :) never stop learning
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I was just talking with a motorcycle mechanic buddy last night about how the more we learn, the harder the projects get.
Almost as if its how fast we can learn is whats determining the sizes of the next projects. Like our learning curves are dragging us along in a maddening rollercoaster of fussy motorcycles and projects.
I just replaced a wheel bearing in my girlfriends car four days ago and she came home today telling me about some noise coming from the engine. It never ends!
I just made this post you might appreciate, its about woodwork.
https://steemit.com/woodworking/@slimysammy/recent-adventures-in-woodwork
Nice Post