Figure Things Out

You don't have to know everything, but you do have to learn how to figure things out, no matter how unfamiliar and new.

You have to be comfortable with not knowing, comfortable enough to admit it, to recognize where you lack. Comfortable enough to say, "I don't know."

But in some cases, especially in your work and the many demands of life, you also have to be uncomfortable with not knowing. Uncomfortable enough to get your ass off your chair, learn what you don't know, and get done what needs getting done, whatever it requires.

It's good to have the know-how. The industry best practices and expert secrets. But what good is that if you stumble upon something you don't know? (Of course you will, especially with the fast-changing tech.)

You need to build the muscle of figuring things out.

Of not being intimidated by changes and new challenges.
Of having to come up with new processes and creating your own systems.
Of doing the research, the leg work.
Of not giving up when you don't get it right the first time.
Of improvising as you go.
Of adapting and evolving and pivoting as needed.

Because if you want to grow, if you want to keep building on your skills, you'll have to take on bigger and bigger challenges. You have to be scrappy, able to learn and adapt quickly.

When you're faced with something new, think: not only will you gain knowledge and skills, but you'll also be building your figure-it-out muscle.