Teachers are Overrated

Think of something you’re really good at.

Chances are, whatever it is, you taught yourself.

An insight or tip here and there, some books or videos perhaps. But for the most part, your most valuable, high-return skills and know-how were gained from your own self-education and experience, not from a teacher.

Someone who asks for a teacher as the first step to learn something new is someone with a low likelihood of mastering it. Someone who wants to jump right in and try, and only seeks a teacher after some level of mastery has a much higher likelihood. In fact, you might say that the return you’ll get from something is inversely proportionate to the amount of teaching you require.

Given the 80-20 rule, it means most of the high return stuff is the stuff we’re best at, which is also the stuff that requires teachers least.