Core Human Skills
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. ~ Robert A. Heinlein
I got that quote from Josh Kaufman’s superb business training site. In his inspirational blog he speaks of 12 core human skills that he recommends we all have:
1. Information-Assimilation
2. Writing
3. Speaking
4. Mathematics
5. Decision-Making
6. Rapport
7. Conflict-Resolution
8. Scenario-Generation
9. Planning
10. Self-Awareness
11. Interrelation
12. Skill Acquisition
Now I am far from a biological determinist, but my guess is that maybe 20% of the human population is even genetically determined to be capable of doing all this, not to mention cultural constraints. I know I don’t have a prayer of fulfilling this list, much less Heinlein’s vainglorious sci-fi hero’s.
My main hindrance is mnemonic. My memory is totally incapable of allowing me to become an expert in anything. I am a generalist because I have to be, since just when I’m about to become an expert in something I forget most of it. And anxiety can make me forget which way is up at the drop of a hat.
So my twelve core human skills would go something like this:
1. Brushing your teeth
2. Remembering to keep fresh water for your pet
3. Being nice to people
4. Setting the alarm for work
5. Not throwing up unless you have to
6. Cleaning up occasionally
7. Having sex
8. Enjoying beauty
9. Walking
10. Getting enough sleep
11. Smiling
12. Laughing really loud
I do believe that in the future human beings will be capable of doing things that would seem superhuman to us now. But that’s then.
Actually I believe there’s only one core skill required of all humans: Love.
Love your neighbors.
Love your job.
Love your hobbies.
Love your family.
Love yourself.
And then there’s that one that’s difficult yet not impossible: Love the unloveable.
Love,
LWIII
Once you intuit you have enough understanding of reality, your mnemonic problem will melt as snow before the sun. Welcome to the club!
Bless you Ron, for saying that. Lord I hope it’s so. I want so much to become an expert at something, trees perhaps, or birds, or writers, but until I gain a capacity to remember lots of names, I’m lost in dilletanto-land.
Hope your club is the good-memory-folks club, and that I’m the newest member.
Thanks for the comment!
I just ran across this blog post. Love it.