The Only Skill That Matters

A friend of mine was freaking out about his two-year-old's future.

"Will education even matter when AI takes over? Should he learn to code? What if there are no jobs?"

I get it. Parents are desperate to prepare kids for a future no one can predict. But honestly, this isn't just a parenting issue—it's a human one. We're all facing this uncertain future together.

After thinking about it, I told him, "Teach your kid resilience. That's the only thing that can’t be taken from him."

And the truth is, we all need this skill now more than ever.

I'm speaking from experience. When I was growing up, the formula was clear: study X, become Y. Medical school = doctor. Engineering school = engineer. For me, it was to follow dad's footsteps into business.

I remember looking at the classifieds daily and gauging each job's salary range. And I would imagine myself getting the highest paid opportunity in the list.

But then the Internet happened. I opened my Gmail account in 1998. Google, Yahoo, AskJeeves (I’m a dinosaur), Napster—the Interwebs were so much fun. Then, social media exploded. Then, the iPhone dropped. Suddenly, careers that didn't exist became essential, and skills we had spent years mastering became outdated in months.

Was I prepared for this shift? Not specifically. But what helped wasn't any particular skill—it was the ability to adapt, pivot, and figure things out on the fly.

That's resilience.

This ability to bounce back and face uncertainty—without breaking—separates those who thrive from those who barely survive when the ground shifts.

Think about it:

The engineer who became a UX designer when his job was outsourced.

The journalist who became a content strategist when newspapers collapsed.

The taxi driver who figured out the gig economy when Uber arrived.

None of them were prepared for these exact changes. But they had something more important: the mental fortitude to adapt.

So what does this mean for raising kids? What does it mean for us?

It's about all of us navigating a world that's changing faster than ever before.

Whether you're 5, 25, or 55, what matters is building:

• The ability to recover from failure (small ones, repeatedly)

• The skill to solve problems without clear instructions

• An understanding of first principles

• The confidence to build things from scratch

• The flexibility to adapt to changing rules

• The courage to question assumptions

• The hunger to stay curious

The person who's developed these capabilities will be fine whether we get robots, flying cars, or AI overlords.

Because the world has always changed, the only difference is the speed. And what remains constant is this: those who can adapt will always find their way.

So yes, parents should teach their kids Python, Mandarin, piano, or whatever. But the rest of us need to remember this too: in this rapidly changing landscape, our ability to fall seven times and stand up eight might be our most valuable asset.

Because that's the skill no algorithm will ever replace.

Do the work for yourself

This hits hard.

Will we do what we’re doing if we’re not getting the accolades and the recognition?

Paulo Coelho talks about a pianist in the mall, surrounded by people eating, talking, window shopping, meeting friends, and no one paying attention. However, the pianist continues to play Chopin, Schubert, and Mozart with “all his love, his soul, his enthusiasm, the very best of himself, all his years of study, concentration, and discipline.” 

He gave it his all, even though he didn’t need to.

That’s something we could benefit from. The art of doing it because it needs to be done. We don’t need anybody to validate our work (although it’s nice). What matters more is that the work should matter to us.

Morning Gym/Workout

I'll bet my house* on this: morning workouts are the best.

They’re done, out of the way, and you feel great afterward. And if I get in an ice bath, OOF, it’s a peak pleasure early in the morning.

But. Yes, there is a but.

Morning workouts aren’t the best in terms of peak effort. The curtains (eyelids) want to remain closed, and the body is fighting to get to bed. So, in most cases, the workouts are 75%, which is not bad, but the same workout in the afternoon or early evening is FIRE.

But. Yes, another but.

Now, if I do SMASH the workout—even if it’s a quick 20-minute high-intensity session—I’m tired AF at work and can’t function. Nope, no amount of coffee or energy drinks makes a difference.

There is no resolution here, friends. But for now, while a 100% workout is fantastic, I still prefer to get in a 75% and get it out of the way.

*full disclosure: I don't have a house.

Poetry

Peace in Darkness

Why is that something that terrified us during our childhood be the thing that brings us peace? It beckons us, envelopes us, hugs us, and calms us.

No judgement, just a reliable friend to speak silently with.

That’s it, folks. A bit longer than usual. Let me know if you like this or just the one piece, as usual. I’m experimenting and happy to try whatever you guys like.

I did have a joke about paper today, but it was tearable

Sorry, I’m out.

Oh, by the way, write to me. I read everything and will reply…at least till I’m famous. I’m kidding.

Much love, Parves