Teaching Others - On Giving Back

You have something to offer the world. Everyone does. Let’s talk about how you can give back and improve the lives of others.

Teacher

Think back to the people that have taught you well in your life. Think about how good it felt to have someone genuinely care about how well you learned something. You have the ability to give that to others. You are good at something. Good enough that you could teach it to others.

I won’t say that what it is doesn’t matter at all. There are undoubtedly skills that are more valuable than others. I will, however, say that the joy of learning has a value in and of itself. So long as you are not spreading harmful practices, you should take pride in offering what you know to those around you.

The benefits are not even purely benevolent. You become better at whatever it is you teach others purely by instructing in it, answering questions, and correcting mistakes.

How to Teach

Teaching is something everyone can and should learn to do it. The best way, of course, is to find someone who is good at teaching it. Learn from a gifted instructor, professor, or mentor you have had in the past. Ask the right questions and learn from their experience.

Next, be sure you have the time and energy to commit to teaching others, even if it is just one person. The responsibility of teaching someone something, anything, should not be taken lightly. It is a relationship that can impact that person for life if handled properly.

Lastly, be sure that you are teaching the right people. Devote yourself to people who are willing and eager, and don’t be afraid to cut off people who are toxic or unwilling. Be willing to separate from people if you clash. The relationship between someone teaching and someone learning from them can and should be very personal, so you and them need to connect properly.

Do You Teach?

As always, I want to hear from all of you. Tell us about the people you’ve taught in your life, and those that have taught you.