Don't Make My Mistakes: The Power of Passions, Skills and Knowledge
Birth of Clarity #54
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I always find myself writing about my failures rather than my successes. I think it’s because I view my life with regret.
I don’t have any standout skills.
I can’t say I have a passion that drives me.
I’m not deeply knowledgeable in anything.
That’s the truth — and it’s not something I’m proud of.
I’ve reached a point in my life where I can see how much this has cost me. Opportunities have passed me by. My choices have been limited, or more likely, I’ve made the wrong choices. But perhaps worst of all, I’ve spent too much time feeling like I’ve been drifting, rather than living with purpose.
I don’t want anyone, especially the younger generation, to end up here. And I want my own son to know there’s a better way to live.
The danger of drifting through life
When you’re young, it’s easy to think you have endless time. You can always “figure it out later.” But the truth is, life moves quickly. The years you spend without learning or exploring are years you don’t get back.
Drifting feels safe in the moment — you don’t take risks, you don’t push yourself, and you avoid the discomfort of failure. But over time, drifting is far riskier than trying and failing.
When you don’t develop skills, passions, or knowledge, you slowly become trapped:
• Trapped in jobs you don’t enjoy because you have no better options.
• Trapped in routines that feel empty because nothing excites you.
• Trapped in uncertainty because you have nothing to fall back on if life changes.
While I’m not the best at following my own advice, I feel that because I’ve lived a life full of regrets, fear, and failures, I’m at least qualified to give an overview of the things that would improve your life.
1. Skills are freedom
Skills are like tools in a toolbox. The more you have, the more problems you can solve and the more opportunities you can seize.
A skill can be anything from cooking to coding, from public speaking to carpentry. It doesn’t matter whether it’s practical, creative, or technical — every skill makes you more capable and confident.
Without skills, you’re at the mercy of circumstances. If you lose your job, if the industry changes, or if you want to switch careers, you have little to offer. With skills, you can adapt.
And here’s the thing: you don’t know which skill will change your life. Sometimes, the one you least expect becomes the most valuable.
2. Passions give life meaning
A passion is something you care about so much that you willingly give your time and energy to it. It’s the thing that gets you excited to wake up in the morning.
If you don’t have a passion, life can feel flat — like you’re just going through the motions.
But passions don’t usually fall into your lap. You have to try different things to find them. And you might have more than one over the course of your life.
Some passions turn into careers. Others remain hobbies. Both are important because they give your life colour, joy, and direction.
3. Knowledge is security
Knowledge protects you. It makes you harder to exploit, easier to trust, and better equipped to navigate the world.
And it’s not just about specialising in one thing. In today’s world, being knowledgeable in multiple areas makes you more adaptable and creative.
You don’t need to become a scholar — but you should always be learning. Read books, take courses, ask questions, seek mentors. The more you learn, the more you connect ideas, see opportunities, and make better decisions.
Why you should start now
The best time to start building skills, finding passions, and gaining knowledge is when you’re young. That’s when you have the most time, the most energy, and the least responsibility weighing you down.
But the second-best time is now.
Even if you feel behind, you can still change your direction. The key is to start small and keep going.
• Pick a skill and practice it for 30 minutes a day.
• Try a new activity every month until something sparks your interest.
• Read about topics you know nothing about.
• Surround yourself with people who are curious, passionate, and driven.
AFFATHERS, ROSCOE’S ROUTES AND RÁPIDO (FORMERLY 1 MIN MAX) ARE ALL UNDER ONE ROOF NOW!
The regret you want to avoid
I’m not saying you have to become world-class in ten different fields. You don’t need to have a single burning passion that defines your entire life.
But you do need something.
Because one day, you’ll look back — and you’ll either see a life full of things you tried, learned, and loved… or you’ll see time you can’t get back.
And trust me, regret is a heavy thing to carry.
So, I implore you not to drift through life waiting for purpose to find you. Build it yourself. Learn skills, chase passions, and grow your knowledge.
The greatest regret isn’t failure — it’s never trying at all.
If anything in this article resonated with you or you have any questions, then I would LOVE to hear from you:
Thank you for reading: “Don't Make My Mistakes: The Power of Passions, Skills and Knowledge.”
Before you go, here are some useful articles related to today’s post:
Please check out the last post: “One Roof, Many Rooms: What’s Next for Birth of Clarity.”
And 💜 and Restack this post on the Substack app.
Take care,
Roscoe | Birth of Clarity
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