Learning as a Superpower
For a long time, I used to worry that everyone else was smarter than me.
Especially back in school — I’d look around and think, they just get it. I thought maybe I was just slower. Less capable.
But then something shifted.
The shift wasn't sudden or dramatic. There was no lightning bolt moment. Instead, patterns emerged gradually, becoming visible only in retrospect:
I noticed I asked a lot of questions. Not always the “smartest” ones — but they came from a place of genuine curiosity. I wanted to know why something worked. Or how someone figured it out. Or what they saw that I missed.
I started noticing where my mind wandered. The rabbit holes I fell into. The things I couldn’t stop thinking about.
Turns out, I was just curious. Not broken. Not behind. Just wired differently.
And eventually, I realized something powerful:
My superpower is learning.
How I walk into a room now
These days, when I enter a room — a meeting, a workshop, even a casual dinner — I try to remind myself: I’m the novice here.
Not in a self-deprecating way. But in a deliberate, open-hearted way.
It keeps me humble. It keeps me observant. And most importantly, it keeps me learning.
I look around and ask:
- What can I absorb from this person?
- What do they see differently than I do?
- What patterns or decisions are they making instinctively?
It’s a quiet superpower. But it changes everything.
How I practice intentional learning
Curiosity is a mindset. But learning is a practice.
Here’s how I’ve built mine:
- I keep a note for each skill I’m trying to absorb (writing, product strategy, facilitation, etc.)
- I mention people who I admire for that skill — as if they’re mentors, even from afar
- I collect lessons from articles, tweets, conversations — and paste them in
- I ask ChatGPT follow-up questions when I’m stuck or need examples
- I revisit my notes often — sometimes to add, sometimes to just reflect
These aren’t polished systems. They’re living documents. Threads I’m following.
Your curiosity is a compass
If you’re someone who’s always felt a little behind, a little unsure, a little scattered — maybe you’re not.
Maybe you’re just curious. And maybe that’s a good thing.
What if learning — not knowing — was your edge?
What if being intentional about skill-building could unlock your potential more than “being naturally smart” ever could?
Learning is not a race. It’s a rhythm. And it gets better the more you honour your curiosity.
Start with one note. Start with one question. Start by noticing what draws you in.
That’s where your power lives.