Ask Adam Savage: When to Learn a New Skill

Tested is:

Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman

Thanks for watching!

[MrPenguinLife]

I am the same way, after years of not being able to make myself learn Calculus, I finally started learning it when I needed to calculate the area under a curve in order to to complete a hobbyist level optics project.

[donutsndcoffee]

I've started so many mini projects just to learn and understand isolated things - but then apply all that I've learned into one major project.

Quantizing learned things helps me - it makes things more modular.

[corporaterobotslave]

Filmmaking special effects and songwriting are all skills I learned by improvising my ability on the fly to learn other skills necessary. Every project has a new twist to learn new skills. That's the beauty of it. When I was a kid I said I wanted a job where I'd be doing something different every day. Now I do that.

[sschmidtevalue]

Like Adam, I've always needed to apply new learning immediately to some project. I'm a retired software engineer and I still tinker with the bits and bytes for my own purposes. I taught myself Python after I retired in order to manage my backups and some other system-type things.

[japewisteria]

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." Vera's awesome, and so was the episode... ;)

[rpg_design]

Sharpie covering up the logos is good product placement for sharpies

[vobser]

Wow. I remember seeing this guy on tv when I was like 5 or 6. I’m 19 now. Glad to see him still making some form of content

[philismenko]

I completely am the same with a skill. If I'm learning something it's gonna be in service if a larger goal, I don't learn stuff, I happen to have picked it up. I learn by having to do, not just doing.

[SeanPaulNotTheSinger]

How Adam describes learning is absolutely me. I'm almost immune to anything that doesn't actively hold my interest. It's frustrating when I have to obtain some knowledge for work that I'm utterly disinterested in.

[paulbrooks]

I’ve found that necessity drives me as well as desire. I have also found that some new things I start out hating but loving later. Sometimes a new challenge can seem so daunting that it will overwhelm and take the fun out of it initially. But later, after I’ve mastered something, it becomes fun and I feel silly for ever being annoyed or upset.

What’s important is to be okay with not knowing something new, even when it’s an undesired challenge or change. Many challenges that we face intersect with our negative perspectives and ideas about ourselves and others. It’s important to question those thoughts and be sure that we aren’t self sabotaging or letting our doubts overcome our capabilities.

[bluegizmo]

I couldn't agree more! You have to want something specific from that skill your trying to learn, and no that cannot just be "I want to make money"! I taught myself computer programming because I wanted to make specific software programs myself. I taught myself 3D modeling because I bought a 3D printer and wanted to make my own models for one off things I couldn't find models already existing for. I taught myself Vector Image creation because I bought a Fiber Laser Engraver to make things to a style I specifically want.

[dr.rotwang]

Fun fact. Vera is a modified Saiga 12 shotgun. It was also featured in the film Showtime with Eddie Murphy and Robert Di Nero. Both showtime and the Firefly episode "Our Mrs Reynolds" premiered in 2002. So which one used it first is a bit of a chicken and the egg situation. Did Firefly's armorer just grab something they had in inventory leftover from the feature film? Or were they working on Vera and the film guys liked it so much they commissioned a bunch to be used it in the production of Showtime. That would be fun to know.

[Wut]

Only just found this channel and can say it is certainly one of my favourites. Very informative whilst being entertaining

[markgrudzinski]

Within the first 30 seconds it's all summed up. I LOVE learning new things, but the motivation to learn new things is due to wanting to accomplish something.

[horneygeorgeforge]

have you thought about, Artisan Blacksmithing? you have the Artisan part down pat .also you have an anvil, a forge and burner you can make yourself, and making the right tool for a job will be much easier.

[joshlewis]

Total agreement on learning something new only to accomplish one actual project, having the skills broadens the horizons though👍

[jadiazc]

I think Adam was referring to CraPsman 3:56

[XTCD]

Hi Adam, been watching you for years and never needed to ask anything, would love a link to the band your wearing for the Apple Watch Ultra.

[WDCallahan]

Adam: I can tell this silver tape is from the myth busters set because it's all marked out like this.
*Marks out logo on accelerator bottle*
One month later Adam: I can tell this instaset is from the myth busters set because it's all marked out like this.

[daneandrews]

Hi Adam I have a crazy question you know how water in a cup upsidedown holds water in it do you think it's possible to recreate this on a bigger scale as a swimming pool?

Essentially an upsidedown pool..