Know-How as a Social Ladder

Why I Avoid Traditional News

Here’s the thing: I barely watch the news on TV or follow other press for three main reasons.

1. It’s Depressing: Constant negative news affects my mood, spirit, and energy.
2. It’s Biased: News outlets often present information with a heavy bias from all sides, making it hard to trust.
3. It Creates Division: The “us vs. them” mentality fosters a complete divide between people, regardless of their background or ethnicity.

I don’t live in a cave, but I’m very selective about where I get my information. I seek a general idea of what’s happening and then conduct my own research to gain a clearer picture. Even then, I know I rarely have the full story.

Why This Matters

You might wonder why I’m sharing this. I see a pattern in my life that could help you in your own journey. Or maybe it won’t, and you just wasted a few minutes of your time. 😅 If that’s the case, kudos to you.

This insight has taken me a lifetime to learn, and I’m still learning.

Background: Growing Up Modest

I grew up in a very modest environment. We weren’t poor, but we weren’t middle class either. My parents lived paycheck to paycheck, like many in our neighbourhood.

There was never a lack of food on the table because my parents, especially my father, grew most of our food—from vegetables to pork, chickens, and rabbits. My parents had been very poor when they grew up, barely having enough to eat and struggling to give their kids another chance in life.

My sister and I had a better life—not luxurious or relaxed, but better. I worked hard from a young age on my dad’s farm, carrying carts of manure, working in the vineyards, and cutting weeds under the peak of the sun. Neighbours often said my dad was crazy for making me work so hard, but it built my character. 🤷‍♂️

The Mindset of My Family

My parents and everyone around me had a similar mentality: we can only evolve and change the status quo when we know it’s possible.

For them, the best job was one provided by the state. It made sense to them since a state job meant job security. I was never taught or encouraged to “reach for the stars” or scale the social ladder.

There was a clear resentment towards those with a higher social class, fostering an “us vs. them” mentality. It was as if those individuals were born with advantages that others didn’t have—a reality shaped by the times they grew up in.

Education: A Double-Edged Sword

Going to school was almost a luxury, and my parents had the very minimum education mandated by the government. Higher education opportunities were scarce, but fortunately, in our country, education is “free.” You can achieve the same educational levels as those with more money, though it’s undoubtedly a battle.

You might think I’m about to share how a college degree changed my life. Nope! I took a different path.

Crazy Story: Dropping Out to Pursue Entrepreneurship

Instead of pursuing a fine arts degree, I dropped out of college to embark on an entrepreneurial adventure. Two entrepreneurs who sold an internet business in 1996 approached me. They were building a new startup before the dot-com crash in 2000.

I chose this path because no degree could teach me what I learned in the field during those formative years. The internet was still new, and the rush of the late ’90s presented unparalleled learning opportunities.

I delved into the rabbit hole, studying day and night. I learned from the best examples in the US internet ecosystem, which was winning everything at the time.

The Power of Knowledge as a Social Ladder

Soon, I began to see and understand things that others around me couldn’t. It’s simple: knowledge is either you have it or you don’t.

• Without Knowledge: You don’t fathom its existence.
• With Knowledge: It’s like having a superpower, allowing you to see beyond the obvious.

I draw a parallel with AI development today. Are you catching the train, or are you playing catch-up?

Overcoming a Victim Mentality

For a significant part of my life, I had what’s commonly called a victim mentality. Everything bad in my life was due to external factors:

• I struggled in school because I lacked tutoring.
• I didn’t excel at sports due to a lack of practice time.
• I didn’t have good first jobs because I lacked the right network.

But for every problem, there was a solution:

• I could have studied more or sought help from teachers.
• I could have reached out to older cousins for assistance.
• Despite having some football talent and being scouted to play at a small club, I lied to my parents to avoid additional stress from competing.

My network wasn’t the best due to my rough neighbourhood, but it was enough to secure my first job. My mom helped me get my first two to three jobs since I was socially awkward and inadequate.

Everything Changed

Everything started to make sense when two things combined—and this is crucial:

1. I Was Ready to Learn: My mindset shifted towards embracing knowledge.
2. Know-How Was Available: The right resources and opportunities were accessible.

Dumping a ton of know-how won’t do anything if you’re not ready to absorb it. Today, I teach email marketing, marketing automation, marketing strategy, performance marketing, and digital law in schools and universities (see how the world works??). Most students seem disengaged; they just want the “canudo” (degree).

They’re not interested in the knowledge itself because they’re not yet ready to learn. This was a hard lesson for me to realize.

The Realization: Passing on Know-How

Here’s my thesis:

To climb the social ladder, you must pass on know-how to those who are open to receiving it.

If people are stuck in a victim mentality, your words won’t impact their lives. But when people are curious and striving to change their situation, that’s the tipping point we aim for.

As a serial entrepreneur, I educate myself on productivity best practices, management, and my main marketing topics.

Learning coding, no-code platforms, APIs, and AI opened up a whole new world.
Combining my business know-how with these new skills revolutionized how we work in my organizations and even created new lines of business.

I never imagined the career I have now when I started my professional life. All indicators pointed to a dull and insignificant progression. Yet, know-how, combined with the right mindset, leapfrogs the entire social ladder, surpassing any other influence.

The Sky is Not the Limit

From where I stand, the sky is not the limit—it’s just the limit we know today. There’s so much more to discover, and I’m excited to continue learning and growing.

Invest in your knowledge. Embrace curiosity, seek new skills, and watch as know-how elevates you to heights you never imagined possible.

What areas of knowledge have transformed your life?
Share your experiences in the comments below!