Mes: septiembre 2020

How is it possible that Elon Musk has been able to create four multi-billion dollar companies in its 40 years in four different fields (software, energy, transportation and aerospace)?

 

To explain Musk’s success, some have pointed to his heroic work ethic (he usually works 85 hours a week), his ability to imagine different scenarios of the future, and his incredible resilience.

 

But I found all of this unsatisfactory. Many people have these traits. I wanted to know what he did differently. As I continued to read dozens of articles, videos and books about Musk, I noticed a huge piece of the puzzle was missing. Common sense says that to become world class, we should only focus on one field of knowledge. Musk breaks that rule. His expertise ranges from space science, engineering, physics and artificial intelligence to solar power and energy.

 

In an earlier article, I called people like Elon Musk «generalist experts» (a term coined by Orit Gadiesh, president of Bain & Company). Expert generalists study extensively in many different fields, understand the deeper principles that connect those fields, and then apply those principles to their core expertise.

 

Based on my own review of Musk’s life and the academic literature related to learning and experience, I am convinced that we must all learn across multiple fields in order to increase our chances of historical success.

 

The myth of the one who encompasses so much

If you are someone who loves to learn about different areas, you are probably familiar with this well-meaning advice: «He who embraces much presses little.

 

The implicit assumption is that if you study in multiple areas, you will only learn on a superficial level, you will not be able to gain total mastery of the subject.

 

The success of generalist experts over time proves this to be incorrect. Learning across multiple fields provides an information advantage (and therefore an innovation advantage) because most people focus on a single field.

 

For example, if you are in the technology industry and everyone else only reads technology publications, but you also know a lot about biology, you are sure to have the ability to come up with ideas that almost no one else could. Vice versa. If you’re in biology, but you also understand about artificial intelligence, you have an information advantage over everyone else who is in isolation.

 

Despite this basic concept, few people really learn beyond their industry.

 

Every new field we learn that is unknown to others in our field gives us the ability to make combinations that they cannot make. This is the advantage of the generalist expert.

 

A fascinating study echoed this idea. He studied how the best 59 opera composers of the 20th century mastered their art. Contrary to the conventional narrative that the success of the best performers can only be explained by deliberate practice and specialization, researcher Dean Keith Simonton discovered exactly the opposite: As University of Pennsylvania researcher Scott Barry Kaufman summarizes in an article in Scientific American, «the compositions of the most successful opera composers tended to represent a mixture of genres… composers were able to avoid the inflexibility of excessive experience (over-training) through cross-training.

 

Musk’s superpower: the «transfer of learning”

According to his brother, Kimball Musk, from his early teens, Elon Musk read two books a day about various disciplines. To put this in context, if you read one book a month, Musk would read 60 times more than you.

 

In the beginning, Musk’s reading covered topics such as science fiction, philosophy, religion, programming, and biographies of scientists, engineers, and businessmen. As he grew, his reading and career interests extended to physics, engineering, product design, business, technology, and energy. This thirst for knowledge exposed him to a variety of subjects he had never learned in school.

 

Elon Musk is also good at a very specific type of learning that most people are not even aware of: transference of learning.

 

Transference of learning is about taking what we learn in one context and applying it to another. It can be taking the basics of what we learn in school or in a book and applying it to the «real world». It can also be taking what is learned in one industry and applying it to another.

 

This is where Musk stands out. Several of his interviews show that he has a unique two-step process to encourage the transfer of learning.

 

First, it deconstructs knowledge into fundamental principles

Musk’s response in a Reddit AMA describes how he does it:

 

It is important to consider knowledge as a kind of semantic tree; make sure you understand the fundamental principles, i.e., the trunk and the large branches, before entering the leaves or the details, or there will be nothing to hold them.

 

Research suggests that turning your knowledge into deeper and more abstract principles facilitates the transfer of learning. This research also suggests that a technique is particularly powerful in helping people intuit underlying principles. This technique is called «case contrasting.
By observing many different cases when we learn something, we begin to intuit what is essential and even make our own unique combinations.

 

What does this mean in our daily lives? When we change to a new field, we must not only take an approach or better practice. We must explore many different approaches, deconstruct each one, and then compare and contrast them. This will help us discover the underlying principles.

 

Then reconstruct the fundamental principles in new fields

The second step of Musk’s learning transfer process consists of reconstructing the fundamental principles he has learned from artificial intelligence, technology, physics and engineering into separate fields:

 

– In the aerospace industry, in order to create SpaceX

 

– In the automotive industry, in order to create Tesla with self-driving functions.

 

– In trains, to create Hyperloop.

 

– In aviation, in order to visualize electric planes that take off and land vertically.

 

– In technology, in order to foresee the neural links that are connected to the brain.

 

– In technology, in order to help create PayPal

 

– In technology, in order to co-found OpenAI, a non-profit organization that limits the likelihood of negative artificial intelligence futures.

 

Keith Holyoak, UCLA professor of psychology and one of the world’s leading thinkers on analog reasoning, recommends that, to perfect their skills, people ask themselves the following two questions: «What does this remind me of?» and «Why does it remind me of?

 

By constantly looking at the objects in their environment and the material they read, and asking these two questions, they develop the muscles in their brain that help them make connections across traditional boundaries.

 

It is not magic. It’s just the right learning process.

Now we can begin to understand how Musk has become a world-class generalist:

 

– He spent many years reading 60 times more than an avid reader.

 

– He read extensively on different disciplines.

 

– He constantly applied what he learned by deconstructing ideas into their fundamental principles and reconstructing these ideas in a different way.

 

On a deeper level, what we can learn from Elon Musk’s story is that we should not accept the dogma that specialization is the best or only path to professional success and impact. Legendary generalist Buckminster Fuller sums up a shift in thinking that we should all consider. He shared it decades ago, although it is very relevant today:

 

«We are in an age where the restrictive tendencies of specialization are assumed to be logical, natural and desirable Meanwhile, humanity has been deprived of global understanding. Specialization has created feelings of isolation, futility and confusion in individuals. It has also resulted in the abandonment by the individual of responsibility for thought and social action. Specialization generates prejudices that ultimately add up to international and ideological discord, leading in turn to war.

 

If we take the time and learn the basic concepts through the fields, and always relate those concepts to our life and the world, the transfer between the areas becomes much easier and faster.

 

As we build a reservoir of «fundamental principles» and associate those principles with different fields, we will suddenly gain the superpower of being able to enter a new field that we have never learned before, and quickly make unique contributions.

 

Understanding Elon’s superpowers of learning will help us get a sense of how he was able to enter an industry that has been around for over 100 years and change the basis of how he competes.

 

Elon Musk is one in a million, but his skills are not magic.

 

Every year, thousands and thousands of young people from each and every country on the planet decide to take the step, and launch themselves into the adventure of studying abroad, an unforgettable experience that, in addition to this, has infinite personal and professional benefits. Studying abroad is a courageous resolution that more and more people decide to take every day, while they are aware that the benefits and experience they will acquire are invaluable, and that they are probably in the best moment of their lives to take advantage of the opportunity to achieve all that a study abroad stay can bring.

 

Improving your social skills, expanding your networking or increasing the value of your resume are just some of the advantages of this fantastic adventure. On a personal level, the experiences that you will be able to live are multiple and varied, always depending on the country in which you are going to carry out the stay. If you still have doubts about whether your time has come to study abroad, take a look at the benefits you will be able to benefit from if you decide to do so.

Reasons why you should study abroad

Learning another language, a plus on your CV. 

Nowadays, the knowledge of a second language has become one of the most requested requirements in the job market. Being able to speak English, for example, adds value to your CV. It is a key capable of opening the doors of your dream job. For this reason, studying in the city of London, Paris or Berlin guarantees you an unbeatable learning of the native language, which you will get to dominate in a matter of months, thanks to the linguistic immersion, that is to say, to exercise the language 24/7.

 

Expand your network of contacts. 

Another great advantage of going abroad is the possibility of establishing relationships with professionals in your niche or sector. In this way, you will create an agenda with very useful international contacts, which will make the difference in your networking and work success. In addition to this, you will make friends for life, and you may even be able to locate your better half.

 

Improved social skills. 

Studies have shown that embarrassment of public speaking is one of the main obstacles to learning a language. However, those who overcome this complexity and develop their social skills acquire greater determination, confidence, and leadership ability. These are three qualities that are practically indispensable for success in each and every profession.

 

Benefit from a new (and better) education system. Oxford, Cambridge and other British universities are among the most reputable tops in the world. Beyond the pure investment, you have to know that innovation, quality and the term of continuous evaluation are the keys to the British education system. However, other educational programs, such as those in Singapore and Shanghai, place great importance on performance and know how to get the most out of their students. Finland, for its part, heads the PISA report, largely because of the excellence of its teachers and their ability to motivate students. And if you choose to study in Spain, you have to know that it has one of the best quality-cost ratios in the world. As you can see, each system has its advantages and strengths, and the fact of having to adapt to a new way of learning and performing in the studies, will also improve your skills for life.

 

Get to know incredible places and people.

Liverpool, Rome, Edinburgh or New York have a lot to offer you, beyond the academic field, as they let you know and also integrate you into an unknown culture. You will discover first hand their customs, their celebrations and their idiosyncrasy, which will gradually enrich you personally. In this way, you will return home with a valuable baggage of memories and experiences that, as studies at the University of San Francisco prove, are the key to happiness.

 

Break the routine!

Like many young and not-so-young people, you may have lost motivation in your studies or in your work for some time now. An academic stay in a foreign country can be a turning point in your life, breaking your routine and giving you that ‘pat on the back’ that propels you towards exceptional new horizons.

 

Mature and self-fulfilling. 

Learning how to manage your money, manage your expenses and get by in an unknown environment without the support of your family is not something you learn overnight. The first few weeks can be hard, but it won’t take long to get used to it and get a taste of this experience of independence. With complete security, this is a unique occasion to self-actualise, mature and prosper enormously as a person.

 

In addition, getting in touch with a new culture, ideas and mentality will give you another perspective on your country, which will help you overcome prejudices and become more tolerant. What do you think about these advantages of studying abroad, could you incorporate some more? If you have already decided, pack your bags and with a study abroad guide, decide which country is best for you. I’m sure many fascinating adventures await you from now on, so don’t hesitate, remember that ‘no risk, no glory’.

Going to the dentist is something most people try to avoid. That’s normal, since it’s painful, both physically and for the pocket. Although we must recognize that the interventions of today’s dentists have improved a lot, and it is now possible to receive most of the treatments that are painful. Certainly, many treatments are still uncomfortable, but healthy teeth and a healthy mouth are of great importance not only to maintain a radiant and youthful image, but also, and most importantly, to maintain good health.

But what about money? The dentist is usually considered one of the most expensive medical specialists, and he doesn’t have this reputation for no reason. Actually, most of the interventions by dentists can be very expensive, although it must be said that if we want to be treated by a good professional, these treatments are worth every penny they cost, and that normally the cheap is expensive. And of course, health is not something to be trifled with. Even so, all is not lost, there are ways to save money on the dentist’s bill, continue with us and we will explain some of them to you.

8 ways to save at the dentist

1. Elaborate a tax deduction 

In many countries it is possible to get a tax deduction for medical bills, including dental bills. Of course, most of these countries set certain conditions regarding income level or the type of treatment you have undergone. For example, no country applies tax deductions for cosmetic dental treatment, but countries like Mexico or the USA can pay you a deduction if the treatment was necessary, even if you used the best dentist in Tijuana (with Tijuana dentist prices). Russia is also one of the countries that applies this type of bonus, and in Spain you have to consult it by autonomous community, since they are the ones that have the health competences transferred. 

Consult the tax relief offered by your country for medical bills, you may be surprised and realize that you have been losing money for too many years because of ignorance of your rights.

2. Compare prices at various clinics 

The cost of medical services depends not only on the materials for treatment and the doctor’s qualifications, but also on the location of the clinic, advertising, popularity, etc. It is very likely that the cost of services in the center of the city is higher than in the outskirts. You may find it convenient to arrange a short vacation in a town where you can find a dentist with good references and cheap. In this way you can save on the dentist’s bill and at the same time make your family, or your girlfriend, or your boyfriend, happy, or you can go with your friends… that’s really the least of it, it’s even more fashionable to travel alone. You’ll have your smile ready for Instagram photos for a lot less than you thought. As you can see, it’s all advantages.

Search the internet for well-reviewed dentists in the towns you want to visit, and compare prices. If you’re going to do some food tourism, take into account the type of treatment you’ll be getting, to decide whether you should make an appointment at the beginning or end of your little vacation.

3. Do not delay your visit to the dentist 

Go to the dentist at the slightest sign that something is not right in your mouth. Pain in a tooth, inflammation, bleeding gums, discomfort with hot or cold drinks… all these things are warnings that something is not working, and if you don’t attend to them in time, the disease may get worse. Why not, it never gets better or disappears. Unfortunately, oral problems always get worse, sometimes slowly, but when we want to realize, the pain and the bill are much higher than we are willing to endure.

It is important to stop and treat the discomfort in time, that will mean a much less expensive bill and also the great advantage of not having to live with discomfort for a long time and with intense pain that makes us run to the first dental clinic we find later. And it will be expensive, much more expensive. Don’t do it.

4. Take care of your teeth 

It seems obvious, doesn’t it? Well, even so, many people don’t seem to understand it until it’s too late. Oral hygiene is the basis of good health, and it’s not enough to brush badly every day, although some people don’t even do that. Look at what you eat, try to avoid refined sugars, brush your teeth thoroughly after meals, floss, find the best mouthwash for you… It’s really not that hard, you just have to make a habit of it and you’ll see that in no time you’ll even notice how you need it. Remember that once we are adults, if we lose our teeth, we no longer have any spare ones.

5. Take advantage of the promotions 

Private dentists are adopting the methods of large companies. To attract customers, they use promotions, during which some services can be obtained at a discount. This often extends to professional cleaning and caries treatment. You can find offers on coupon sites or dental sites. Sometimes you can also get these offers if you subscribe to their newsletters on dental clinic websites.   

6. Check out the doctor’s recommendations 

Dentists can offer you additional services. Don’t settle for them right away. It is better to get advice from other sources, such as a family doctor. There are many treatments that are purely aesthetic, or that can be substituted by other cheaper but equally effective treatments. Either way, you probably don’t need the more expensive treatment from the dental clinic. For example, if you have to wear braces, they may want to sell you the most expensive option, which are the invisible ones, but you can always opt for the traditional ones, which by the way, in countries like China, are considered somewhat cool, and they even sell ‘fake braces’ to pretend they are wearing them. Yes, the world is crazy…

7. Go to the dentist every six months 

The sooner the doctor finds the problem, the cheaper it will be to solve it. At an early stage of the cavity, a small filling is sufficient. If tooth decay develops, a large filling, restoration, or tooth extraction may be required. Some clinics offer free dental checkups and consultations. Take advantage of this.

8. Pay the dentist with a card 

Some debit cards return 1% of the amount paid to the owner; for credit cards, the refund can be 2%. These are small percentages, but many few do a lot. With this money you can buy a lot of toothpaste and a good toothbrush.

Content marketing (in spanish: marketing de contenidos) creates trust, credibility, which, in turn, destroys customer «resistance». The information needed is a description of the benefits a customer will receive from a particular product or service. Content drives the Internet as consumers seek information that can solve their problems. However, it is important to know how a content marketing strategy should be implemented. To do so, it is essential to have the advice of a strategic communication expert (experta en comunicación estratégica).

Implementation of a content marketing strategy

For content marketing to be successful, a detailed multi-stage strategy must be created.

 

First, the current state of the website must be analyzed, starting with an evaluation of the available texts and sections. This will give you an overview and the ability to identify systemic deficiencies in order to take appropriate action to improve the materials. The verification of key queries on the subject of the website, taking into account the positions and keywords of competitors, adds and optimizes the semantic core. Therefore, the direction and purpose of the movement will be clear.

Strategy

Elaborate the basic concept of promotion, taking into account the results of the preliminary analysis. It should detail the key aspects:

 

The channels through which the promotion is carried out. Perhaps the best solution would be to have your own blog on the site. For some, a periodic electronic publication or a YouTube channel is preferable. In general, the longer the list of channels, the better, because even a fairly homogenous audience in terms of consumer characteristics can be scattered across many channels. Consequently, you need to consider your presence on your site and in partner resources and catalogs.

Audiences are closely related to channels. Consider the characteristics of each resource and the relevance of the local audience to your target. A marketing portal can be a place where your articles are regularly reviewed by professional colleagues, but there will be no customers.

Define the metrics with which you will measure the effectiveness of the strategy. The type of marketing selected is very specific and does not correspond to the analogous ones either in speed or in the user’s path, and it also differs in many other parameters. Much attention must be paid to behavioral factors. But in this case, these will be special factors, suitable only for evaluating the interaction with the content. For example, the most viewed sections and blocks of articles, or the percentage of users who completed the entire reading.

The strategy is the basis on which the additional dynamics of customer acquisition and sales growth are built.

 

Content plan

A more tangible and equally important part of content marketing is the content plan.

 

With the foundation in place, with a clear audience, channels and metrics, it’s time to start building a wireframe for your publications. It means:

 

• Frequency of publications,
• Specific publication dates,
• Article topics,
• Places of your location,
• Promotional channels.
• Before writing materials, you should have detailed instructions on what, when and where to publish.

 

The next step is to start developing useful and interesting content that is of real value to your audience. From this point on, your movement will begin to increase customer loyalty and trust, and consequently, increase sales.

 

Content marketing platforms

Own blog

You’re your own boss on your site. Set up a convenient structure of sections and articles that is more comfortable for you and your readers. Don’t forget to remember yourself. Useful content can and should be combined with company activities and products. For example, you can set up a callback on the site; it won’t bother the visitor, but at any time the user can contact you if they have questions. You choose the theme and the approach to communicate with the audience. It is necessary to adhere to the basic rules prescribed in the strategy, observing the high quality of the content and the optimization of resources. In this case, your site will become a reliable platform for beginners and professionals in the chosen field.

Thematic sites

Internet editions or associated sites created especially for periodicals. Because they may be much more popular with the target audience at some point than your site, there is a reason to publish on them, without regard to the location of the intellectual property on a third-party site. The basic goal is to spread information about you and your experience so that the next time interested readers come directly to you.

Social media

The presence in social networks is essential these days. This is no longer an embarrassment even for the main players in the market. Companies maintain corporate blogs and communicate with customers through messengers, thus building a positive image and high level of customer satisfaction.

 

Advertising mail

The ideal variant of emails in the subscriber base collected directly by you This audience is much more loyal than cold customers who receive an unexpected email from you for the first time. If sites and blogs are visited deliberately and infrequently, mail is always on hand. An interested client will be happy to study your materials delivered directly to the address and containing valuable information.

Activity

Events can be both live and webinars. Calltouch regularly organizes its own events and participates in current meetings and conferences. Thus, Callday 2018 brought together over 1000 participants at one site. As part of the event, not only were the company’s latest products presented, but also unique reports from the major players in the market. And what is that? That is, content. Useful and fun.

Why it works

In our reality, there are many examples where social confirmation is a determining factor when making a purchase decision. By showing your professional approach, you inspire confidence and gain customers.

 

Many other techniques and content marketing in general can and should be learned. The main thing is more practical and several projects. It also makes sense to refer to the experience of senior colleagues in various courses. One example is the courses on digital content marketing. Theory, practice and advocacy of your project: this is the only way to create a solid foundation for your future career.