I flew into Bangkok on a Wednesday.
It was not somewhere that I thought I would ever go a month prior. At the time, I was working at an online marketing agency in Memphis. I stopped writing to focus on some more monetizable side projects, but the majority of my energy and focus were going into my work.
I was relatively happy with my situation. I didn’t particularly want to be in Memphis, but it gave me the opportunity to spend time with friends and family that I hadn’t spent time with in the last year while I was in Brazil. I was working at an online marketing agency that was letting me learn, experiment, grow my skills, and stash a little cash in the process.
I didn’t have a very concrete plan on how to accelerate my career learning, but I expected that I would be at that agency for a couple of years. There seems to be a general standard in the SEO industry that 2 years of experience was a good jumping off point to go freelance.
Going through my Google Reader one day though, I read through what was then the latest post at TropicalMBA.com. It was a job posting for an online marketing manager position. I knew I had to apply. I did. I got the job. Once I knew that my timeline had moved from 2 years to now, everything happened fast.
I bought a plane ticket to Bangkok. I knew there was a conference going on this past weekend and I desperately wanted to go. I thought it would be an incredible opportunity. I was right.
As soon as I got to Bangkok, I knew that I had found my tribe. They came from all over the world and had diverse backgrounds. They were, and are, united, however, by their common drive towards entrepreneurship.
I had the opportunity to listen to an impressive list of speakers and meet a group that I believe will come to be a major part of how I define myself over the coming years.
Career Learning: Be The Dumbest Guy in the Room
But, it was during a session of business breakdowns that something unique happened. As I typed away, trying to get every comment into my notes, I paused and looked around. I realized that I was the dumbest guy in the room.
I say that in neither a self-depreciating nor a self-aggrandizing way. It’s been a long time since the overall quality of the people in the same room as me was so high, their track records in the past and their potential and drive for the future so large that the sensation of being out of my league was unavoidable. I believe there is no better way to increase your career learning than to be the dumbest person in the room.
Before I left Memphis for Bangkok, a lot of people asked me if I was nervous. I was. As I thought back though that feeling of nervousness excited me. In retrospect, it’s very clear to me that every major turning point for the better in my life has been preceded by a feeling of nervousness. It was those moments when everything was not certain that had offered the greatest potential for future growth.
As I pounded away at my keyboard, I realized that my nervous gut had been justified again. It became clear to me how much I had to learn. It became clear that the people in that room were precisely the people I needed to be around. Speaking with people throughout the weekend constantly filled me with a sense of excitement.
Dan, one of the hosts, best captured why that was. He said that he was amazed at the abundance mentality present in the room. So was I.
I do think we have something to learn from everyone. Yet, there is something unique and special to be surrounded by like-minded and like-motivated people. It inspires and reinforces our own professional growth.
To be around a group like that and also have the sensation of being the dumbest one in the room is exactly where I want to be right now. I was honored and humbled to be able to take in the conference. I have 10 pages of notes that I’ve reviewed already and I’m sure I will again and again in the future. This is how learning happens in your career.
Right now though, it’s time to get to work. While being outclassed is where I want to be right now, it’s not where I want to stay.
One of the best ways I’ve found to stay competitive with people smarter than me, is to make sure that I simply read more.
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Last Updated on July 30, 2019 by Taylor Pearson
Dan says
Good one Taylor… there’s echos of Socrates here… like ‘I didn’t belong in the room until I realized I didn’t belong in the room’… well, not really, but it’s kinda cool.
Taylor Pearson says
Sort of, not really, echoes of Socrates is as good a compliment as I’ve ever gotten on my writing. I’ll take it!
Anouk Ruhaak says
Maybe the best link with Socrates is his take on wisdom: knowing you know nothing. I can relate to the feeling you’re describing, it’s terrifying, but at the same time it’s great to know there’s still so, so much to learn. Great post!
Taylor Pearson says
It’s funny you just left this comment Anouk. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. It seems like knowing how little you know is an enormous long-term advantage in a world of people that think they’ve got it all figured out.
At the same time though, you can’t walk around being meek or feeling intimidated all the time.
I guess you have to be bold in a humble way? Unafraid to share your opinion, but still very aware that you’re likely wrong.
I’m not sure what the proper paradigm for approaching this is. Thanks for commenting though, you really got me thinking about this again!
Jurgen Dhaese says
Being the dumbest one in the room is a good thing. That means that out of all people there, you have the most opportunities to learn something. It feels humbling. It makes you feel small and dumb. But if you hang out with those people long enough, there’s no other way than that you’ll grow smarter.
Good post, man. Glad to see that I wasn’t the only one that felt that way. I’ve never been around a group of guys that inspiring before. It really helped me see how much I still have to learn. And how there’s no excuse not to get off my ass and start doing it. You’ve put it in words magnificently.
Taylor Pearson says
“if you hang out with those people long enough, there’s no other way than that you’ll grow smarter.” I agree 100%. Thanks man.
Matthew Newton says
Bangin man. Right on. Felt the same way more than once at DC BKK. Good signs.
TaylorP says
Thanks Matt. I think a lot of people felt the same way. Kind of why it was so awesome.
Taylor Pearson says
Thanks Matt. I think a lot of people felt the same way, which is part of why it was so awesome.
Nico says
Hey Taylor, I was also in awe of how smart people appeared to be because of their experience, knowledge and success at the DC BKK. Very similar thoughts kept running through my mind. At the same time, I’m pretty sure most have felt like that at some point during the presentations.
Thanks for your notes and your kind sharing. I’m excited to see where everybody will be heading in the future.
Eddy Azar says
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. And, on a
bigger picture, you are the a reflection of the 20-30 people who give you the
best advice” – Jim Rohn & Michael Ellsberg
Stay around that crowd for a little while, and you’ll soon find yourself fitting in perfectly. Then maybe someday being a leader.
Of course, that’s when you need to find a new room to be the dumbest guy in.
Cheers on the great hustle!
Toasty Chinchila says
Fantastic reads! hope you gain valuable experience in Thailand :))
Cheers!
Sweeney says
Sounds like we need a note share 😉
Adam Finan says
Hey Taylor,
A great post and to be honest, it sounds like the situation I will most likely be in in BKK in Oct! I have read ‘Think and Grow Rich’ about 5 times now and always the same message repeats itself and I didn’t know where to look.
Find a mastermind group.
Find a mastermind group.
As you know, there are many bullshits artists in the online money making world, and it takes time and consistent learning to see through all the bullshit and keep moving forward past this lie of ‘promises and secrets’. There is a secret to success. It is called having a vision, making a plan, taking action and surrounding yourself with like minded individuals.
I am a new member on Tropical MBA and the DC. You guys are the light, after the dark wandering alone through the internet marketing world. A collective gathering of open and educated minds, focused on a common goal, with the intention of helping, sharing and progressing each others businesses, not only for their own good, but for the good of the collective group. The common goal being entrepreneurial hustle!
Mucho respect
Adam Finan – Tropical Nomad
Taylor Pearson says
Word! Glad to have you around and looking forward to meeting you in October then.
I Loved this:
“It is called having a vision, making a plan, taking action and surrounding yourself with like minded individuals.”