Life Lessons from Popular Mechanics

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I’ve been a fan of Popular Mechanics for decades.? If you’re not familiar with the magazine, it is a compilation of popular science and technology articles shared with its readers bi-monthly.? Topics range widely and include aviation, automotive, electronics, military, space, tools, gadgets, DIY projects, and more.

Since January 11, 1902, Popular Mechanics has been showing up in the mailboxes of enthusiasts and today has a subscription base of roughly 5.7 million subscribers.

I look forward to each issue of the magazine, as I find the content (for the most part) highly educational.? I learn new things about the world around me every time I pick up a copy and read it.? My wife likes the DIY project articles, and one of the few women I know who gets excited when I buy her a power tool for special occasions, like Christmas and birthdays.

In a recent issue, I got the inside story of the world of aerial firefighters, the guys who fly perfectly good planes into raging infernos, bombing them with water and chemicals to douse the flames. ?Learning the evolution of how this industry started, the technological advances that have improved outcomes and saved thousands of acres of forest, and the men who risk their lives to do so, was amazing.?

But, in the September/October 2024 issue, an article caught my attention.? It was a bit unusual for Popular Mechanics, yet I found it fascinating.? The article, “Life Lessons”, opened with these words:

“I consider the life lessons that I’ve learned from Popular Mechanics to be more important than the mechanical knowledge I’ve acquired. Both are important, but these lessons are the ones that I’ll take with me right to the end.”?

From there, the unnamed author shared a compilation of 8 essential life lessons that apply to all of us, whether we are a fan of Popular Mechanics or not.? I’m guessing it’s Bill Strickland, but I could be wrong.

I’d like to build upon what the author penned and add a Black Belt perspective on each of these essential life lessons.?

1. Get along with people.

We are human beings, created to be in community with other people.? If you can’t get along with other people, you’re not going to go very far in life and you’re not going to experience much success either.? As good as you are at some things, you aren’t good at everything. You need other people in your life if for nothing more than to help you do the things you’re not good at doing.

And if you can’t get along with other people, life’s going to be a very lonely place. ?Social isolation can also lead to depression, anxiety, and hopelessness.? It increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, and cognitive decline. ?

2. Take criticism well.

We’re not perfect.? None of us are.? Being open to being critiqued or criticized is one of the ways we learn, grow, and improve.? Criticism can often reveal a blind spot that we’re not aware of or a habit or trait that needs to be modified, corrected, or replaced.?

When criticism is given, it is a time of reflection.? Ask yourself and those you trust, “Is this true?? Is this valid? How do I need to respond to this?” ?Everyone has an opinion, and most folks are quick to share theirs. Weigh the value of the criticism, and if it is valid (and not a one-off comment), consider whether or not you need to respond, and how.

Let me be the first to say there’s a difference between constructive criticism and verbal abuse.? While I’m all for the former, I am fully against the latter.? No one deserves to be embarrassed, harassed, or bullied verbally or physically. If the criticism isn’t constructive, see it for what it is – a weak, immature person crying out for attention or help.

3. Take a long view.

Success isn’t easy.? It takes time, and work, to achieve real success and significance. Remember that successful people do daily what unsuccessful people do sometimes or not at all.? When you see an “overnight success”, what you don’t see are the years of preparation that got them to this moment where they can be celebrated.

Black Belt Leaders are patient in the process, understanding (as Dr. John Maxwell so aptly says it) that leaders develop daily, not in a day. ?Og Mandino said it well, “I will persist until I succeed.”?? The road to success is paved with sacrifice, persistence, and dedication.

4. Stay humble.

When you’re really good, you don’t have to brag about your accomplishments.? They speak for themselves.? If you’re having to draw attention to you, that’s ego…not leadership. Good leaders put others before themselves, they are quick to give credit to others, and they focus their energy and efforts on helping those they are leading experience more success. ??

If you’re arrogant, cocky, or proud, you actually diminish your capacity to lead others.? Why?? You’re so full of yourself that you are failing to lead yourself. Humble leaders possess a realistic view of themselves, both their talents and their flaws. ?They own their mistakes.

5. Work hard.

There is an old proverb that says the diligent man (or woman) will prosper. ?Black Belt Leaders are willing to put forth the sustained effort required to achieve a goal or reach an objective. Society prospers when people dedicate themselves to working diligently to accomplish a desired outcome. Working hard is doing what is required, and then just a little bit more.

Hard work requires perseverance, discipline, and focus. It demands that we are intentional about managing our time, tools, and resources to get the maximum value from our effort within the allotted time each day. ?This is true whether we are working alone or we are in collaboration with other people.

6. Relax well.

Black Belt Leaders understand the importance of rest.? Hard work is tenuous.? It demands that we are physically, mentally, and emotionally engaged in the task at hand.? Hard work can be engaging, but it is also stressful and taxing. Relaxing well gives our bodies, minds, and our emotions a respite from hard work and an opportunity to rest and reset.

Relaxing not only relieves stress, it slows our heart rate and lowers our blood pressure. It improves our concentration, memory, and decision-making.? Relaxation is also good for our digestion and boosts our immune system. It’s also a great way to reduce the risk of depression, anxiety, or obesity.

7. Find a mentor.

A mentor is someone who is farther along the path than you are and is willing to share his or her collective wisdom, knowledge, and insights with you.? A mentor’s role is to help lead you from where you are to where you want to be. ?They possess expertise and experience you don’t yet possess )or haven’t fully mastered), and they are willing to share that expertise and experience with you.

A mentor can help you with personal development, career development, or making introductions through networking relationships they possess. Mentors often know the very people you need to know to get from where you are to where you want to be. ?But this only happens when you earn their trust and confidence, over time, as you remain open to learning and diligent in applying what they are imparting. ?Remember, a mentor can take you farther, and get you there faster, and they are essential to your long-term success.

8. It’s about you.

I had to do a retake on this last life lesson, as the title can be deceiving.? But the author of the article said it well, “It’s not about me.? It’s about you…”? This life lesson is really a return to the first life lesson, getting along with other people. As a leader, you’re called to inspire and empower those who are following to learn to lead themselves well, make good choices, and celebrate the wins that happen as a result.?

Leadership is replication. It’s about preparing those who will one day take your place for a greater measure of success than you’ve experienced. Black Belt Leaders help those they are leading to discover, develop, and deploy their own Black Belt Leader Within as they practice living their lives with Black Belt Excellence.

Black Belt Leaders are committed to helping other people get more of what they want from life, knowing they (in turn) will reciprocate, helping them get more of what they want from life. ?

My role, as The Black Belt Leader, is to make it all about you in these lessons. I know you have many choices when it comes to who you choose to read, listen to, and learn from.? I don’t take that lightly.? ?Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter and my podcast, and for following me on my social media channels.? Thank you for buying my books, taking my online courses, showing up to hear me when I speak in person or online, commenting on my posts, and emailing me with your thoughts and insights.

I do what I do because of you.? Thank you for the privilege and opportunity of speaking into your life as a mentor, a coach, and as The Black Belt Leader.? And, thank you for sharing my content so I can impact those who are important to you as well.

Let me close this lesson by saying a BIG thank you to Popular Mechanics for what you’ve been doing well since 1902.? That’s a L-O-N-G time to stay relevant in an ever-changing world.? Keep up the good work, and thanks for sharing your wisdom with the world.

One last thing…if you’re not a subscriber to Popular Mechanics, consider becoming one.? It’s a fascinating read six times a year, as well as online.