Unit 3Agency

The big idea

Agency is the ability to solve problems without someone watching you. Here's my test: how far will you go to figure something out before you come to me and say you're stuck?

Why it matters

When AI can do the routine work, the person who needs to be watched to get things done has the least to offer. The person who shows up with a plan has the most.

Energy, agency and curiosity are what companies hire for now. Experience isn't the gate it used to be. You can learn almost anything, so the question is whether you will.

Do this

1. Pick one problem from your project that you'd normally ask someone for help with.
2. Before you ask anyone, write down:
   • What you're trying to do
   • What you've already tried
   • What you think the answer might be, and why
3. Now bring that to someone. Don't ask "How do I do this?" Say: "Here's what I want to do. Here's what I tried. Here's what I think. What would you change?"
4. Use the advice and get back to work. Don't wait for them to do it for you.
5. Try it with AI first. Walk your plan through one AI, then a different one. Only bring it to a person after that.

Three things to know

Inexperienced people ask some of the best questions. On my first day at a big tech company, I asked a question in a meeting. Two minutes later a vice president asked the exact same question in the same words. Don't let anyone tell you that you don't have enough experience to ask.

Rejection is just information. If one person says no, go to the next. One student I met was told she didn't have enough volunteer experience to get into a program. She checked in every two weeks anyway and got accepted.

Learn from the people already doing it. If a company is already working on your idea, don't try to beat them. Study them. Try to work there. Learn the technology. Then build something better.

Questions to ask yourself

• What's one thing I asked someone this week that I could have figured out myself?
• What would I do next if nobody was going to check on me?
• Who's already doing the thing I want to do?

In my words

"Agency is: do you have the will to do work when I'm not watching you?"

"Come and propose solutions to problems. Don't bring me more problems."

School mostly trains you to take problems to someone older for the answer. I want you to do the opposite. When I'm asked a question, I try to show the person how to find the answer instead of giving it to them. That's the lesson.

Worksheet

Use Worksheet 3: Bring a plan, not a question in the PDF kit.