“I’m bad at maths.” Zzzz…

Firstly apologies for the ranty format. It’s just a collage of ideas.<br><br>Now you fine folk are from all over the world. But I’ve noticed a recurring theme. <br><br>And that’s when well-motivated people say “Oh I’m bad at this… maths!” It’s like my Zzzz button is hit every time. <br><br>I’m 41 and studied finance in my 20’s. Now I get that many people are not as good with numbers, but then again I can’t paint or make music like my friends can. I don’t say “I’m bad at painting”, I simply accept that my skill set is different. <br><br>There is this modern anti-science anti maths movement that’s causing so many people to be completely closed-off. It’s not something you needed to have learned in school… maths is like chess, you can learn it at any stage. <br><br>The problem is… when you say “I’m bad at maths”. It Zzzz’s me because it’s Zzzz’d your brain. Think about it. You’re closing yourself off to some of the most interesting & useful subjects ever! <br><br>I’ll give an example. I saw a comment in a productivity blog the other day. This guy said “I want to go back to school. I want to drop my 2 kids off & be in the same school for 7 hours”. Wow! Problem! Not only a huge time commitment! But you’ll need to do 3 years! (That’s 9 years of schooling as 3x3 = 9). But you know what? This guy has closed his mind. He’s a victim. A victim of “I’m bad at maths”. <br><br>He should be asking himself “What’s the best way of making money for 7 hours a day, 5 days a week?”. Well it’s writing code. But he’s not just bad at maths he’s also a victim of “I need to be in a school to learn!”. So he’s closed his mind! <br><br>Now the next problem Zzzz. This is when people say “Girl do/ don’t maths” and similar BS. Think about how many times you wouldn’t have been able to have done something today without numbers. “I have £x in my pocket. Lunch is £y. How much money will I have left Zzzz?”<br><br>I’ll give you a simple Zzzz example. My wife is a flight attendant. She’s been vaccinated. She does not travel! She’s based in London. And she still didn’t realise that the PCR test was £95 / $135 USD! It Zzzz’d her to the tune of $135. <br><br>Why? She didn’t like maths! She studied languages and history. But then she couldn’t work out £95 + 4 Covid tests is a lot of money! She’s a flight attendant! She travels! But she’s too lazy to work out the maths! Or she’s anti maths! But she’s a flight attendant! It Zzzz’d her to the tune of $135. <br><br>3 Zzzz problems. My wife is a flight attendant. She’s been vaccinated. She does not travel… so why does she need a PCR test? <br><br>4. How much does the flight to Ibiza cost? <br><br> Problem! She’s bad at maths! What a victim! So she needed some help from my friend Google to work out £95 + 4 tests = £380! Wow! She’s a flight attendant! She can’t even do simple maths! Problem! This flight is £300. And she still needs to pay £380 for the tests! £300 + £380 = £680! Zzzz! But she’s bad at maths! <br><br>Why is she a flight attendant? She’s studied Spanish, Portuguese, French and German! She’s terrible at maths! It Zzzz’s her! But she’s a flight attendant! And she didn’t realise this flight was a loss! £300 fare + $135 x 4 Zzzz’d her! <br><br>I know this is extreme but the reality is a simple equation ruled out the flight. She knew there would be a lot of tests required… she just didn’t do the maths! She’s a flight attendant! She’s lazy or she’s stupid! Or maybe she Zzzz’s… <br><br>Think about it. When you have a problem or opportunity. You need to Zzzz it… maths! <br><br>Otherwise you’ll be like my wife! £380 lost. Why? She said “I’m bad at maths”. It Zzzz’d her. <br><br>3 Zzzz problems… maths! <br><br>1) How many tests do I need for Ibiza? <br><br>2) Ibiza is a domestic travel! Why do I need any tests? I’m a flight attendant! I’m vaccinated! I’m based in London! I don’t need to travel! And you’re charging me $135 per test! It Zzzz’s me! <br><br>3) How much does the flight cost? And how much are these tests? It’s £680! Zzzz… you’ve ripped me off again! <br><br>Edit - I know many people have made comments like “I’m terrible at languages!”. Well duh! This was a story about my wife who is terrible at maths. Of course you can’t do everything! But you can try! You can try to learn. You can try to be better. You can accept! <br><br>But you shouldn’t Zzzz all your other skills. This is the problem! You’re closing yourself off to so much! <br><br>“I’m terrible at languages… maths… Zzzz’d! <br><br>Now I’m not saying that you should all become brain surgeons & TED speakers. But I am saying that when you say “I’m terrible at maths…”, you Zzzz yourself! Problem! This is bad! <br><br>I can’t dance! Zzzz! But does that stop me from trying! Ha! I love dancing! I’m not very good! But I try! Problem! You won’t try! You won’t give yourself a chance! Zzzz! <br><br>I’m terrible at drawing! Zzzz! But I draw! I ask questions! I learn! Zzzz! There’s nothing wrong with being bad at anything! The problem is saying “I’m bad at… Zzzz!”. Then you’ll never learn! Zzzz! <br><br>This is the problem! You’re not saying “I’m bad at maths… & I’m going to learn”. You’re just Zzzz’n! <br><br>Now I know many people will disagree. But ask yourself this… “Why am I bad at maths? Or Spanish?” Is it because you’re lazy? Or is it something else? What can you do to improve? <br><br>3 Zzzz problems. <br><br>1) What can you do to improve? <br><br>2) How much will it cost? And how much time will it take? <br><br>3) What are the consequences of being bad at…? <br><br>If you can’t answer these questions then Zzzz! <br><br>Edit 2 - my wife is a flight attendant. She Zzzz’d herself to the tune of $540. <br><br>“I’m bad at maths… Zzzz’d!”<br><br>“I’m anti science… Zzzz’d!”<br><br>“I’m anti-vax… Zzzz’d!”<br><br>“I’m anti… anti… anti… Zzzz’d!”<br><br>Your mind is Zzzz’d.