Seven Lessons To Learn From Jake Paul On Mastering A New Skill
In just 4 years, Jake Paul has transformed from a successful YouTuber into one of the highest paid professional boxers in the world.
The establishment expects him to fail with each subsequently more challenging fight, yet he keeps winning.
I have followed and observed Jake’s boxing career with increasing interest, culminating in watching him fight live in Orlando last month.
Here’s what I’ve seen in Jake’s journey and how you can apply it to set yourself on the road to mastering a new skill, regardless of how late on the scene you think you are.
Embrace the Beginner’s Mindset
Remember when you first learned to ride a bike? Wobbly and uncertain, but oh, the thrill! That's the beginner's mindset. It's about embracing the new without fear.
Starting afresh means you see things with new eyes, full of curiosity and wonder. At the start of something new, you also get the benefit of making huge gains in capability very quickly.
In Jake’s first two fights against fellow influencers, his dedication and enjoyment for solid execution of the basics carried him to comfortable victories. He did nothing more than enjoy and embrace the newness.
Your 5-Minute Action: Pick a skill you've always wanted to try. Spend 5 minutes looking up the basics online. Maybe it's a cooking technique, a simple yoga pose or a YouTube lesson on making AI images. Just start and see what sticks, you’ll be amazed at the progress you can make in a short time.
Set Realistic Goals
Ever aimed too high, too soon? We've all been there. Setting realistic goals is like building a bridge to your dreams – one step at a time.
Realistic goals keep you focused and gives you those sweet 'I did it!' moments to keep you coming back for more.
Despite always talking a big game, Jake clearly realized that he would have to slowly step up the difficulty of his opponent. See how he gradually stepped up the challenge with each bout.
fellow influencers (Deji, Anenson Gibb)
professional athlete (Nate Robinson)
retired MMA fighter known for wrestling (Ben Askren)
retried MMA fighter smaller than him (Tyron Woodley)
retired MMA fighter known for striking (Anderson Silva)
relatively untested professional boxer (Tommy Fury)
current MMA fighter know for stamina (Nate Diaz)
unknown professional boxer with good record (Andre August)
Your 5-Minute Action: Write down one small, achievable goal for your new skill. When that’s done, write the next one and so on. Staring with a grandiose end in mind is good motivation for starting something; having smaller achievable goals is far better motivation for continuing it.
Integrate Learning into Daily Life
Learning isn't just for the classroom. It's for the living room, the park, even the grocery store. If you can make learning a part of your life it starts to feel a lot less like a chore.
Picking up Spanish? Try labeling items in your home with their Spanish names. Learning the guitar? Leave it lying around where you can see it. Reducing friction this way is one of the core concepts in the legendary Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Jake moved to Puerto Rico and invested significant money into a boxing warehouse where he spends many of his days. Boxing is everywhere he goes.
Your 5-Minute Action: Think of a daily task. How can you weave your new skill into it? How do you make it part of your daily routine to reduce the effort required to do it?
Leverage Technology and Resources
In this digital age, resources for learning are just a click away. It's like having a world-class library in your pocket. It opens up a world of knowledge, accessible anytime, anywhere. All you need to provide is the hard work and persistence.
Jake was already a master of digital social platforms before boxing. He has capitalized hugely on these skills to expand his reach and his platform and, as a result, was recently named one of the “Top 50 most influential figures in sports” by Sport Illustrated.
Your 5-Minute Action: Find an app or website related to your new skill. Spend 5 minutes exploring it and identify a learning path that represents a great short-term realistic goal for you.
Build a Support Network
Nobody's an island, especially in learning. Connecting with others on the same path can be incredibly motivating and you can benefit from all the learnings that they have shared from their time walking it. If you can find the right community, it can also give you a sense of belonging and support.
Using his influencer wealth, Jake has been able to build an incredible bespoke support network for his boxing career. He has been coached by BJ Flores and Shane Mosely, both of whom have helped to build world champions. He has even added The Problem Bot - a 10ft robot to support him on his ring walks.
Your 5-Minute Action: Look for a group or community online. Introduce yourself and your learning goals and get ready for a warm and supportive welcome!
Celebrate Small Victories
Every little success is a step forward. Remember those small achievable goals you set for yourself? Celebrate these moments – they’re your milestones!
This will keep you motivated and acknowledges the effort you have put in to make sure you keep that promise you made to yourself to achieve your goals.
Jake is no wallflower when it comes to celebrating his wins. Critics always knock and question each of his victories but he keeps his head high and takes exuberant pride in his progress.
Your 5-Minute Action: At the end of each week, reflect on what you’ve achieved, no matter how small. Even in the weeks of zero progress, you can celebrate your mental commitment not to give up.
Stay Patient and Persistent
Learning is a marathon, not a sprint. Patience and persistence are your best buddies on this journey. If you can stick with it, you'll gain a deep, lasting understanding of your new skill. Consistency always trumps talent in the end.
Struggling with your new skill? Keep at it. The breakthrough will come.
When Jake suffered his only defeat (to Tommy Fury in February 2023) some expected him to give up but instead he used it as a platform to learn and push on. In his words:
“I think it made me reevaluate everything, including myself, my coaches, the people around me, everything,” Paul said “And I think that’s good to do in life. It was sort of this reset and this opportunity to look into the mirror. I learned more about myself in the loss than I have in any of the wins. It’s made me stronger mentally in life, in everything that I’m doing, and it’s almost like a relief in a sense."
Your 5-Minute Action: Write a note of encouragement to yourself to look back on during the challenging days. When things get tough, remember why you started and remember to focus on the journey more than the destination.
So, ready to embark on this adventure of learning and growing?
Elon Musk is - he taught himself how to build space rockets.
Kim Kardashian is — she is studying to pass the bar.
Travis Scott is - he is planning to go back to college to study architecture.
Remember: every expert was once a beginner. Here's to the joy of learning at any age!
Until then, keep exploring, keep learning, and most importantly, keep enjoying every step of this journey we call life.
Cheers,
Graeme