Planting redwood seeds
The 10 foundational skills that grow a life worth living.
The term “soft skills” annoys the shit out of me.
In the same way that “collateral damage” or “friendly fire” in no way actually convey the weight of what they’re referring to.
Soft skills are, in fact, the hardest skills to learn.
And the most necessary.
My friend Yoni and I are developing an online course that demystifies the steps of moving to Los Angeles and getting a job in Hollywood. There are two core unique offerings:
25 steps—starting from even before you move to L.A.—that teach you how to create real opportunities for meetings, interviews, and jobs
The 10 foundational skills that, once learned, teach you how to land those opportunities
If luck is opportunity meets preparation, then the formula is simple: prepare and then find opportunities.
Recently, I was doing an online roundtable discussion with 30 college students from my college. One of them said, “How do I get opportunities when I don’t know anyone in Los Angeles?”
I said, “Great question. And here’s the answer: that’s not true. You know me, and I just pasted my cell number in the chat. Text me anytime. Next question.”
It got a laugh because my delivery was predictably hilarious.
But unfortunately, guess what was also predictable?
Out of the 30 students, I only heard from 2 or 3 of them.
So clearly it’s not just opportunities that are the problem. Gen-Z is suffering from imposter syndrome and social anxiety at—I think—levels that millennials don’t even understand.
So let’s fix that by breaking down the most powerful soft skills in a way that’s simple, with action-oriented phrases that feel immediately, uh, actionable:
I. Just Notice
The first step is to just... notice. When we pay attention to what’s going on in the world and in our own minds, we start to see the invisible systems at play. From there, we can see what’s working, what’s not, and how to create real change.
Principles: self-awareness, presence, stillness.
II. Think it Through
Once you're paying attention, you have to think critically about what choices you want to make and what the domino effects will be. There are consequences, and then there are second- and third-order effects. Successful people don't react—they respond.
Principles: critical thinking, second-order thinking, discernment.
III. Act with Intention
After you've considered your choices, be intentional about how you act on them. Success isn't busyness. It's starting something on purpose and seeing it through to the end, even when no one's watching.
Principles: intentionality, follow-through, integrity.
IV. Own Your Impact
All of your actions will have consequences—own them. Standing behind your choices—especially when the outcome isn't what you had hoped—is what makes you trustworthy, responsible, and coachable. It builds a reputation of accountability and emotional maturity that people are excited to be around.
Principles: accountability, awareness of consequence, self-regulation.
V. Fail Quickly
You will fail. Which is, actually, its own success. From failure, you now have the data needed to learn, improve, and move forward. The people who last in this industry aren’t the ones who avoid or hide failure—they’re the ones realistic enough to know it's inevitable—and they harness it.
Principles: resilience, adaptability, learning velocity.
VI. Sit in Discomfort
You'll run from failure if you aren't able to sit in discomfort. And actually, you'll run from a lot more than that. Successful people cultivate the ability to sit with emotional or situational discomfort, and learn how to work through moments with others.
Principles: emotional regulation, collaboration, patience, inner stability.
VII. Uncover the Truth
If you can hold space for discomfort, you can then begin to talk—and listen—to figure out what’s really going on—whether it’s a coffee meeting, a job interview, or a chaotic situation where the stakes are high. We take speech class, but we don't take a listening class. Good communication is about getting to the truth beneath the words.
Principles: communication, empathy, curiosity, psychological safety.
VIII. Tell Better Stories
Stories are one of the fundamental elements of existence that separate humans from everything else in the universe. We don't hire people. We hire their stories. Because the stories we tell BECOME us. Learning to tell better stories—about who you are, what you’ve done, and what you believe—is foundational to making identity changes. And until we believe ourselves capable of being someone greater than we currently are, change won’t happen.
Principles: influence, connection, identity
IX. Protect What Matters
None of this actually matters if you aren't protecting your time, energy, and attention. And it's harder than ever. The most skilled behavioral psychologists are working for Instagram, TikTok, etc., with the sole directive of rewriting your brain. Let them tinker away in their labs. Meanwhile, your job is to protect yourself—your values, your focus, your sanity. More than almost any other Seed Skill, learning to protect what matters is one of the most competitive edges you have in today's distracted world.
Principles: boundaries, focus, value discernment.
X. Stay a Student
No one has it all figured out. Not you, not us, not the Dalai Lama, and the minute you think otherwise, you're in trouble. Staying open, teachable, and—most of all—curious about literally everything is what will keep you growing well after you're finished with our course.
Principles: humility, growth mindset, receptivity.
A redwood seed is only about the size of a tomato seed—barely something you’d notice in your hand. And yet, given the right conditions, it can grow into something 350 feet tall and last for over 2,000 years.
Goddamn.
Which is why we’re calling them Seed Skills.
They seem quiet. But they’re foundational. And if you plant them now, they’ll grow into a beautiful California redwood of a career—and a life.
I’m sharing this early, not because it’s perfect, but because showing the work mid-iteration helps both of us.
If it sparked something for you, tell me.
If it might spark something for someone else, pass it along.
The garage door is open. Let’s keep tinkering.