Hi! Welcome to our 18th newsletter! 💡learnshiv is here to make learning easy for you, whether it’s tech, social justice, or self-improvement content. In this constantly changing world, the only way to future-proof yourself is diversification, and that’s what I’m here to help you do.

Here’s what we’re talking about in this week’s newsletter:

• ✏️ Defining: AI TRiSM, Corporate Social Justice, Microlearning

• 👎🏽 My Museum of Failure - three big fails and what I learned

• 🗒️ A free download of a social media assignment that got me a final interview (that I turned down)

• 🎙️ Podcast recap: Big Brains - Dr. James Doty on the Neuroscience of Manifestation

💡 LESSON LEARNED

This post on my personal IG has been doing really well. It made me want to dive deep into some of my biggest failures and what I learned from them.

1. I got rejected from all three master’s programs I applied to. — As I was completing my undergraduate degree in political science, I thought attending grad school was essential for success. I was passionate about labour relations and applied to a small master's program in labour studies at my university, as well as several public policy master's programs at other universities. Unfortunately, my grades were slightly below the required cutoff, and I was not accepted into any of these programs. I felt I had failed my parents, who had come to this country to provide me with a better life and education. However, this setback turned into a great opportunity. With the summer free, I accepted my first full-time modelling contract in London. Over the next decade, I modelled full-time, earning multiple six-figure incomes and working internationally at a very high level. Not getting into the master's program allowed me to take a chance on a unique and rewarding career that I might have otherwise missed.
   

2. I was laid off twice in one year. — Getting laid off twice last year felt like a huge setback, even though both layoffs weren’t due to performance. It took me three months to find a new job after the first layoff and six months after the second, reflecting the challenging job market. Despite this, there were many positives. First, my interview skills improved like crazy through repeated practice, making me confident in any interview scenario. Second, I completed numerous assignments, which not only provided valuable material to share but also honed my skills through feedback from hiring managers. These experiences led me to my current job, which is remote and flexible and allows me to balance modelling, running this newsletter, and enjoying personal time. Although 2023 was difficult, these challenges contributed to an outstanding 2024.
   

3. I started journalism and quit less than two years in. — Quitting journalism in 2021 was a difficult decision for me because I had invested so much time and money into courses, pitching, publishing, producing video series, and working on a podcast. Despite my early success in journalism, the income was insufficient to support living in Toronto and didn't compare to my earnings as a model. This was heartbreaking because journalism felt like a natural progression from modelling and something I deeply enjoyed particularly - storytelling. However, the low rates made the work less enjoyable as I felt undervalued. Fortunately, journalism led me to content marketing and eventually to tech, a field I love. The storytelling and writing skills I developed in journalism have been invaluable in my tech career, which is both fulfilling and financially rewarding. I'm grateful for this setback because it guided me to a career I truly enjoy and am well compensated for.
   
   Remember: there is no such thing as failure. Only redirection. Failure means you’ve tried different things and you’ve gained experience. You are NOT a failure.

💡 F R E E B I E

Here’s an assignment I did to be a part-time social media manager and copywriter for a company that teaches founders about launching a d2c business. They wanted someone to turn their podcast episodes into tweet threads and someone to write their newsletters. For this assignment, I listened to one of their podcasts, wrote this thread, and then rewrote one of their already-published newsletters. Unfortunately, I ended up turning down the final interview that I got offered because it took the hiring manager over two weeks to get back to me, and I had to prioritize clients with a faster response time. It is what it is. Regardless, I knew they liked this assignment, and it’s a great example of how to write a good tweet thread and what a clear newsletter for a d2c education company should look like.

💡 LEARNSHIV CONTENT

Last week I gave you a recap of this podcast - but it’s such good info I wanted to go in deeper. Here are three takeaways from the Big Brains podcast episode with Dr. James Doty on the Neuroscience of Manifestation:

1️⃣ Activate Your Salience Network:

👉🏽 Our salience network acts like a filter, helping us focus on what’s important.
👉🏽 It includes the anterior insula and anterior cingulate cortex, which prioritize relevant information.
👉🏽 Embedding your intentions deeply makes this network attuned to opportunities related to your goals.

2️⃣ Engage Your Parasympathetic Nervous System:

👉🏽 To manifest effectively, you need to be calm and relaxed.
👉🏽 The 'rest and digest' system lowers cortisol levels and improves heart rate variability.
👉🏽 A calm environment helps your cognitive networks work at their best, enhancing focus and intention.

3️⃣ Harness the Power of Positive Visualization:

👉🏽 Regularly visualizing your goals strengthens the neural pathways associated with them.
👉🏽 This practice embeds your intentions in the brain’s default mode network.
👉🏽 The default mode network, involving the prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex, helps create and reinforce mental images and narratives about your goals.

Thanks for reading our 18th newsletter. I want you to be prepared for the ways in which our world may change and affect our lives, careers, relationships, and more in the future. 💡learnshiv is meant to share my three passions with you, share what I learn, and make your life easier by helping you learn, too, in a digestible way.

If you’re reading this, reply and I might have a sweet treat for you.

Have a great week, and stay curious,

Shiv 💁🏽‍♀️