"I Don't Know," Isolation, and Indefinite Growth

3 Takeaways from my conversation with digital marketer, Mackenzie DeGon

It was such a blast recently, when I had the chance to have a conversation with Mackenzie DeGon. The experience was enlightening… and a bit surreal as I found myself talking to someone who, like me, was also on a similar journey and who also works from the comfort of their home. Our conversation was full of shared experiences and agreeing on ideas we’d each discovered separately.

Mackenzie DeGon, who cut her teeth as a social media intern, slowly but steadily honed her craft as a freelance writer and content marketer. Today, she stands as the captain of her own ship, running a digital marketing agency aptly named DeGon Digital. I highly recommend her for ad campaigns and the like.

Our conversation covered numerous topics, but three key takeaways still resonate in my mind:

1. The Magic of “I Don’t Know”

The world is riddled with “experts” and “gurus” who seem to have the answer to every question, the solution to every problem. They were apparently born with all the knowledge of the universe imprinted on their brains. So when Mackenzie and I dove into a segment where she talked about embracing the phrase “I don't know,” it felt like a breath of fresh, mountain air.

I put that conversation snippet up on YouTube as a short, and now it’s my highest performing video yet. Probably because it struck a chord, resonating with people who are tired of all the noise and so-called experts. In this era where followers are deemed a measure of success, it's liberating to know that you don’t need a million fans. You don’t even need to have your act all together at the start. When I look back at myself from a year ago, I think, “that dude had no idea what he’s doing.”

I wonder what I’ll think of myself a year from now…

2. Isolation Will Murder You

People aren’t meant to be alone. But when you work from home, isolation becomes an unwelcome roommate. As someone relatively introverted, I thought I would like working alone. And I do, to an extent. But over time, you start to go a little crazy.

Sure, I have my trusty canine sidekick, but his contributions to my workday generally oscillate between adorable distractions and champion-level snoozing. Here’s a photo of him, by the way:

The thing I miss most for from my old jobs is the camaraderie of a team, the energy of a bustling office. To fend off isolation (and murder), I’ve started scheduling lunches, breakfasts, and coffee meetings—social interactions that need to be carved into my schedule as firmly as work deadlines.

3. The Day You Stop Learning Is the Day You Start Dying

Okay, I just realized two of my subheaders are death-themed, and I'm not sure what that says about me, but bear with me. Mackenzie and I both resonated with the idea of maintaining a growth mindset. In the jet-paced digital economy, the only constant is change.

I use tools every single day that were mere ideas a year ago. The lure of sticking with the known, of digging my heels in and resisting change, can be strong. But whenever I succumb to this temptation, I immediately start falling behind. So, I’m recommitting to the growth mindset and trying new things.

I wonder, have you ever toyed with the idea of starting a side hustle? If so, what's holding you back?