Never Stop Learning: Choosing the Path of Most Resistance with Neil Sahota

What this episode covers

This episode of The Jake Dunlap Show features Neil Sahota, professional speaker, lecturer at the University of California and Chief Innovation Officer at the UC Irvine School of Law, and Master Inventor. An openness to learning, troubleshooting problems, and continuously growing are just some of the values that Neil's story offers. This is evident in the incredible wealth of experience he has gained studying and working in a diverse array of fields and industries. For Neil, money is not the not goal. He has always explored the opportunities around him and did not close doors simply because they seemed too different from his current track. Quite the opposite, he always sought the path of most resistance because it offered a challenge to learn important lessons in his diverse field of interests. Many of Neil's successes started out as accidents. But true to his nature, he would take moments like this, turn them around, use them as opportunities for incredible growth. This would thrust him into the world of AI where he would gain immense success and earn the title of Master Inventor, a fitting name for a man who is always looking forward. The value of giving back is also a core part of Neil's identity. This was ingrained in him since he was a child and translates directly to his volunteer work as a mentor to several organizations. His passion for working in the United Nations is also tied directly to creating an impact that matters in education and healthcare. Listen to the full podcast on Neil's journey of turning accidents into opportunities, finding fundamental satisfaction in work, and volunteering for community development. QUOTES: 29:46 "I've learned that the experience and skills you can gain are actually probably more important (than money). And sometimes that means even taking a step backwards... to actually get that under your belt." 30:03 "I was never about the title. I wasn't quite about the paycheck... I managed to escape school without much debt and I don't live an opulent lifestyle. So I was very much able to focus on the rewards of a job rather than just the paycheck itself." 37:19 "Honestly, I think it's because in my life I've always kind of sought the path of most resistance because I felt that's actually a great way to learn and add value." 37:55 "I wasn't content with the status quo. I'm not saying things are bad, but you can always improve things. And so I was always kind of looking for that value add change." 39:49 "If you keep looking for differences, you're not going to have a good experience. And unfortunately a lot of people, they didn't have a good experience." 53:22 "You always try to help your community or your neighborhood, right? You don't help them to help yourself, you help them so they can help other people." More about Neil Neil is an incredibly brilliant man who wears several hats, most notably as an innovator and mentor whose goals include changing the educational and healthcare landscape for the better. He helps the United Nations create AI for the Global Good ecosystem, speaks publicly to help others overcome fears of public speaking and writing, works with Fortune 500 companies create products for nascent markets and industries.Neil also spends a lot of his time today helping organizations disrupt themselves before others disrupt them. Neil is an IBM Master Inventor and patented more than 18 technologies. He is a seasoned author who creates content on diverse topics that impact the world, including AI, innovation, law, climate change, diversity, and inclusion, just to name a few. He has won dozens of awards including the President's Volunteer Service Award and the Outstanding Achievement in Artificial Intelligence, which speak to his expertise and altruistic nature at the same time. Find out more about Neil and connect with him in the following links: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilsahota/ Learn more about Jake Dunlap and Skaled by visiting the links below: Jake Dunlap: Personal Site - http://jakedunlap.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakedunlap/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/JakeTDunlap Instagram - http://instagram.com/jake_dunlap_ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JakeTDunlap/ Skaled: Website - https://skaled.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/skaled YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsw_03rSlbGQkeLGMGiDf4Q