The document provides lessons and advice for navigating new experiences based on observations from riding Tokyo's Yamanote Line. It suggests that having a goal helps motivate completing unfamiliar tasks, that becoming skilled requires practice and experience over time, and that while change can be uncomfortable, connecting with others and remaining open-minded helps with adaptation.

1. Lessons from the
Chris Betcher
Yamanote Line

2. Everything starts with
a goal.

3. Everything starts with
a goal.
• If you know why you want to
go there, going there is less
work.

4. Everything is hard
before it's easy.

5. Everything is hard
before it's easy.
• None of us starts out being an
expert

6. We learn by doing.

7. We learn by doing.
• If we don't do things for
ourselves, we can never really
learn to do them.

8. Different can be
scary.
• If the new culture still feels
scary, you're probably not part
of it yet.

9. It's ok to be out of
your depth.

10. It's ok to be out of
your depth.
• Sometimes you might just
have to ask for directions.

11. Everyone loves the
familiar.

12. Everyone loves the
familiar.
• No one likes being out of their
comfort zone but the
alternative is staying there.

13. There is power in
connecting.

14. There is power in
connecting.
• If you let them, perfect
strangers can be your greatest
helpers.

15. It’s ok for goals to
change.

16. It’s ok for goals to
change.
• If something more worthwhile
comes along, be prepared to
go after it.

17. Not everything works
out

18. Not everything works
out
• What we expect and what we
get are not always the same
thing.

19. Silly mistakes
happen. Move on.

20. Silly mistakes
happen. Move on.
• Despite our best intentions,
sometime we overlook the
obvious and fail spectacularly.

21. The old and the new
can coexist.

22. The old and the new
can coexist.
• In the race to embrace the
future, it’s important not to
forget the past.

23. There is always
another way.

24. There is always
another way.
• Detours can be interesting. Don't be
afraid to take them.

25. The more you do it,
the better you get.

26. The more you do it,
the better you get.
• Everything makes more sense
the second time around.

27. The journey is
important.

28. The journey is
important.
• It’s good to have the finishing
line in sight, but just getting
there can be half the fun.

29. The destination is
important too.

30. The destination is
important too.
• It's important to enjoy the
process but don’t forget that
sometimes results still matter.

31. Participating is always
better than watching.

32. Participating is always
better than watching.
• Actively getting involved is
always better than being a
bystander.

33. Photos taken in Yokohama, Shibuya and Tokyo
September 18, 2011
Photos taken with an iPhone 4
Created on Keynote for iPhone
Chris Betcher
@betchaboy