A Reminder That Real Lessons Can Happen Anywhere

🎙️ Hear this issue on The Sunday Blueprint Podcast - Episode: 5

Quick Update:

The newsletter’s now called Sunday Blueprint now we have a new name and new look. You can explore the full branding here:🔗 yousafsufian.co.uk/work/sunday-blueprint

Going forward, most issues will include a ‘Listen Online’ button so you can hear a more in-depth audio version.

Let’s get into this story:

Sometimes, the most valuable lessons happen in places you least expect.

This week, that place was my geography classroom.

I walked in and noticed we had a substitute teacher. I don’t really know anyone in that class, so I just focused on the task: copying notes from an old textbook about rainforests. Nothing exciting.

But as I worked, I overheard the teacher talking to some students at the back. He mentioned that he teaches business and economics which immediately caught my interest.

Once I finished my work, I asked him about it. He explained that alongside teaching, he runs two businesses. One of them is an e-commerce brand that delivers African groceries to people’s homes. The other one, I don’t quite remember but it was clear he had real-world experience.

I told him about my design agency.

We ended up having a long conversation.

He was really supportive, and he seemed genuinely impressed with what I was doing. We spoke about business, school, and how most students finish Year 11 without any real sense of direction. We agreed that there’s a gap most people are expected to know what they want to do next, but they’re not really shown how to figure it out.

At the end of the lesson, I gave him my contact details. He said he’d subscribe to the newsletter.

So

David, if you’re reading this:

Thank you for the conversation. It was great. Not many teachers take the time to speak to students about what they’re building outside of school. If you ever need anything design help, feedback, or just a fresh perspective feel free to reach out.

Why I’m Sharing This

Because not every lesson comes from the curriculum.

Sometimes, all it takes is one person showing interest in what you’re doing to remind you that you’re on the right path. Sometimes it’s a teacher, sometimes it’s a stranger but those conversations matter.

If there’s one thing I took away from today, it’s this:

Ask questions. Start conversations. Be open.

You never know who’s in the room with you or what you’ll learn from them.

Until next Sunday,

Yousaf