How did you learn what you know?

[adr3naline]

So, I'm wanting to learn MORE. I'm considering finding a motorcycle mechanic that will hire me as entry level so I can learn all the tricks he knows. It'd be a pay cut, but I'd learn a lot. I've heard some people mock the MMI programs, and I know lots of you are self taught... so I pose the question... how did you learn everything you know?

Just curious

[totem12]

pretty much by taking it apart....then trying to figure out why it didn't work actually by reading everything i could find on the subject.

[onepieceatatime]

I'm self taught (my lessons learned list is quite large!)
I learned growing up (thanks Dad!)
Both of these.
I bought a bike as a project and went throught the whole thing.
My Dad taught me part of what I needed to know and a lot I learned from my project. I also gained a lot of knowledge from this site and the SOHC 4 forum in the last few months.

[Volker_P]

I started doing my stuff myself when I was very young. I got broken things from others, out of the garbage or the scrapyard and fixed them. Either I got it together so I had something or I did not manage so I had nothing.
Nevertheless nothing to loose trying it.

Smashed incredibe amounts of things during that, often got hurt but learned also a lot. Maybe that's why I still can feel a bit with beginners that ask simple questions.
I started like that some time ago, too.
But of course there was no internet to look up manuals and ask questions to experts then.

Kept this proceeding of doing most things myself although now I might have the money just to buy it. But that's no fun.

[Folsoml]

Self taught--or rather: self teaching.

[old gringo]

Have always done my own work. Use manuals, internet and common sense (mostly)

[cb650]

I take it apart see how it works. I walk everywhere now. Hmmm I wonder if I can get the soles off my shoes?

[adr3naline]

Some of you mentioned Internet/forums. I've used them so much over the past 5 years or so, and they've been extremely helpful! So much info at my fingertips!

But, I wonder if I might learn more like people did before the forum era? Dive in and figure it out rather than find the easy solution. It all feels weighted to both sides with benefits... Just a thought.

[Volker_P]

If you learn it by your own you probably learn much more on strategies and technical priciples. Also helpful beyond mechanic applications.