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About This Episode
True agency equals freedom. General competency is more valuable than obsessive mastery in just one area. In Episode 2, Nathan starts to unpack what C.R. Wiley calls the four languages of agency: mechanical skill, organizational skill, people skills, and aesthetics. Drawing on his experience in the military and construction, Nathan begins this multipart series by focusing on mechanical skill and how to grow in your technical and mechanical aptitude by drawing on relationships in your community.
Nathan defines agency as an individual's ability to make their own choices, express individual power, and have the capacity to independently affect change—but within proper authority structures. This isn't about doing whatever you want, but understanding which areas you have authority over and which you're under authority.
From C.R. Wiley's book "Man of the House": "People who get things done have agency... Forget the adage, Jack of all trades master of none... General competence is essential if you want to master the most important thing of all, freedom." Wiley identifies four language groups of competency: mechanical skill, organizational skills, people skills, and aesthetics.
Gaining Mechanical Skill through Building Relationships
For those who feel mechanically incompetent, Nathan encourages finding someone skilled and asking for help directly rather than relying solely on YouTube tutorials. This old-fashioned approach provides not only mechanical skill but often advice in other categories, improving general competency across multiple areas. Nathan suggests starting small—using a ladder to change a light bulb, fixing something in your house, or learning to hook up appliances.
Demystify Mechanical Skill for Your Kids
Nathan emphasizes giving children hands-on experience with tools, resisting the urge to take over when they struggle. His kids have helped build chicken tractors, work on their bus renovation, and even change a coolant sensor together, turning everyday repairs into educational opportunities. This approach demystifies tools and mechanical processes early in life.
Mechanical Skills Open Up Vocations that Stand the Test of Time
There's a huge decline in the trades in America, creating massive demand for mechanically skilled workers. Durable trades—vocations that have stood the test of time and make money regardless of economic conditions—largely require mechanical skills. Nathan shares his experience responding to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, where understanding basic mechanical systems became crucial when all utilities failed.
Nathan concludes that mechanical competency allows you to affect change not just for yourself but for your community, helping reform culture on a larger scale by serving others and growing together.