Learning to Weld
My first attempt at welding showed me the difference between understanding how something should work and developing the physical skill to actually do it.
Defining the Rules
Organizing a bridge building competition showed me that rules cannot rely on what seems obvious. If a requirement matters, it has to be defined before people are expected to design around it.
Designing Within Constraints
Designing an escape room taught me that constraints are not simply obstacles to a plan. They help define what a useful solution looks like, especially when the conditions around it change.