3 stories that will inspire you to learn and create more in 2023

Hey friends,

Happy New Year!

We hope you had plenty of time to rest and catch up with friends and family over the holidays, and are now emerging recharged and ready to take 2023 by storm. We certainly are.

After spending the last week ideating and getting ready to launch our product to a select group of New Yorkers, we can’t be more pumped for this year!

So, to share our enthusiasm with you and help you start the year with the right dose of inspiration, we’ve curated three remarkable stories that will leave you energized and excited to learn and create more.

P.S. We have a few spots available for our NYC beta, so if one of your 2023 goals is to build social capital and attract opportunities through your online presence, feel free to sign up. 

Meet the 72-year-old congressman who’s going back to school to get an AI degree

Don Beyer, a 72-year-old Democrat from Virginia, is juggling his duties as a congressman with a master’s in machine learning from George Mason University. The chair of the House science, space and technology subcommittee, Beyer has had a life-long fascination with science and is on track to graduate with his ML degree in 2024. He’s excited to apply his knowledge to legislation, and is especially interested in using AI for suicide prevention. Now, if this is not a prime example of life-long learning, we don’t know what is.

6-year-old Goes Viral for Playing More Than 8 Instruments

Miles Bonham could easily qualify as a modern-day Mozart. The 6-year-old plays more than 8 musical instruments and has repeatedly gone viral for his covers of famous artists. A self-taught musician, he first picked up the guitar when he was four and a half, then quickly proceeded to other instruments. This has earned him praise from Grammy winning artists like Lenny Kravitz. Respect.

The pioneering animator whose work is getting rediscovered

Bessie Mae Kelley drew mouse couple Milton and Mary long before Mickey and Minnie Mouse became a thing. She made her drawings into cartoons in the 1920s and was the only woman animator on these vaudeville tours. However, her work has been largely forgotten…until now. Animation historian Mindy Johnson discovered Kelley’s work in 2022, and with it - a fascinating story. This one is a doozy.

These stories show us that you’re never too old - or too young - to do anything. We hope they inspire you to chase your goals this year as much as they inspired us.

With love,

Team Salley

What is Salley?

​Salley helps you accelerate your career by learning new skills, such as building a strong online presence.