how did you learn to work on cars?

Well when i was younger "30 years ago" a guy up the block had a
Green 68 fastback mustang with a 289 4 speed he was putting in a Rear end one day, 390 if i remember correctly.
I remember him saying if this thing dosnt lift the wheels now it never will! also my sisters Boyfreind had a 68 442 with no reverse and one of those 65 ford vans with chrome slots i remember cleaning the wheels for him one day. And my cousin had a brand new 69 charger rt that rust color and they would come by just about every sunday to visit. I remember them always making sure it was ok in the drivway and wiping it down. Then my Mom bought me my first car it was a 67 Barracuda for $400 with a 273 fold down back seat, best car i ever owned never used a drop of Oil. since then i have been doing motors trani's rear end swaps not too much anymore but alot over the years. trial and error is how i learned i guess.