When learning, focus exclusively on observable inputs that produce desired outputs. Avoid getting lost in psychological or emotional explanations for why something works. A tennis coach physically corrects your grip; they don't analyze your childhood to understand why you hold the racket wrong. Focus on what people do.
Related Insights
An alternative to structured learning is to immerse yourself and experiment relentlessly. By trying everything and discarding what doesn't work, you build an intuitive, unorthodox mastery. This method prioritizes discovery and practical application over memorizing a pre-defined curriculum.
A mentor isn't someone who provides step-by-step instructions. The most powerful learning comes from finding someone you admire and closely observing their every move, how they speak, and how they behave in the face of obstacles, rather than seeking direct guidance.
After initially modeling others, mastery comes from generating 'first-party data.' Execute a high volume of repetitions, then analyze your own top 10% of outcomes. Identify the observable differences between your best and worst results, incorporate those learnings, and repeat the cycle for a powerful, personalized feedback loop.
For invisible skills like meditation, traditional instruction is often ineffective. A better method is to observe an expert narrating their internal experience in real-time. This 'imitate an expert' approach primes your intuition and reveals new possible techniques you wouldn't discover otherwise.
Adopting a single 'role model' is flawed because no one is perfect. A better approach is to consciously identify the one thing each person you meet is exceptionally good at. This allows you to learn from a wide array of strengths without being blinded by their shortcomings.
Top performers are frequently unable to teach their skills effectively because doing and teaching are separate abilities. Their verbal explanations may be inaccurate post-rationalizations. To truly learn from the best, ignore their narratives and instead meticulously observe and replicate their specific, observable behaviors.
Don't get stuck trying to perfect your strategy. Commit to a high volume of action first. The pain of inefficiency from doing the work will naturally motivate you to learn and optimize your process, leading to mastery faster.
Reading books or watching videos without applying the lessons is merely entertainment, not education. True learning is demonstrated only by a change in behavior under the same conditions. Until you act, you have not learned anything.
Psychologist Alan Richardson's study on basketball players demonstrated that mental rehearsal is almost as powerful as physical practice. The group that only visualized making free throws improved by 24%, just shy of the 25% improvement seen in the group that physically practiced on the court.
Simply practicing a new skill is inefficient. A more effective learning loop involves four steps: 1) Reflect to fully understand the concept, 2) Identify a meaningful application, 3) Practice in a low-stakes environment, and 4) Reflect again on what worked and what didn't to refine your approach.
