Principles of Learning

A few years ago, I wrote a short piece about learning to learn. Rereading it now, I can’t help but feel a sense of embarrassment regarding the rawness of my thoughts on the subject. And I felt a personal responsibility to provide an update. But this is precisely the purpose of this personal blog — to revisit past ideas, observe their evolution, and explore ways to enhance them.

The motivation behind exploring the subject of learning and improvement is deeply personal and primarily rooted in frustration.

Despite regularly practicing various pursuits over the years, I have experienced a complete stagnation in my progress. Running, for instance, has been a passion of mine for over two decades, yet I don’t feel that I have become a better runner over time. The same applies to playing the guitar, practicing yoga, writing, and numerous other endeavours.

This led me to question whether I am focused on too many things or lacking focus on a particular area. Am I attempting to learn the wrong things? What is really preventing me to see the progress I would like to?

Such thoughts left me pondering the existence of an effective learning process—one that reliably helps improvement. Throughout these past years, I have gathered numerous ideas on this topic and today, I aim to outline a few principles that have worked for me.

Learning v Mastery: Picking only a few things you want to master

The debate between being a generalist or specialist has persisted for a long time, with numerous books dedicated to exploring this subject. Successful individuals can be found on both ends of the spectrum, further fuelling the discussion. However, evidence and logical reasoning often lean towards favouring mastery through focused efforts.

My personal view on this is continually evolving, and increasingly so I feel it is not the right question to sit with. However, there are two things that I am now convinced about.

Firstly, I believe in the wisdom of embracing one’s true nature. Personally, I have always found it challenging to focus on just one thing at a time - a trait I have carried with me since childhood. During my early years, I developed a deep passion for playing various sports, being involved in many teams. Simultaneously, I enjoyed travelling, constantly seeking new experiences by living in different countries, immersing in new cultures, languages, cuisines etc. This curiosity extended into my professional life, where I found joy in being involved in multiple projects at the same time that offered unique challenges and opportunities for growth. My nature makes it difficult to be glued to one thing for a very long period of time. While I thrive in the richness of diverse interests and pursuits, many of my friends are the opposite, focusing their energy on a single area of interest.

Secondly, I also believe that there exists a mysterious connection between the diverse things one chooses to focus on, and over time, and that they tend to interconnect and mutually reinforce each other.

Playing golf on a Sunday will support your idea flow on Monday morning. Reading history, will make your thoughts on an investment thesis more developed. Learning chess at a young age, will make you a better negotiator in the board room.

In essence, embracing diverse interests and allowing them to intersect can yield unique advantages by fostering personal growth, expanding the range of perspectives, and facilitating unexpected connections. The fusion of seemingly unrelated pursuits can lead to an enriched and holistic approach to life and work.

As Steve Jobs famously said “you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect.”

However, if you aspire to delve deeply into a particular area, you can only manage to focus on one or two things at a time in order to truly master them. Each endeavour demands a considerable amount of time and effort, as well as the discipline to decline other commitments with a firm ‘no, no, no’.

Nevertheless, the principles of learning apply broadly to various areas. While you may choose to focus on mastering a couple of skills, you may want to improve many other areas areas. It can be helpful to write down your chosen skills or create a ‘skill portfolio’ to keep track of your progress and goals.

But what to actually work on? Well, this is a whole new subject that is reserved for another day.

Thinking first principles

The concept of first principles thinking talks about the process of breaking down a concept or process into its fundamental components, starting from what is known to be true and building up from there. This approach requires delving deeper and deeper until you reach the foundational truths underlying a given situation.

It is common to become attached to flashy techniques or new and shiny methods, often overlooking the importance of internalisation and refinement starting from the bare basics. The quality of understanding and mastering the fundamental principles far outweighs the quantity of information acquired at the early stage.

Rene Descartes, the renowned French philosopher and scientist, embraced the first principles method, now known as Cartesian Doubt. He systematically questioned and doubted everything he possibly could, until he was left only with what he considered to be indubitable truths.

For example, if you are learning the C chord on the guitar, you may initially discover that it is composed of three notes: C, E, and G. Instead of merely accepting this information and memorising the chord, take a deeper dive into understanding its structure. Why are these specific notes part of the C chord? How do they contribute to the chord’s overall sound and character? Are all chords composed of three notes? By delving into these inquiries, you begin to unlock a more profound comprehension of the craft.

And as the level of complexity increases, the same methodology of understanding and learning the little concepts prevails. The little things, accumulated over long period of time are are the big things.

Adopting a ‘white belt’ mindset

As you continue to make progress and improve, adopting the mindset of a perpetual beginner can bring great benefits. In whatever the field, the knowledge ‘just acquired’ is minuscule in comparison to the vast universe of information waiting to be discovered. Every new discovery or understanding opens up a whole new realm of knowledge to explore. This is an ongoing process similar to peeling layers of an onion but from the inside out.

A remarkable symbol of this mindset is found in the request made by Jigoro Kano, the visionary founder of Judo. He expressed his desire to be buried in his white belt, a powerful metaphor that shows that he wanted to be remembered as a student who was constantly learning and not the master that he was.

The white belt serves as a reminder that no matter how accomplished or knowledgeable one becomes, there is always more to learn and discover.

Working slowly for an extended period of time

Remember, those are your life pursuits, so why rush them (and especially if you are enjoying the process)?

To embark on the journey of true learning, it is essential to practice diligently, constantly striving to refine your skills and reach new levels of competence. However, during this process, you must also be willing to embrace the plateau— long periods of time where progress seems stagnant—yet persist in your practice.

I have tried to disregard any notion that encourages efficiency or promises quick learning. The goal is not to rush through the process but rather to delve deep and immerse yourself fully. For instance, if you’re learning jazz guitar, explore the history of jazz, study musical notation and theory, engage in conversations with fellow musicians—immerse yourself completely.

While this was difficult at first, I have tried not think about the time it takes to ‘develop’ the skill.

Is there an end goal? The goal can be a loose or firm concept. In reality, mastery is something that just happens as a result of endless hours of practice, refinement, curiosity, creativity and failure. It may be associated with tangible ‘wins’ along the way, but being too fixed on those is also missing the point.

As Derek Sivers articulated it nicely;

“Imagine getting to a mountaintop after a long hike through a gorgeous forest. Achieving your goal would feel like taking off your backpack. That’s all. You do it for the journey, not the destination.”

Enjoying the process

This sounds very stereotypical, but if you are not ‘generally speaking’ enjoying the process and just doing something for the end goal, you will burn out .

As Rick Rubin points out in the first part of his book on creativity, it is beneficial to pick to work on something that comes naturally to you while your senses are tuned. In that case the process will feel less like work, and more like play (although it might look to others like it is so).

There will be times when you will not like it and that it will be tough. But generally the process of slow, steady deep dive should be enjoyable. Recently, I have caught myself asking the question, am I really enjoying running? If not, then why am I doing it? Are there other more enjoyable ways to get fit? Why go through the suffering?

Working in flow

There is a special kind of state that the psychologist, Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi researched called the ‘flow state’.

Flow is a mental state characterised by complete absorption and focus in an activity, where one loses track of time and becomes fully immersed in the present moment. Flow is often associated with a sense of effortless control, heightened concentration, and a deep sense of enjoyment. It is also a state that promotes deep learning and development.

Many of us have experienced the flow state before, although we may not be fully aware of it. There are several practical ways that I have used to cultivate this state in my work. Three ways that have worked well for me are 1- Removing distractions and creating a focused environment, 2- Adjusting the challenge level of what I am doing to ‘slightly above’ comfort level and, 3- maintaining a clear and immediate feedback loop for efforts.

Operating on the edges of your comfort zone

Usually, growth comes at the expense of previous comfort or safety. This means to see improvement we have to get used to being uncomfortable. Establishing a fixed standard against which we can measure ourselves is crucial. For instance, when it comes to running, this could be setting personal records or achieving specific time goals for a set distance.

The alarm bells that ring when you try something new (fear, sweat, higher heart rate, discomfort) are signals of growth. Rather than dismissing these signals solely for the sake of safety, we can also view them as positive signs of our development. They serve as reminders that we are pushing ourselves beyond familiar boundaries, and in doing so, we are evolving and progressing.

Studying breaking points

When you push yourself to the limits, it’s highly likely that you may encounter moments of failure or things breaking down.

It is precisely these moments that hold a certain magic and deserve thorough examination. Instead of shying away from failure, it is worthwhile to embrace and study to get gain valuable insights. What led to its occurrence? Why did things break? By analysing these questions, we can identify areas for improvement and determine what can be changed and experimented with in future endeavors.

Managing time out

Your muscles grow not while you are working out in the gym, but rather during the crucial period of recovery. It is during rest, particularly during sleep, that your body repairs and rebuilds the muscle fibers that have been subjected to stress during exercise.

This concept of stress and recovery extends beyond physical exercise and can be applied to various aspects of life. Incorporating the rhythm of stress and recovery into all areas of your life does improve your growth, performance, and overall well-being.

Practically speaking, it can be as simple as being aware when the working day starts and when it finishes, and creating rituals to end the world day on a positive note and then begin your evening winding down (not checking your emails at dinner table!) and enjoying comfortable sleep.

Practically speaking, it can be as simple as being aware of when the working day starts and ends. Creating rituals to end the workday on a positive note and then moving into your evening wind-down. In this way, you set the stage for a comfortable and rejuvenating sleep, enabling you to wake up refreshed and ready for a new day.

Repeated over a long period of time significant impact on your overall learning.

Developing a sharp mind

Mental resilience is arguably the most critical trait of world-class learners because it enables individuals to effectively navigate and overcome the challenges, setbacks, and adversities they encounter throughout the learning process.

Several books discuss the importance of managing how you perceive the unfolding reality.

The crucial realisation is that you have control and the choice to shape your perception of the reality reality.

One important aspect of mental toughness is self-belief. Most successful people I know believe in themselves almost to the point of delusion.

This conviction in oneself serves as a driving force that propels individuals to be confident, take risk and persevere through obstacles.

Cultivating a group of mentors

In his book “Mastery,” Robert Greene talks about the importance of having a mentor during the early stages, also known as the apprenticeship stage, of the learning process. Mentors play a crucial role as guides and teachers, offering valuable guidance, feedback, and support to the apprentices. They share their own experiences, challenges, and successes, helping apprentices navigate the complexities of their chosen field.

Mentors come in various forms and can take on different roles. They may be intellectual sparring partners, individuals who challenge and stimulate the apprentice’s thinking. They can also be a network of talented individuals to collaborate with, either closely or loosely, providing opportunities for growth and learning. Additionally, mentors can include authors from the past whose works continue to offer valuable insights, or even contemporary figures who share their knowledge and expertise online.

Once the basics are learned, it becomes essential to manage the relationship with mentors appropriately. This distance allows the apprentice to develop their own unique style, explore their individual perspectives, and apply their own creativity and critical thinking to their work.

Embracing your funk

The best work does not come from imitating others. If Roger Federer or Tiger Woods were to explain in detail what they did every day since they were born (which itself would be impossible), and someone were to imitate them each and every day, they would not reach a fraction of their level of greatness.

This is because greatness is highly individual, and how someone achieves it is a result of personal introspection, thousands of hours of work, experimentation, failure, and embracing their own unique persona.

Even in games like chess, there are hundreds of different styles that suit each individual. Entrepreneurship or company building is even more creative. Your craft should be a reflection of your natural self.

Bringing it all together

I realise that the journey of effective learning and improvement is a deeply personal and evolving one.

From my experience, it is not about the destination but about the process: continuous growth, exploration, and improvement along the way.

If there is a sure route to success and fulfilment in life, it is to be found in this long-term, essentially goalless pursuit of learning and mastery.