I’m obsessed with learning how to learn. So, I spent 100+ hours...
EDDIE CHENG@ecomEddie
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Mar 31, 2024
~4 min read
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I’m obsessed with learning how to learn.
So, I spent 100+ hours studying how Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Naval Ravikant absorb information.
Here’s what I found on becoming a learning machine:
So, I spent 100+ hours studying how Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Naval Ravikant absorb information.
Here’s what I found on becoming a learning machine:
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College Is Overrated
Most people are convinced you need college to learn. Elon is proof that you don’t.
Despite only majoring in Econ/Physics, he’s built 4 billion-dollar companies in industries he knew nothing about.
How did he pull this off?
Most people are convinced you need college to learn. Elon is proof that you don’t.
Despite only majoring in Econ/Physics, he’s built 4 billion-dollar companies in industries he knew nothing about.
How did he pull this off?
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Elon’s mental model for learning quickly is the ‘Knowledge Tree.’
The idea is to view knowledge as a tree so you can break it into bits.
For example, ‘Trunks and big branches’ VS ‘Leaves and fruits’.
The idea is to view knowledge as a tree so you can break it into bits.
For example, ‘Trunks and big branches’ VS ‘Leaves and fruits’.
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When you understand the trunk first (i.e., the fundamental principles) before moving on to the
leaves (the finer details), you can increase your learning capacity by 10x.
This simple framework is how he was able to teach himself rocket science.
leaves (the finer details), you can increase your learning capacity by 10x.
This simple framework is how he was able to teach himself rocket science.
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Make Learning Fun
Seeing learning as a chore instantly inhibits the release of dopamine in your brain.
That’s why it’s vital to approach learning with the same excitement as a video game.
This mental shift can help you move at your own pace and study for longer hours.
Seeing learning as a chore instantly inhibits the release of dopamine in your brain.
That’s why it’s vital to approach learning with the same excitement as a video game.
This mental shift can help you move at your own pace and study for longer hours.
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Be Curious
If you're not genuinely curious about a problem, you'll never go far in solving it.
Have the courage to go down rabbit holes that are deeply meaningful to you, not just trendy topics.
The most successful people in any field are the most curious ones.
If you're not genuinely curious about a problem, you'll never go far in solving it.
Have the courage to go down rabbit holes that are deeply meaningful to you, not just trendy topics.
The most successful people in any field are the most curious ones.
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The same goes for books.
Many people read books solely to cross them off their list. They read to gain bragging rights.
Instead of virtue signaling, read only to satisfy your intellectual curiosity.
Don't read to complete. Read to understand.
Many people read books solely to cross them off their list. They read to gain bragging rights.
Instead of virtue signaling, read only to satisfy your intellectual curiosity.
Don't read to complete. Read to understand.
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Skip the Mental Masturbation
The purpose of knowledge is action, not knowledge itself.
Instead of buying endless courses and bingeing YouTube videos, dive into a problem headfirst and learn on the job.
Experience will teach you more than any book ever will.
The purpose of knowledge is action, not knowledge itself.
Instead of buying endless courses and bingeing YouTube videos, dive into a problem headfirst and learn on the job.
Experience will teach you more than any book ever will.
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Embrace Failure
The fear of failure is the start of it.
When learning something new, never worry about not getting it right away. Instead, embrace your mistakes and just get the reps in.
Doing so increases your neuroplasticity, which makes learning happen 10x faster.
The fear of failure is the start of it.
When learning something new, never worry about not getting it right away. Instead, embrace your mistakes and just get the reps in.
Doing so increases your neuroplasticity, which makes learning happen 10x faster.
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Elon Musk and Space X are great examples of this.
His first rocket, Falcon 1, had three of five launches fail miserably (40% success rate).
His first rocket, Falcon 1, had three of five launches fail miserably (40% success rate).
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In contrast, his most recent Falcon 9 has only suffered two failures in 232 launches (92% success rate).
Moral lesson? Lean into your mistakes.
Moral lesson? Lean into your mistakes.
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Build A One-Track Mind
Studies show people older than 25 have a harder time learning.
This is because the nervous systems of adults have less space in them to store new info.
Studies show people older than 25 have a harder time learning.
This is because the nervous systems of adults have less space in them to store new info.
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As an adult, the best way to force your brain to accept new patterns is through sheer focus while studying.
No TV. No phones. No multitasking.
Isolate yourself from the world and zone in.
No TV. No phones. No multitasking.
Isolate yourself from the world and zone in.
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Use Tech To Your Advantage
We live in a time where tech can massively alter the scale and speed at which we learn.
With AI, it's possible to reduce a 100-page book to a 3-paragraph summary.
Don't hesitate to use these tools for your benefit.
We live in a time where tech can massively alter the scale and speed at which we learn.
With AI, it's possible to reduce a 100-page book to a 3-paragraph summary.
Don't hesitate to use these tools for your benefit.
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While the act of learning itself will remain constant, the ‘how’ will continue to evolve.
Just as the world adapted to Google as a learning tool 20 years ago, you must also learn to leverage new tools.
If you don’t, you’ll be left behind.
Just as the world adapted to Google as a learning tool 20 years ago, you must also learn to leverage new tools.
If you don’t, you’ll be left behind.
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Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
In an age where the average attention span is 9 seconds, you need constant repetition to retain new info.
Abandon the fantasy you can learn and master in one try.
Even geniuses revisit data over and over.
In an age where the average attention span is 9 seconds, you need constant repetition to retain new info.
Abandon the fantasy you can learn and master in one try.
Even geniuses revisit data over and over.
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Instead, create a system for repetitive learning.
Find ways to expose yourself to the same info repeatedly until it's ingrained in your memory.
Doing this makes the new information second nature to you, up to the point where you can visualize it in your sleep.
Find ways to expose yourself to the same info repeatedly until it's ingrained in your memory.
Doing this makes the new information second nature to you, up to the point where you can visualize it in your sleep.
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Get Tons Of Rest
Lastly, your brain can only focus for 90 minutes before needing an hour of rest.
When you notice your mind wandering during study, drop everything and get some sleep.
Just as you need sleep to grow muscle, you also need it to consolidate new information.
Lastly, your brain can only focus for 90 minutes before needing an hour of rest.
When you notice your mind wandering during study, drop everything and get some sleep.
Just as you need sleep to grow muscle, you also need it to consolidate new information.
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Don’t worry about losing time when you rest.
Even in sleep, your brain revisits everything you've learned. It's wired to process info even with
your eyes closed.
That means a quick nap doesn’t cost you anything.
Instead, it does you a favor.
Even in sleep, your brain revisits everything you've learned. It's wired to process info even with
your eyes closed.
That means a quick nap doesn’t cost you anything.
Instead, it does you a favor.
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If you got something from this...
1. Follow @ecomEddie for more
2. Repost this
1. Follow @ecomEddie for more
2. Repost this
EDDIE CHENG@ecomEddie
I’m obsessed with learning how to learn.
So, I spent 100+ hours studying how Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Naval Ravikant absorb information.
Here’s what I found on becoming a learning machine:
So, I spent 100+ hours studying how Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Naval Ravikant absorb information.
Here’s what I found on becoming a learning machine: