Learn-rate is simply the speed at which you learn. And, I have a simple tactic for maximizing your learn-rate. Just look for what’s counter intuitive.
Every skill you attempt to pick up has a few elements that are counter intuitive. I’d argue that the more counter intuitive elements there are, the harder it is to learn the skill. Here are a couple of examples –
– If you are trying to learn the guitar, you have to learn to gravitate towards pain. Our natural reaction is to stop doing something if it is painful. When learning the guitar, it works the other way around. If you feel your fingers hurting when you try playing the F-chord, that’s a sign that you need to do a lot more of it.
– If you are learning to serve in tennis, you should look at where you want the ball to go. This is completely against our instinct to look at the racket and the ball. Also, we have to toss the ball higher than our normal zone of comfort.
– If you are learning to ski, there are a collection of counter intuitive ideas. First, you should always lean forward to keep control. This goes against our instinct to pull back when we move fast. Second, to turn right, you must put your tilt your left ankle and put your weight on it. Thirdly, like in tennis, you must keep your eyes on the trail in front of you. Finally, you have to go slow to go fast. This means you spend a lot of time making S-shapes so you don’t just speed down the hill, lose control and fall.
So, when you’re picking up your next skill, keep an eye for what’s counter intuitive and spend all your energy learning it. It works like magic.
A Learning a Day 