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Forget: The key to laser focus is to remove or forget that which distracts you. There are three things you want to forget (at least temporarily).

1. First: what you already know. When learning something new, we tend to assume we understand more than we do about that subject. That can stand in the way of absorbing new information. Children are empty vessels; they know they don’t know. Apply a Zen philosophy called ‘a beginner’s mind’. Your mind is like a parachute, it only works when open. Open your child’s eye.

2. Second: forget what is not urgent or important. Don’t multitask, split the focus.

3. Thirdly: forget about your limitations, the preconceived notions you have about yourself. Do your best to keep your self-talk positive. Remember this: if you fight for your limitations, you get to keep them. Your capabilities aren’t fixed, and it’s possible to learn anything.

Act: Learning is not passive (sitting back in class). Become active in your learning by taking notes, do the exercises, highlight key notes (avoid highlight junky behaviour)

State: all learning is state-dependent. Your state is a current snapshot of your emotions. It is highly influenced by your thought (psychology) and the physical condition of your body (physiology). Tie your feelings to learning. Sit or stand the way you would if you were totally energized and excited for what was coming. Get excited about how you will benefit from what you are about to learn and what you will do with that new knowledge.

Teach: If you want to cut your learning curve dramatically, learn with the intention of teaching the information to someone else.

Enter: what is the simplest and most powerful performance tool? Your calendar.

Review: one of the best ways to reduce the effects of the forgetting curve, is to actively recall what you learned with spaced repetition. Go over the materials at intervals. To leverage this principle: before starting your reading session take a moment, if only a few minutes, to actively retrieve what you learned the session before (talk about it or write about it).

If you want to learn, ask questions. Questions get through to the RAS (Reticular Activating System). It is the gatekeeper of information through a process called habituation, which allows you brain to ignore meaningless and repetitive stimuli and remain sensitive to other inputs. One of the ways to guide the RAS are the questions we ask ourselves. Your RAS is like an algorithm, it shows you more of what you express interest in, hiding the things you don’t engage in. WHAT IS MY DOMINANT QUESTION (MAX 2)

Prepare your mind Prep your mind with the right questions before you read, you’ll see answers everywhere. Three standard dominant questions that I write down and see before I read:

• How can I use this? (how does this relate to other elements in my life? + how exactly does this work?)

• Why must I use this? (how does this relate to my four empires soul, heart, health, mind?)

• When will I use this? (on the flap or in agenda?)

(!) Also see note taking & speed-reading notes (!)

• Intelligence is fixed. Here’s the truth: it is not how smart you are; it’s how you are smart. There are multiple types of intelligences. Like so many things, intelligence is a combination of attitudes and actions, and is dependent on context. New belief: intelligence is fluid.

• We only use 10 percent of our brains. New belief: I am learning to use my whole brain in the best way possible.

• Mistakes are failures. Here’s the truth: mistakes don’t mean failure. Mistakes are a sign that you are trying something new. You might think you have to be perfect, but life is not about comparing yourself to anyone else; it’s about measuring yourself compared to who you where yesterday. When you learn from your mistakes, they have the power to turn you into something better than you were before. Also, remember that you are not your mistakes. Making a mistake doesn’t mean anything about you as a person. You make mistakes, mistakes don’t make you. Place them under your feet and use them as stepping stones to rise to the next level. It’s not how we make mistakes, but how we deal with them that define us. New belief: there is no such thing as failure. Only failure to learn.

• Knowledge is power. Here’s the truth: knowledge is not power. It only has the potential to be power. Apply. Don’t promise, prove. New belief: knowledge x action = power

• Learning new things is very difficult. Here’s the truth: sometimes it is hard to learn new things. What’s more accurate is to understand that learning is a set of methods, a process that certainly be easier when you know how to learn. New belief: when you learn new ways how to learn, the challenge of learning new things can be fun, easier, and more enjoyable.

• The criticism of other people matters. Here’s the truth: one day we will take our final breaths and not one of other people’s opinions or your fears will matter. What will matter is how we lived. Don’t take critism from someone you wouldn’t take advice from. People will doubt you and critize you no matter what you do. You will never know your true potential until you break the unfair judgements you place on yourself. Don’t allow other people’s opinions and expectations to run or ruin your life. New belief: it is not your job to like, love, or respect me. It’s mine.

• Genius is born. Here’s the truth: genius leaves clues. There is always a method behind what looks like magic. New belief: genius is not born; it’s made through deep practice.

Employ active recall

• Review the material you are studying. • Then close the book, turn off video or lecture, and write down or recite everything you remember from what you just reviewed. • Now, look at the material again. How much did you remember?

1/ Employ spaced repetition

Give yourself enough time, spaced repetition seems to work most effectively when you can review the material at similar intervals.

2/ Manage the state you’re in

Your posture also controls the state of your mind. Sit as if you’re about to learn the most crucial life-changing information. Sit straight, don’t slump over.

3/ Use your sense of smell

Smell is an enormously important yet underused memory tool.

4./ Music for the mind

Baroque music seems to have some particularly valuable qualities. Bach, Handel, Telemann (50 to 80 beats per minute creates an atmosphere of focus that leap students into deep concentration in the alpha brain wave state. Learning vocabulary, memorizing facts, or reading to this music is highly effective.

Listen with your whole brain (HEAR: halt, empathy, anticipate, review)

• Halt: Remember that listening involves more than just the words a person is saying: vocal inflection, body language, facial expressions, and more create additional context and provide additional information. Halt everything else, focus.

• Empathy: imagine yourself in the speaker’s shoes. Try to understand where the speaker is coming from and why bring additional substance to what they might be saying and allows you to feel it from their perspective.

• Anticipate: Engage in the experience with a sense of anticipation. Your enthusiasm for what you’re hearing will greatly increase your potential of truly hearing it.

• Review: engage with speaker if possible, ask clarifying questions. Take notes, reflect on what speaker said. Imagine yourself teaching it to someone else.

Intelligence is a complex construct that can be manifested in many different ways. Some of the most commonly recognized forms of intelligence include:

Musical intelligence: This type of intelligence refers to the ability to understand, create, and appreciate music. People with high musical intelligence are often able to recognize different musical patterns, create their own music, and appreciate different types of music.

Linguistic intelligence: This type of intelligence refers to the ability to understand and use language effectively. People with high linguistic intelligence are often able to communicate effectively, understand different languages and cultures, and use language to express themselves.

Spatial intelligence: This type of intelligence refers to the ability to understand and visualize spatial relationships. People with high spatial intelligence are often able to navigate through space, understand maps and other spatial representations, and create visual images in their mind.

Logical-mathematical intelligence: This type of intelligence refers to the ability to think logically and solve mathematical problems. People with high logical-mathematical intelligence are often able to understand abstract concepts, think critically, and solve mathematical problems.

Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence: This type of intelligence refers to the ability to use one's body to solve problems or create things. People with high bodily-kinesthetic intelligence are often able to control their body movements, have good hand-eye coordination, and excel in sports and other physical activities.

Interpersonal intelligence: This type of intelligence refers to the ability to understand and interact with other people effectively. People with high interpersonal intelligence are often able to understand and empathize with others, communicate effectively, and work well in groups.

Intrapersonal intelligence: This type of intelligence refers to the ability to understand and manage oneself effectively. People with high intrapersonal intelligence are often able to understand their own emotions and motivations, set goals for themselves, and manage their own behavior.

It is worth noting that intelligence is not a fixed trait and it can be developed and improved over time through learning and experience. Additionally, people often possess a combination of different types of intelligences, and it's possible to have strengths in one area and weaknesses in another area.

1. Spatial (thinks from the perspective of the space around them). Airline pilots, chess player

2. Bodily – kinaesthetic. Use your body as a form of expression or problem-solving. Gymnasts, drummers.

3. Musical. Sensitivity to rhythm, pitch, meter, tone, etc.

4. Linguistic. Implications of words, writes, orators, lawyers.

5. Logical-mathematical: logical relations among actions or symbols. Connections between different numbers.

6. Interpersonal: a deep innate ability to connect with other people and a rich understanding of how others might be feeling at any given moment. Therapists, schoolteachers.

7. Intrapersonal – refined sense of what is going on inside of you. Taking their own temperature. In touch with feelings, triggers, sense how to manage this. Remain cool under difficult circumstances.

8. Naturalistic – see the world of nature in all its complexities.

There are several different learning styles that people use to absorb and process information. These styles include visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and reading/writing.

Visual learners prefer to learn through images and visual aids. They are often described as "picture thinkers" and tend to remember things better when they can see them. They often have a good sense of spatial awareness and can easily visualize images in their mind. Visual learners can recognize their style by paying attention to the fact that they tend to remember things better when they can see diagrams, charts, graphs, or other visual aids. They often prefer to take notes in a visual format, such as mind maps or diagrams.

Auditory learners prefer to learn through sound and music. They tend to remember things better when they can hear them. They often have a good sense of rhythm and can easily remember songs or spoken information. Auditory learners can recognize their style by paying attention to the fact that they tend to remember things better when they can hear them. They often prefer to take notes by recording the information or by repeating the information out loud.

Kinesthetic learners prefer to learn through physical movement and touch. They tend to remember things better when they can physically interact with them. They often have a good sense of body awareness and can easily remember how to do something by physically doing it. Kinesthetic learners can recognize their style by paying attention to the fact that they tend to remember things better when they can physically interact with them. They often prefer to take notes by physically writing or drawing.

Reading/writing learners prefer to learn through reading and writing. They tend to remember things better when they can read them or write them down. They often have a good sense of spelling and grammar and can easily remember written information. Reading/writing learners can recognize their style by paying attention to the fact that they tend to remember things better when they can read or write. They often prefer to take notes by writing them down in a notebook.

You can test your own learning style by taking online test such as VARK test, which is a self-assessment questionnaire that helps to identify a person's preferred learning style. It measures the strengths of an individual’s visual, auditory, reading/writing and kinesthetic learning styles.

In summary, understanding your own learning style can help you to better understand how you process information and can make it easier for you to learn new things. Online test like VARK can help you to identify your learning style and with that knowledge you can develop strategies to make learning more effective for you.

Do the test (Jim Kwik)

Visual (#2 – 7 punten)

Auditory (#3 – 3 punten)

Kinesthetic (#1 – 10 punten)

Video recap by Jim Kwik: how to learn new information quickly

https://hackernoon.com/biohack-your-intelligence-now-or-become-obsolete-97cdd15e395f?ref=hackernoon.com

I have not tried this *(yet)

Key point: many things in this article help you grow new neurons. that helps you learn. if you do not constantly learn new and challenging things, your intelligence degrades. oh, and LSD.

Learning itself is a skill that needs to be developed. For a general overview of the neurobiology of learning I highly recommend completing the Learning How To Learn class on Coursera. It is easy and very valuable for all of us — those in high school, and those who are CEOs alike.

Learning is dependent on neuroplasticity and neurogenesis — i.e. the ability of our brain to grow new neurons and rewire synaptic connections between existing neurons. These are driven by something called BDNF, which is highly modifiable.

We already mentioned that a number of things enhance these: lithium, SSRIs, sleep, meditation, stress reduction, sex, fasting. Here are some more:

• Supplements. The ones I take: EPA/DHA Omega-3, Magnesium, Curcumin, Niacin, Rhodiola, Bacopa. You can read about all of these at Examine.com.

• Exercise, especially high-intensity interval training.

• LSD [bunch of related studies in Nature]

Here’s another 50+ supporting studies.

The last bit about LSD deserves a separate mention. I recently began microdosing LSD. Interesting experience. No hallucinations, but the mind wanders, focuses intensely on various sensory inputs, and links ideas in novel and unpredictable ways. I find it impossible to do focused work. But it seems to be an incredible way to deeply enjoy things like music, art or even taking a bath. It also seems to be a very powerful way to shift the mind into a diffuse mode of thought after a period of intense focus, which is essential for learning (watch the class referenced above for details). LSD even in large doses is extremely safe. I will keep using them from time to time when I want a day off. NOTE: do not mix LSD and lithium.

If you are the kind of person who looks down on those who take illegal drugs, you should know that Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Richard Feynman, Thomas Edison and many other top businesspeople, scientists and leaders used illegal drugs and often spoke of them as crucial to their success.

And of course to improve our learning skills we need to keep learning. We can teach ourselves to code or complete classes on neuroscience or genetics or quantum physics or French or playing the piano, rather than spend our precious time and neurons on the failings of politicians, the habits of celebrities, or the details of terrorist attacks. Even if we don’t ever use quantum physics, learning it will make us smarter and more capable of learning any other concepts, as well as link them to quantum physics in novel ways.

Strategic learning is a method of understanding the relationship between two things. Tony Robbins explains in a video that drive is the biggest motivational factor in learning. If you know why you want to gain new knowledge and you're determined to do so, it helps you to better navigate the overall learning process. He suggests strategies such as regular application of a strategy to the learning process to better conserve resources, save time, and understand the subject matter. The video is 10 minutes long and is worth watching to learn more about how to learn faster and retain more information.

1. The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. – Alvin Toffler

2. Victims love entertainment, victors love education. My question: why not combine them? Entertain while learning?

3. It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so. – Mark Twain

4. The teacher learns the most

5. It is all about pattern recognition. Learn the ability to identify patterns, learn how they interact. Learn how to think. Become more conscious of patterns and chose how to interact with them.

6. Own up to what you don’t know. It will set others free. Together you can come to shared truths.

7. The greatest teacher is called “doing”.

8. Consider three reasons that you want to learn better.

9. Your mind is like a parachute, it only works when open.

10. Be humble (!!)

11. Good questions must come from a sincere desire to learn, rather than as a veiled means of stating your own opinion.

12. Questions are an opportunity to be humbles. Asking good questions is indistinguishable from practicing humanity. Don’t be afraid to ask a question that may sound stupid because 99% of the time everyone else is thinking of the same question and is too embarrassed to ask it.

13. Close listening and clear attention are preconditions for good questions.

14. Don’t be afraid of letting others teach you. It does not degrade you; it uplifts you. The ego doesn’t always acknowledge this simple truth.

15. Own up to what you don’t know. It will set others free. Together you can come to shared truths.

16. Starting point: what does this really mean? It’s not about ‘How can I use this? “or “why is everyone else excited?”. Can you understand the basic principles?

17. Learn how to learn from those you disagree with, or even offend you. See if you can find the truth in what they believe.

18. Creating the life you want can be scary. But do you know what is scarier? Regret.

19. Being enthusiastic is worth 25 IQ points.

20. Rule of 7 in research. You can find out anything if you are willing to go seven levels. If the first source you ask doesn’t know, ask them who you should ask next, and so on down the line. If you are willing to go to the 7th source, you’ll almost always get your answer.

21. Michio Kaku: The human brain has 100 billion neurons, each neuron connected to 10,000 other neurons. Sitting on your shoulders is the most complicated object in the known universe.

22. Your gut is a second brain

23. The only way to win is to learn faster than anyone else – Eric Ries

24. The one real object of education is to leave a person in the condition of continually asking questions

25. “You must unlearn what you have learned.”- Yoda

"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." Alvin Toffler

1. RAS: WHAT IS MY DOMINANT QUESTION (MAX 2)

• How can I best serve?

• How do I make this moment even more magical?

1. Incorporate prepping your mind with the right questions before you read, you’ll see answers everywhere. Three standard dominant questions that I write down and see before I read:

• How can I use this? (how does this relate to other elements in my life? + how exactly does this work?)

• Why must I use this? (how does this relate to my four empires soul, heart, health, mind?)

• When will I use this? (on the flap or in agenda?)

1. Take note of taking notes: Capture & Create -> left side is taking notes, right side is ‘how can I use this’, ‘why must I use this’, and ‘when will I use this?’. Post your notes on Twitter, helps you structure your mind, focus on quality and allows for new inputs.

2. How are you smart? How does your environment think you’re smart?