Jonathan Levi: Read Faster. Remember More. Become a Super Learner
Feb 17, 2020
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Jonathan Levi, entrepreneur, author of The Only Skill That Matters, discusses the power of learning in an ever-evolving world. Topics include the influence of entrepreneurship, information overload, habits of happy relationships, visualization techniques for memory, and the importance of genuine care in connecting with others.
Deliberate practice and dedication can override the notion of inherent talent and lead to exceptional skills.
By cultivating good habits and acquiring knowledge, we can tap into our brain's potential for growth and become well-rounded individuals.
Visual memory techniques, like creating visual associations and using memory palaces, can enhance our ability to retain and recall information.
Deep dives
Tapping into Potential: Lazlo Polgar's Experiment
Lazlo Polgar sought out individuals who didn't believe in inherent talent and conducted an experiment to prove that talent can be learned. He married a researcher and had three daughters who were essentially chess experiments. Despite the questionable ethics, his daughters became chess prodigies, with one becoming one of the best in the world, another becoming the youngest grandmaster, and the third winning world championships. This experiment challenges the notion of inherent talent and demonstrates the importance of deliberate practice and dedication.
The Power of Plasticity: Harnessing the Potential of the Brain
Our brains are highly plastic, and we can dramatically change our potential through learning. Although becoming the next Elon Musk might be unlikely due to various factors and limitations, our brains have immense potential for growth and transformation. The difference between individuals lies in their habits and knowledge. By cultivating good habits and acquiring knowledge, we can enhance our skills and navigate towards our desired achievements. Our brains are capable of learning and adapting to various fields, allowing us to become well-rounded individuals.
Memory Techniques: Learning Like a Caveman
To tap into our natural ability for learning and memory, we can adopt techniques used by ancient cultures. Visual memory is a powerful tool, and by creating visual associations or mnemonics, we can enhance our memory recall. Visualization techniques can be applied to a range of tasks, such as remembering speeches, grocery lists, or conversations. By anchoring visualizations to specific locations or objects in our surroundings, like a memory palace, we can improve our ability to retain and recall information.
Importance of Learning and Adaptation
The human brain is an adaptation machine that can adapt to the environment it is exposed to. This explains why people with certain backgrounds or upbringings excel in specific fields, such as entrepreneurship or music. The example of Lazlo Polgar and his daughters illustrates the power of deliberate practice and learning. Lazlo sought out a researcher to marry, not for love, but to prove that talent can be learned. His daughters, who were essentially experiments, became world-class chess prodigies through intense grooming and daily immersion in chess. This challenges the idea of inherent talent and emphasizes the importance of learning and deliberate practice in achieving exceptional skills.
Dealing with Information Overload
In the information age, there is an explosion of content available in various forms. While this democratization of knowledge is beneficial, it poses challenges in choosing the right materials and effectively immersing ourselves in them. The book highlights the need for skills in selecting and confidently approaching learning materials, ensuring that the knowledge acquired sticks. Self-testing is a highly effective method to retain and apply learning, and it can be achieved by immersing oneself in real-world environments related to the subject being learned, such as conversing in another language or performing on stage for a musical instrument. Additionally, teaching others not only helps them, but it also tests and reinforces one's own knowledge.
Jonathan Levi, entrepreneur, speaker and author of The Only Skill That Matters joins us for this episode. Throughout his life, Jonathan has always tended toward entrepreneurship, even as a young boy, and has found incredible success. He has discovered that in an ever-evolving world, there is one skill that keeps us valuable and relevant: learning. Take a listen to find out why you need to become a super learner and how to do it.
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