https://kevin.the.li/posts/learning-to-learn/

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Learning to learn

Published:Oct 21, 2024
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In the past 3 years, I've run over 300 interviews. On average, I meet
someone new every 3-4 days to understand if they're the right fit for
an early-stage startup.

I especially like capping interviews with an open-ended question that
really lets great candidates shine. One of my favorite now-retired
questions is, in Thielian fashion: "What's something you've learned
that you believe gives you an edge - something that you're almost
surprised more people don't know about?"

One of the all-time best answers I heard was this:

    When you're starting something new, the most important thing is
    knowing what to learn.

Followed by unpacking an optimal learning flow:

 1. Very quickly identify what the foundational knowledge is.
 2. Build a personal curriculum to become an expert and avoid the
    trap of the expert beginner.
 3. Sprint hard the first 15-20 hours to impress initial memory, then
    decelerate to a more regular pace.

#1 and #2 are common structured approaches to learning, whereas #3 is
a relatively novel interpretation of spaced repetition. But at a more
meta level, the unexpected takeaway is the vast majority of people
likely haven't updated their mental model for learning in decades.
(Stop and think for a moment on the last time you did this.)

Learning to learn is extremely high leverage. 40 hours at 25%
efficiency is the same as 12.5 hours at 80% efficiency. And it turns
out that being productively honest is one of the most effective and
kindest things you can do for yourself.

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