I have several months to myself in Berlin before I actively start looking for work. It’s a sabbatical of sorts. After a hectic last few years I’m treating myself to some time to pursue my own interests. I’ve selected three things to try learn over the rest of the year, and how i do it will be challenging, but hopefully rewarding.
The other day I blogged about the book Ultralearning and I’ve now finished it and it has clarified the approach over the next several months. To sum it up, the best learning is accomplished by just doing the thing you’re trying to learn. Do the equations, write the code, swing the club. Whatever it is, the fact is fluency is achieved by action, not understanding. It’s the same lesson that’s buried in most self help books, just sit down and do it. Charlie Munger calls it assiduity, and as always, go to Munnger and Buffet before you buy any self help books.
“Another thing you have to do, of course, is to have a lot of assiduity. I like that word because it means: sit down on your ass until you do it.” Charles Thomas Munger, USC Law School: Commencement Address (2007).