We all have goals that we want to achieve in life. These goals might include learning a new language, eating healthy and losing weight, becoming a better parent, saving more money, and more.
It's easy to think that the gap between where you are now and where you want to be in the future is due to a lack of knowledge. That's why we buy courses on how to start a business or how to lose weight fast or how to learn a new language in three months. We assume that if we know better strategies, then we will get better outcomes. We believe that new results require new knowledge.
However, I've come to realize that new knowledge doesn't necessarily lead to new results. In fact, learning something new may actually be a waste of time if your goal is to make progress rather than simply gain additional knowledge.
It all comes down to the difference between learning and doing.
1. The difference between learning and practice
In Thomas Sterner's book Practical Thinking (audiobook), he explains the key differences between practicing and learning.
"When we practice something, we intentionally repeat a process in order to achieve a specific goal. The words deliberate and intentional are key here because they define the difference between actively practicing something and passively learning something. difference between."
--Thomas Sterner, The Practicing Mind
Learning something new and practicing something new may seem very similar, but the two approaches can have very different results. Here are some other ways to think about the difference.
- Let's say your goal is to get stronger and healthier. You can research the best instructions on bench press technique, but the only way to build strength is to practice lifting weights.
- Let's say your goal is to grow your startup. You can learn the best ways to make a sales pitch, but the only way to really attract customers is to practice making sales calls.
- Let's say your goal is to write a book. You can talk writing with bestselling authors, but the only way to become a better writer is to practice publishing consistently.
Passive learning creates knowledge. Actively practice creative skills.
Let's consider three other reasons to prioritize active practice over passive learning.
1.1 Passive learning can be a crutch to support inaction
In many cases, learning is actually a way to avoid taking action on goals and interests we deem important. For example, let's say you want to learn a foreign language. Reading a book on how to learn a foreign language quickly can make you feel like you're making progress ("Hey, I'm figuring out the best way to do this!"). Of course, you're not actually practicing the action that will achieve your desired result (speaking a foreign language).
In such situations, we often claim that we are preparing or researching the best way possible, but these rationalizations make us feel like we are moving forward, when in reality we are just standing still. The mistake we make is to act instead of act. Learning is valuable until it becomes a form of procrastination.
1.2 Practice is learning, but learning is not practice
Passive learning is not a form of practice because although you acquire new knowledge, you don't discover how to apply it. At the same time, active practice is one of the best forms of learning because the mistakes you make while practicing reveal important insights.
More importantly, practice is the only way to use your knowledge to make meaningful contributions. You can watch online courses on how to start a business, or read articles about horrific disasters in developing countries, but that knowledge is useless unless you actually start a business or donate money to people in need. Learning itself is valuable to you, but if you want to be valuable to other people then you have to express your knowledge in some way.
1.3 Practice focusing your energy on the process
"Progress is the natural outgrowth of the process of focusing on doing anything."
--Thomas Sterner, The Practicing Mind
The state of your life right now is the result of the habits and beliefs you practice every day. When you realize this and start focusing on building better habits day in and day out, continuous improvement will be the logical outcome. It is not what we learn, or the dreams we envision, that determine our results, but the habits we practice every day. Fall in love with boredom and focus on the process, not the product.
2. Summary
Is passive learning useless? of course not. Many times, learning for learning's sake can be a beautiful thing. Not to mention, when you decide to act, taking in new information can help you make a more informed decision.
That said, the point of this article is that learning by itself does not lead to progress. We often hide behind information and use learning as an excuse to postpone the more difficult and important choices of actually doing something. Spend less time passively learning and more time actively practicing. Stop thinking and start acting.
reference
https://jamesclear.com/learning-vs-practicing