Lifelong learning is a competitive advantage.

But contrary to what you’ve been told, lifelong learners are built, not born.

THREAD: 20 lifelong learning habits you can start developing today.

Stimulate Dynamically

The mind is a muscle - it needs to be stimulated dynamically to continue to grow.

Don’t rely on one “exercise” - develop a menu of options.

Write, read, listen, watch. Solve puzzles, play games. Enjoy it!

Stimulate dynamically, learn dynamically.
Build Learning Circles

The most powerful learning is communal, not individual.

Build learning circles with other intellectually curious minds.

Engage regularly with no set intention or goal.

Community is everything. Embrace it.
Keep Asking Why

“Why?” is the most useful tool in our learning toolkit.

But somewhere along the line, we are told to stop asking why and just accept “facts” as we are told them.

Reject the norm.

If you want to understand the world, take a cue from our kids - keep asking why! https://t.co/7AO85k2cis
Adopt a Process Orientation

Prioritize process.

Learn for the sake of learning, not always for a specific goal.

When you prioritize process, you become flexible in where you are headed.

Life is a winding, confusing journey - forward progress is all that matters.
Become a Polymath

A polymath is a person with wide-ranging, multi-disciplinary knowledge.

Lifelong learners tend to be polymaths - their curiosity naturally leads to knowledge accumulation in a variety of disciplines.

Learn both horizontally and vertically. Become a polymath.
Build a Learning Engine

The “learning engine” is at the core of every lifelong learner.

It is comprised of all the learning “inputs” regularly consumed - books, newsletters, podcasts, videos, etc.

The internet has opened access to it all.

Build an unstoppable learning engine.
Avoid Noise Bottlenecks

Consuming more does not equate to knowing more.

As you consume more data, you may find the noise-to-signal ratio increases (a classic @nntaleb “noise bottleneck” appears).

Consume less, but consume intelligently.

More signal, less noise.
Embrace All Types of Learning

There are two types of learning: surface and deep.

Surface learning is quick and easy.

Deep learning is more challenging. It requires a willingness to slow down and let ideas mature in the mind.

Lifelong learners embrace both.
Seek Mentors & Coaches

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

You can’t do it alone. Seek out mentors and coaches to help you on your journey.

Never be afraid to ask.

You’ll be amazed by the kindness of strangers and their willingness to help.
Embrace Failures

Lifelong learners recognize that failures are learning opportunities.

They don’t fear them. They embrace them.

It’s easier said than done. Failures are painful - physically and emotionally.

But stay the course and you’ll find learning on the other side.
Follow Your Curiosity

When you have a spark of curiosity, follow it.

Moments of pure, unadulterated curiosity are fleeting, so you have to prioritize them when they come.

Seek out curiosity-inducing content (like my Curiosity Chronicle newsletter!). https://t.co/C2tEmvQV1v
Become a Teacher

Teaching is often the most powerful path to learning.

The Feynman Technique (explained below) is a foundational mental model for unlocking learning and growth through teaching.

Use it!

If you want to learn, teach. https://t.co/OoieG4mAME
Take Breaks

Humans were not made for constant motion.

Learn to sprint, then rest.

Taking breaks can be the easiest, most effective unlock for learning and growth.

If you want to learn to grow, first learn to rest.
Learn from Strangers

Every conversation with a stranger is an opportunity to learn something new.

Be present in every conversation with everyone you meet.

You never know what might come of it.
Seek a Stimulating Job

Try to find a job that is intellectually stimulating.

I know this is a luxury - if you are lucky enough, take advantage.

P.S. I want to help. Check out my job board for interesting roles at companies that believe in open access.

https://t.co/UhW76VDUjf
Change Your Mind

Lifelong learners are always willing to change their mind.

Believe something to be true? Ok, but be sure to open your mind to counterarguments.

Stubborn refusal to acknowledge alternative perspectives stalls progress.

Strive for strong opinions, weakly held.
Embrace Novel Formats

2020 was a tough year, but it did bring an upswell of novel learning formats.

Cohort-based courses - which foster community! - are a great innovation.

Cool Example: Ascend - a program for women looking to accelerate their careers. https://t.co/UjIh1gyfh0
Practice Mindfulness

A healthy mind is a powerful mind.

Set aside time for mindfulness.

Practice meditation - start with 5 minutes a day and build up from there. There are plenty of great apps to help you get started.

With a healthy mind, anything is possible.
School as the Starting Line

All lifelong learners recognize that school is nothing but the starting line of our true education.

Once you internalize this, you’ll start doing things differently.
Play the Long Game

The greatest riches in life - personal or professional - come from compound interest.

But it takes time. Lots of time.

Knowledge is no different - it compounds.

So lifelong learners play the long game. Let the magical power of compounding work for you.
So those are 20 lifelong learning habits you can start developing today.

What are some that I am missing?

If you enjoyed this, follow me for more threads on business, mental models, and life. You can find all of my threads in the meta-thread below. https://t.co/Q2PggDh1lc
And if you’re interested in building out your learning engine and surfacing curiosity inducing content every single week, subscribe to my newsletter for more! https://t.co/qMB8i6hY66

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He has been wrong (or lying) so often that it will be nearly impossible for me to track every grift, lie, deceit, manipulation he has pulled. I will use...


... other sources who have been trying to shine on light on this grifter (as I have tried to do, time and again:


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19 to 80 is an over 300% difference.

Tweet: https://t.co/36FnYnsRT9


Example #2 - "Yes, I'm comparing the Noridcs / No, you cannot compare the Nordics."

I wonder why...

Tweets: https://t.co/XLfoX4rpck / https://t.co/vjE1ctLU5x


Example #3 - "I'm only looking at what makes the data fit in my favour" a.k.a moving the goalposts.

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प्राचीन काल में गाधि नामक एक राजा थे।उनकी सत्यवती नाम की एक पुत्री थी।राजा गाधि ने अपनी पुत्री का विवाह महर्षि भृगु के पुत्र से करवा दिया।महर्षि भृगु इस विवाह से बहुत प्रसन्न हुए और उन्होने अपनी पुत्रवधु को आशीर्वाद देकर उसे कोई भी वर मांगने को कहा।


सत्यवती ने महर्षि भृगु से अपने तथा अपनी माता के लिए पुत्र का वरदान मांगा।ये जानकर महर्षि भृगु ने यज्ञ किया और तत्पश्चात सत्यवती और उसकी माता को अलग-अलग प्रकार के दो चरू (यज्ञ के लिए पकाया हुआ अन्न) दिए और कहा कि ऋतु स्नान के बाद तुम्हारी माता पुत्र की इच्छा लेकर पीपल का आलिंगन...

...करें और तुम भी पुत्र की इच्छा लेकर गूलर वृक्ष का आलिंगन करना। आलिंगन करने के बाद चरू का सेवन करना, इससे तुम दोनो को पुत्र प्राप्ति होगी।परंतु मां बेटी के चरू आपस में बदल जाते हैं और ये महर्षि भृगु अपनी दिव्य दृष्टि से देख लेते हैं।

भृगु ऋषि सत्यवती से कहते हैं,"पुत्री तुम्हारा और तुम्हारी माता ने एक दुसरे के चरू खा लिए हैं।इस कारण तुम्हारा पुत्र ब्राह्मण होते हुए भी क्षत्रिय सा आचरण करेगा और तुम्हारी माता का पुत्र क्षत्रिय होकर भी ब्राह्मण सा आचरण करेगा।"
इस पर सत्यवती ने भृगु ऋषि से बड़ी विनती की।


सत्यवती ने कहा,"मुझे आशीर्वाद दें कि मेरा पुत्र ब्राह्मण सा ही आचरण करे।"तब महर्षि ने उसे ये आशीर्वाद दे दिया कि उसका पुत्र ब्राह्मण सा ही आचरण करेगा किन्तु उसका पौत्र क्षत्रियों सा व्यवहार करेगा। सत्यवती का एक पुत्र हुआ जिसका नाम जम्दाग्नि था जो सप्त ऋषियों में से एक हैं।