You've read about how to learn like Elon and a Nobel prize winner. Now what?

We can be discouraged because we don't get it. To get it, you have to internalise understanding, make connections and feel a sense of discovery. To do this you need to have fun.

Unfortunately as adults we shy away from curiosity and approach things linearly with time being of the essence.

You Need To Rediscover Your Inner Child

Remember your first bike accident? I do. I was at a caravan park with my aunt. I rode my bike off a high pavement, bumped off the seat, shifted back onto the wheel and well, that was my buttocks' first introduction to rubber 😅.

I didn't plan to learn that I should lift slightly off the seat by squatting on the bike by pushing my weight into the pedals. But I did. It's because I wasn't thinking -- I was experimenting.

You need to find your pavement. Here's how:

Pick Your Bike: Choose An Idea You Want To Learn About

Be specific on the topic. Don't say biology; rather, evolution. Understand the building blocks of the idea. (first principles)

How do you find the building blocks? Find the source material. How do you know what the source material is? Everybody references it at some point.

Remove Training Wheels: Teach Yourself The Idea As Best You Can

Study the source material. Try explain the concept to a toddler. Identify gaps in your knowledge. Revisit and simplify the source material. (Feynman Technique)

Drive Off The Pavement: Experiment With Your Learnings

Make up scenarios to explore the idea. Ask stupid questions. Play it out. You can do this with anyone. You'll be amazed at the connections and ideas you link together and the sense of achievement.

E.g. What if T-Rex's lived on the the Galapagos, Could I knock a shark out underwater, What force would I need to beat a F1 car over 10ft.