Ultralearning

Learning hard skills can seem like climbing Everest, but what if I told you there's a smarter, faster way to get to the summit?

1. Start with Metalearning: Learn how to learn

Before diving into any skill, begin with what's called metalearning—understanding the best way to learn your chosen subject. This involves identifying the key concepts, facts, and procedures that define your field and structuring these elements before you start studying. Without this step, efforts can become unfocused.

For instance, Mandarin Chinese is built around radicals that organize its characters. Learning these organizing principles first will save time and effort compared to memorizing individual characters in isolation. Mapping out the subject can help you see the framework at play, giving a clear strategy for learning. This step ensures you're working smart, not just hard.

Investing 10% of your total project time in metalearning, such as identifying benchmarks or finding the best materials used by experts or institutions, can be a game-changer. From language learners exploring grammar frameworks to programmers studying coding project structures, this preparatory phase makes or breaks progress.

Examples

• Mandarin learners focusing on radicals instead of memorizing each character
• A programmer who studies others’ coding methodologies before kicking off a project
• A tennis player analyzing the mechanics of strokes before constant practice

2. Power of Focus: Shield yourself from distractions

Focus is not just about sitting down to study; it’s about ensuring your mind resists modern distractions like constant notifications or Netflix binges. Starting can be the hardest part, but strategies like setting a timer for three minutes can pull you into action. Once you’re engaged, momentum often takes over.

The Pomodoro technique offers a structured way to maintain focus with short, timed work intervals followed by breaks. On top of starting and maintaining attention, avoiding "autopilot mode" ensures you stay engaged. Techniques like interleaving—alternating between different types of tasks—enhance learning and prevent zoning out during study.

Keep an eye on your energy levels, too. Simple tasks benefit from high alertness while creative tasks thrive during moments of calm. Matching mental arousal to the task type can radically improve outcomes.

Examples

• A writer using pomodoros to complete chapters one burst at a time
• A programming student alternating between writing code and debugging during study blocks
• A musician practicing scales in shorter, more frequent sessions instead of marathon rehearsals

3. Directness in Learning: Connect theory to real-world application

If you’ve ever studied French for years in school only to find yourself speechless in Paris, you’ve experienced the failure of "transfer." Transfer happens when learned skills can’t be used in real-life scenarios because theory and practice are separated. Ultralearners bridge this gap by being direct.

Directness means learning by doing. A language learner would focus on conversations, not just vocabulary drills. A coding student would practice writing actual programs. Immersive learning is another powerful method—spending time in the real-world environment of the skill, like temporarily living in a foreign country to pick up its language.

For those who can’t immerse themselves fully, simulations offer alternatives. Pilots in training use flight simulators to practice their craft in realistic environments. You can replicate this idea by making your practice environment as close to reality as possible.

Examples

• Language learners speaking with native speakers through online platforms
• Aspiring programmers building their own simple apps instead of reading about code
• Artists focusing directly on crafting projects rather than solely drawing elements

4. Drill Down on Weak Spots

Drills isolate and sharpen specific parts of a skill that need improvement. While learners should start with direct practice to understand the broader picture, they can pause to drill down on areas that are holding them back, then return to direct practice.

The effectiveness of drills depends on identifying "rate-determining steps": the most challenging or limiting components of the skill. For an accountant, this might mean mastering Excel formulas before advancing. By isolating and repeating key steps, learners improve faster.

Use specific methods like time-slicing to repeatedly practice just one part of a task—like perfecting serves while playing tennis or running scales for a pianist. For creative endeavors, emulate the masters by copying their work to understand their techniques firsthand.

Examples

• A golfer practicing only drive shots instead of playing full holes
• A musician isolating rhythm exercises within a larger piece of music
• A writer emulating the structure of great authors’ paragraphs to learn pacing

5. Retrieval Practice Beats Rote Review

Many learners fall into the trap of rereading their notes or textbooks, assuming familiarity equals retention. However, research shows that testing oneself through retrieval practice—actively recalling information—is a much more effective strategy for solidifying learning.

Struggling to remember facts or concepts while testing yourself strengthens memory and improves long-term recall, a phenomenon called "desirable difficulty." Flashcards, free recall (writing what you remember without looking), and posing questions rather than statements in notes are examples of retrieval-focused learning.

Active recall forces the mind to consolidate knowledge. Rather than skimming a history textbook, a learner might write a detailed summary of what they know after each chapter, without peeking back at the text.

Examples

• Language learners testing vocabulary with flashcards instead of rereading lists
• History students asking, "What’s the significance of event X in 1066?" rather than passively reading timelines
• A painter forcing themselves to recall principles of color theory at an easel

6. Seek Feedback to Grow

Feedback provides the insight needed to improve, but not all feedback is equally useful. While outcome feedback measures success, the most actionable form is corrective feedback—it shows what went wrong and how to fix it.

Pushing beyond comfort zones can ensure you fail enough to receive meaningful corrections. Experienced mentors or peers can analyze specific mistakes in detail. Additionally, learners can analyze their own methods and make corrections when efficiency stalls.

Remember, feedback is most useful when it focuses on adjustments rather than simple outcomes. A piano student who only receives applause has less to act upon than one who gets advice on improving tempo.

Examples

• A speech coach giving detailed feedback after a presentation
• A coder refining code snippets after debugging comments from peers
• An artist improving compositions based on critiques during gallery reviews

7. Structure Memory for Sticky Learning

Nigel Richards memorized over 386,000 words for the French Scrabble Championships, proving that memorization doesn’t have to be daunting—just strategically spaced and systemized. Ultralearners avoid cramming and instead craft a schedule of spaced repetition practice to ensure retention.

Simple concepts like names or facts are best tackled through flashcard decks or software with algorithms that revisit material at optimal intervals. For complex skills, building recurring "refresh" projects during learning helps consolidate progress—like revisiting beginner algebra while learning advanced equations.

For physical tasks, repetition alone engrains memory. Overlearning—a technique where learners master slightly advanced levels—also strengthens foundational knowledge. An artist studying advanced theories of light and shadow will also improve their grasp on basic shapes.

Examples

• An athlete overtraining intermediate drills to reinforce beginner-level skills
• A medical student repeatedly practicing diagnoses scenarios with varying symptoms
• A language learner using spaced repetition for vocabulary flashcards

8. Intuition Builds from Fundamental Mastery

Breakthroughs often stem from intuition, which grows out of deep familiarity with foundational concepts. Richard Feynman famously explored "basic truths" by continuously asking questions until the underlying logic of problems became intuitive.

Fight the urge to rush through challenges. Struggles are moments for discovery. For example, chess learners should avoid memorizing famous openings and instead reflect on overall strategies. By grappling with difficulties, learners uncover insights and achieve more profound understanding.

Learners must connect ideas themselves rather than blindly accept expert solutions. Trying to replicate discoveries or theories forces grappling, which engrains insight into how systems truly work.

Examples

• A math student working through every step of a proof instead of skipping to answers
• A painter experimenting with the properties of pigments instead of buying pre-mixed paints
• A scientist replicating experiments to understand principles better

9. Experimentation as a Gateway to Innovation

All experts become innovators by experimenting boldly with their craft. Van Gogh tested countless styles and techniques before developing his unique approach to painting. Innovation requires stepping beyond safe mastery and trying new combinations, concepts, or methods.

Beginners who imitate existing models eventually grow confident enough to take creative risks. Imposing constraints—like cooking only with five ingredients—can give structure while pushing new problem-solving ideas. Combining two unrelated skill sets, like engineering and art design, can spark unique new areas of expertise.

Experimenting, failing, refining, and retrying is the key to constant evolution. Over time, novelty becomes second nature, and breakthroughs happen almost naturally.

Examples

• A chef mixing two unrelated cuisines for a fresh flavor profile
• A writer imposing limits, such as crafting an entire story without a particular word
• An amateur inventor hybridizing robotics with gardening tools

Takeaways

1. Allocate time for metalearning before starting any new skill. Identify the major categories (concepts, facts, procedures) and plot your course before diving in.
2. Use active recall over passive review techniques. Regularly test yourself with quizzes, challenges, or practical projects to cement knowledge.
3. Push your boundaries through deliberate experimentation. Copy what works, then creatively add your twist to develop a unique approach.