The 9 Laws of Ultralearning | Master ANYTHING Quickly

Summary

In this video, Scott Young's 'Ultra Learning' book is explored, highlighting nine rules for rapid skill acquisition. These include meta learning, deep focus, directedness, drilling weak skills, retrieval practice, frequent feedback, retention, intuition development, and experimentation. The aim is to master high-value skills quickly, giving a competitive edge and boosting earning potential.

Takeaways

• 📚 Meta Learning: Before starting to learn, understand the 'what', 'why', and 'how' of the subject to clarify goals and strategy.
• 🧘 Focus Deeply: Build a deep work routine to concentrate and increase the efficiency of learning by eliminating distractions.
• 🎯 Directedness: Engage actively in the learning process by applying what you learn through projects to solidify understanding.
• 🛠 Drill Skills: Identify and work on the areas needing the most improvement to enhance overall learning effectiveness.
• 🔑 Retrieval Practice: Strengthen memory and learning by actively recalling information without relying on notes.
• 📊 Frequent Feedback: Seek constructive feedback to identify areas for improvement and accelerate learning.
• 🔄 Retention: Regularly practice and revisit learned skills to maintain proficiency and prevent loss of knowledge.
• 🤔 Intuition: Develop a deep intuition through experience, which is a sign of mastery and allows for quick adaptation.
• 🔬 Experimentation: Continuously try new approaches to refine your learning process, keeping it enjoyable and cutting-edge.
• 🚀 Ultra Learning: Implement these nine rules to quickly acquire high-value skills, gain a competitive advantage, and increase earning potential.

Q & A

What is the main argument of Scott Young in his book 'Ultra Learning'?

Scott Young argues that traditional educational methods are inefficient and outdated, and they fail to teach the most important skill for success, which is self-reliance and the ability to take control of one's life through learning.

What is the first rule of Ultra Learning mentioned in the script?

The first rule of Ultra Learning is 'Meta Learning', which involves understanding the what, why, and how of what you are about to learn. It's about getting a big picture overview and starting to build a strategy.

Why is it important to have a clear goal before starting to learn something new?

Having a clear goal is important because it helps in setting expectations and knowing what objectives to work towards, making the learning process more focused and efficient.

What does 'Deep Work' mean in the context of Ultra Learning?

'Deep Work' refers to a focused routine where you prepare your mind and environment for concentrated effort, blocking out distractions to achieve higher quality and more efficient learning.

How can you implement the 'Directedness' rule in your learning process?

The 'Directedness' rule can be implemented by actively engaging in the process you want to master, learning by doing, and applying what you've learned through projects or practical applications.

Why is it crucial to focus on improving the weakest areas in your learning?

Focusing on the weakest areas is crucial because learning is interconnected, and improving one area can have a synergistic effect on all other areas, ultimately enhancing overall learning.

What is the role of 'Retrieval' in the learning process according to the script?

Retrieval is the act of actively recalling information and skills from memory, which has been shown to be one of the most important strategies for strengthening and cementing what has been learned into long-term memory.

How can feedback help in the Ultra Learning process?

Feedback, especially constructive and corrective feedback, helps learners see areas of improvement that they might not notice themselves, thus accelerating the learning process.

What is the significance of 'Retention' in the Ultra Learning rules?

'Retention' is about regular practice with your knowledge and skills to stay sharp. It helps in maintaining the learned skills and preventing the loss of knowledge over time.

How does 'Intuition' play a role in the Ultra Learning process?

Intuition, developed through deep expertise and experience, allows learners to have a gut feeling about what works and what doesn't, enabling them to adapt and implement skills effectively.

Why is 'Experimentation' important in maintaining long-term learning?

'Experimentation' is important as it keeps learning fun and engaging. It also helps in refining and optimizing the learning process, maintaining high curiosity and interest in the subject.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Mastering Self-Reliant Learning: Ultra Learning's Nine Rules

The script introduces Scott Young's concept of 'Ultra Learning' from his book, which challenges traditional education as inefficient and outdated. It emphasizes the importance of self-reliance in learning and presents nine rules to quickly acquire in-demand skills. The first rule, 'Meta Learning,' is about understanding the objectives and strategy of what one intends to learn. It suggests starting with a broad overview and setting clear goals. The second rule, 'Focus Deeply,' stresses the need for concentration and a dedicated routine to enhance learning efficiency, recommending practices like setting a 'Do Not Disturb' mode and creating a distraction-free environment.

05:01

🎯 Applying Active Learning and Drilling Skills for Mastery

This paragraph delves into 'Directedness,' the third rule, which encourages active engagement in the learning process through doing rather than passive consumption. It distinguishes between declarative and procedural learning, advocating for the latter to solidify understanding. 'Drill the Skills,' the fourth rule, advises focusing on areas needing the most improvement to avoid stagnation and to enhance overall learning synergy. The narrative uses the example of creating educational YouTube content, emphasizing the importance of applying learned skills in real projects to achieve mastery.

10:02

🔍 Enhancing Learning Through Retrieval and Feedback

The script continues with 'Retrieval' as the fifth rule, highlighting its effectiveness in strengthening memory through active recall, and contrasting it with the reliance on notes. It suggests teaching as a method to reinforce learning. 'Receive and Implement Frequent Feedback,' the sixth rule, is about seeking constructive criticism to identify areas for improvement. The importance of feedback is illustrated through the impact it can have on content creation and the learning process, with an emphasis on its role in accelerating skill development.

🔄 Retention, Intuition, and Experimentation for Long-Term Mastery

The latter part of the script discusses 'Retention' as the seventh rule, emphasizing regular practice to maintain and sharpen skills. It warns against the loss of proficiency due to inactivity. 'Intuition,' the eighth rule, speaks to the deep expertise developed through experience, allowing for an intuitive understanding of one's craft. Finally, 'Experimentation,' the ninth rule, encourages trying new approaches to refine skills and maintain curiosity, suggesting that innovation in learning can lead to breakthroughs and enjoyment.

Keywords

💡Ultra Learning

Ultra Learning is a concept introduced by Scott Young in his book, advocating for a self-directed and efficient approach to acquiring new skills without traditional educational systems. It is the central theme of the video, emphasizing the importance of self-reliance in learning. The script discusses nine rules of Ultra Learning, illustrating how to quickly pick up in-demand skills and gain a competitive advantage.

💡Meta Learning

Meta Learning is the first rule of Ultra Learning, which involves understanding the 'what,' 'why,' and 'how' of the subject you intend to learn. In the script, it is exemplified by the process of researching and strategizing before starting an educational YouTube channel, setting clear objectives and expectations.

💡Deep Work

Deep Work is the practice of focusing without distraction on a cognitively demanding task, which is essential for high-quality and efficient learning. The script suggests building a routine for deep work, such as setting aside specific hours in the day to focus solely on learning objectives, like growing a YouTube channel.

💡Directedness

Directedness is the third rule of Ultra Learning, emphasizing active engagement in the learning process through doing. The script illustrates this by stating that learning by doing, such as actually filming YouTube videos, is more effective than just studying theoretical aspects.

💡Drill

Drilling is the act of focusing on and improving the areas where one is weakest, as per the fourth rule of Ultra Learning. The script uses the example of thumbnail creation for YouTube videos, suggesting that concentrating on weak areas can lead to overall improvement.

💡Retrieval

Retrieval is a learning strategy that involves actively recalling information from memory, which is crucial for strengthening memory and understanding. The script mentions that using retrieval, such as teaching what you've learned without notes, can significantly enhance learning.

💡Feedback

Feedback is essential for learning, as it provides insights into areas of improvement. The script differentiates between ego feedback, which is merely flattering, and constructive feedback, which identifies specific areas for enhancement and is vital for faster learning.

💡Retention

Retention refers to the practice of regularly revisiting and practicing learned skills to maintain proficiency. The script warns against the loss of skills due to lack of practice, suggesting that retention is necessary to stay sharp and avoid having to relearn.

💡Intuition

Intuition in the context of Ultra Learning is the gut feeling or instinct that comes with deep experience and mastery. The script describes how intuition can guide actions and decisions in learning, such as noticing nuances in video creation that resonate with viewers.

💡Experimentation

Experimentation is the final rule of Ultra Learning, which encourages trying new approaches and refining processes to maintain curiosity and improve learning. The script suggests that experimentation can lead to innovation and make learning enjoyable, as seen in the rebranding of a YouTube channel.

Highlights

Scott Young argues that traditional educational methods are inefficient and outdated in his book 'Ultra Learning'.

Ultra Learning teaches self-reliance and taking control of one's life through learning.

The nine rules of Ultra Learning provide a step-by-step playbook for quickly learning high-value skills.

Rule 1 - Meta Learning: Understanding the what, why, and how of what you are about to learn is crucial.

Rule 2 - Focus Deeply: Concentrated effort leads to higher quality and more efficient learning.

Rule 3 - Directedness: Actively engage in the process you want to master by learning by doing.

Rule 4 - Drill the Skills That Need the Most Improvement to develop mastery.

Rule 5 - Learn Using Retrieval: Actively recalling information strengthens long-term memory.

Rule 6 - Receive and Implement Frequent Feedback to see areas of improvement.

Rule 7 - Retention: Regular practice to maintain and sharpen skills.

Rule 8 - Intuition: Developing a deep understanding and gut feeling that comes with experience.

Rule 9 - Experimentation: Trying new approaches to refine and optimize your learning process.

Learning is interconnected, and improving one area can have a synergistic effect on all learning.

Teaching is a powerful way to use retrieval and reinforce learning.

Constructive and corrective feedback is more valuable than ego feedback.

Repackaging learned knowledge into different use cases helps with retention.

Developing intuition and a deep mindset comes with immersion and experience.

Experimentation not only makes learning enjoyable but also improves it dramatically.

Innovators love learning because it's enjoyable and leads to creating impactful solutions.

Transcripts

what if there was a proven way to pick

up in demand skills quickly without

having to go back to school this is what

Scott young talks about in his book ultr

learning he argues that traditional

educational methods are inefficient and

outdated and they don't teach us the

most important skill to succeed which is

how to become self-reliant to take

control of our lives through learning so

I'm going to show you how to implement

the nine rules of ultr learning and by

the end you'll have a step-by-step

Playbook to quickly learn high value

skills to gain a competitive advantage

and increase your earning potential the

first rule comes before learning even

begins and it might be the most

important one of them all imagine I

wanted to learn how to grow an

educational YouTube channel from scratch

funny enough I would search on YouTube

how to start a YouTube channel I'd ask

chpt and i' probably do a few Google

searches and my goal here is just get a

big picture overview of the process and

start building a strategy this is rule

number one meta learning figuring out

the what why and how of what we're about

to learn because if it's not clear it's

confusing and the more you can break it

down and simplify this the better this

is why in school we get a syllabus when

we start the year or when you start a

new job you get onboarded you have

expectations set before you so you know

what goals you're working towards so

looking at those three things for

starting this YouTube channel what are

the two to three core learning

objectives and then decide when and I

would physically block out in your

calendar when you're going to do that

what and then finally how what courses

what resources what coaching are you

going to use to get started you want to

have a big picture overview of the exact

things you need to learn and in what

order get specific here so you know

exactly what to do every day but even

with meta learning we won't make any

progress without rule number two so

let's say I've just meta learned how to

grow my educational YouTube channel and

now I'm at my desk with a hot cup of

matcha and I'm ready to learn but right

when I open up notion I get a

notification I get text messages now I'm

scrolling social media I'm completely

distracted from my plan and before I

know it 4 hours have passed and not a

single thing has been learned all

because I'm missing a key ingredient for

Ultra learning rule number two is to

focus deeply when learning concentrated

effort leads to higher quality and more

efficient learning I recommend building

a deep work routine you know something

that you can use and rely on to prepare

your mind and your environment for

focusing you might decide to spend 2

hours in deep work in the mornings

focused on building the channel or if

you're more of a night owl maybe you do

this in the evening and during this deep

work time you enter Do Not Disturb mode

you put your phone in another room you

close all the other tabs all the

programs you don't need and you just

hyperfocus on learning if you want to

use my protocol I'll leave a link up

here it's the exact same one that we

teach all of our students in study Quest

so stop trying to create more time for

Learning and instead make your time

worth more you need to build a habit of

focus so that we're ready for the next

rule of ultra learning so let's say that

I focus deeply for 2 hours every day

this week following my meta learning

plan I consumed all my resources I've

watched through the courses and I've

read books on ideation scripting and

video editing I did all this but I never

actually sat down hit record and filmed

a YouTube video this is one of the most

common mistakes that hold us back from

learning faster rule number three is

directedness being actively engaged in

the process that we want to master it's

about learning by doing so within our

nervous system there are two Pathways

for learning the declarative path which

involves learning Concepts facts and

definitions and then we have the

procedural path which involves learning

by doing like knowing facts about things

doesn't really mean you understand it or

truly know it right we need that

procedural element the application to

actually round out our learning and

directedness is about applying what we

learned and this is why it's always more

effective to build a project while

you're working on a skill because

projects force you to apply what you're

learning so if my goal is to create

better educational YouTube videos I

can't just study it all day I actually

have to sit down and record educational

YouTube videos right so directedness

rounds out the procedural pathway and

helps us solidify what we're learning

but where we direct our Focus plays a

huge role in how fast we learn and

that's where this next rule comes in so

let's say that now I'm publishing

YouTube videos the ideas are better the

audio sounds nice and crisp the script

is tight and packed with value

everything seems great except the

thumbnails kind of suck even though the

thumbnails are the only thing struggling

it's actually the biggest problem

holding us back from learning faster

Rule Number Four is to drill the skills

that need the most Improvement it's

natural to avoid working on the things

that we suck at or we'll try to

compensate by doing everything that we

really good at even better but to

develop Mastery we have to work on all

areas especially the ones that we're bad

at because learning is all

interconnected and everything works

together and usually by fixing one

problem area suddenly it'll multiply

right synergistically work together to

improve all of our learning but the same

is also true in the opposite direction

think of this like your great point

average your GPA even if you Ace every

single single class if you just fail one

class that's going to pull the average

of your grade point average down a lot

you're only as good as your weakest link

so if the problem is thumbnails I should

spend the most time Drilling and

improving thumbnail creation and in

doing so every other area of my videos

is going to get better as well right

it's going to make the title make more

sense it's going to improve the idea of

the video the concept overall and it's

going to increase the chances that

people will actually watch the video and

get that juicy value that you're trying

to provide but how do we know when our

learning sticks so let's say I'm

drilling thumbnails hard now whenever I

design new thumbnail I pull up all my

resources and my notes and I follow

along to make a really good thumbnail

but after a few months I still find it

hard to remember some of the techniques

that I've been practicing this is

another common mistake that prevents us

from learning faster because if I always

rely on my notes and look up the answers

then my brain never has to put in any

effort to remember how to do it rule

number five is to learn using retrieval

retrieval is actively recalling the

information and the skills that you

learned from memory and it's been shown

in hundreds of studies as one of the

most important strategies for

strengthening and cementing what we've

learned into our long-term memory but

most Learners avoid it because it's

uncomfortable it requires a lot of

effort right think about how much more

challenging it would be to give a

presentation without speaker notes if

you always use speaker notes the first

few times you're going to struggle a lot

but over time with enough repetitions

it's going to become easier and easier

to do I think teaching is a super

powerful way to use retrieval by

teaching something you get to learn it

twice that's assuming that you're not

looking at your notes so if I could

teach the process of Designing a fire

thumbnail and someone follows only my

instructions and also creates a fire

thumbnail that's a learning win

retrieval is one of the best learning

methods but if we combine it with this

next rule you'll become Unstoppable so

let's say that I've nailed the process

of Designing thumbnails and I can crank

them out now for memory but for some

reason the views on the channel aren't

flooding in and after sleepless nights

and frustration I finally decide to ask

people what they thought about the

content little did I know that by doing

that I was implementing the rule that

has the biggest potential to improve our

learning rule number six is to receive

and implement frequent feedback feedback

helps you see what you can't see

yourself to be more specific here Scott

young states that the least valuable

form of feedback is something called ego

feedback or praise that just makes you

feel good but it doesn't identify any

area of improvement like if the feedback

I get is that this mustache is sexy that

I'm perfect and that the algorithm is

rigged and it's pulling my channel down

I don't really know what to change the

best form of feedback is constructive

and corrective so as I'm growing my

channel I should be looking at the

comments I should be looking at the

analytics I should be asking people to

roast my content figure out what they

like and what they don't like I should

be sending out surveys and doing things

to seek that constructive corrective

criticism to learn faster so with these

six rules so far you should be Speed

Learning right devouring this knowledge

like Oreos but how do we make sure we

don't forget it or Worse have to relearn

it well that's what these last few rules

are all about so now let's say the

YouTube channel is growing nicely and

we're starting to get people asking us

if we have a coaching program or service

that we can help them with along the way

so I spend the next 6 months building a

coaching program to help them solve the

problems but when I return to making

YouTube videos my skills are kind of

rusty The Meta has changed and my

content strategy is so 2023 and it feels

like I'm starting from scratch again I

could have avoided all of this if I

implemented rule number seven of ultr

learning which is retention retention

means regular practice with your

Knowledge and Skills to stay sharp

because if you don't use it you lose it

this is why only 20% of Americans are

bilingual even though everyone has to

take like 3 or 4 years of a second

language going through school if we

don't practice we don't main so try to

set up systems and revisit what you've

learned a really powerful strategy is to

repackage what you've learned into a

different use case so for example if I

was growing an educational YouTube

channel I probably got pretty good at

making educational videos right to teach

people so as I'm building my coaching

program I would consider making videos

to complement it right like a self-paced

course that you can do along the side

this is exactly what we did when we

built study quests it was an easy way to

practice scripting filming and editing

videos just use for a different context

it's not just about revisiting your

notes or looking at flashcards to

surface ideas it's actively seeking

opportunities to apply and implement the

skills that you've learned but what does

it mean to be a master of your craft

because the smartest thinkers think on a

completely different level and that's

where this next rule comes in as I

continue to use these rules over time I

start to develop a kind of six sense for

educational YouTube videos I begin to

question my mentors I'm starting to

doubt some of the resources and the

knowledge out there in the world about

making YouTube videos because once you

get to a certain level of Mastery you

start to develop a different type of

mindset rule number eight is Intuition

or the gut feeling that just comes with

experience right when you know it you

just know it you know this is why

surgeons who've performed thousands of

surgeries on a particular organ they

don't even blink an eye when something

unexpected happens they just know

exactly what they're supposed to do

they're so familiar with how to adapt

and Implement those skills that it just

becomes play so immerse yourself in what

you learn you know eat sleep breathe

dream about that stuff and over time

your mindset will change and you'll

develop a deep intuition so for the

YouTube stuff I might start to notice

nuances in details and structure I might

notice that some of the words I say

resonate with some people I might notice

that some of the b-roll changes some of

the transitions that I make are more

effective than the other ones intuition

is a sign of deep expertise and that's

what we should be seeking with learning

so at this point I'm extremely confident

with growing the channel and we're

starting to get a lot more views but 3

years later the views start to drop

growth plateaus and the content starts

to feel a little stale and on top of

that I'm also starting to feel a little

bored with making videos and to reignite

the passion and desire to continue

learning we decide to Rebrand the

channel and spice up the content rule

number nine is experimentation trying

new approaches to refine and optimize

your process not only does it make

learning more fun but it actually

dramatically improves our learning to

learn is to create the reason why

innovators love learning so much is

because it's enjoyable and as a

byproduct of figuring out how things

work they create products right these

are solutions and services that impact

society and help us live better lives so

once you get really really good at what

you do it's experimentation that brings

your learning to The Cutting Edge come

up with new formats or styles of

teaching in videos that no one else has

ever seen or remix your ideas in such a

unique way that people can't help but

watch there are endless ways to get

creative with educational content there

is short form long form podcasts

challenges case studies listicles this

is where learning becomes play and it's

through experimentation that you also

maintain High curiosity and interest for

what you're learning to continue getting

better at your craft so follow these

nine rules for Ultra learning to acquire

skills quickly and increase your earning

potential so the next question becomes

what skills should you Ultra learn and

what kind of system will help you stay

organized well I answer all of those

questions in this video here