How To Study Hard - Richard Feynman

Summary

The speaker emphasizes the importance of dedication and hard work in achieving expertise, dispelling the notion of innate talent or 'miracle abilities'. They advocate for the '10,000 hours' concept, suggesting that anyone can become an expert in their field by investing significant time and effort. The speaker also advises against comparing oneself to others, recommending self-improvement as the benchmark for progress. They acknowledge the inevitability of mistakes but view them as valuable learning experiences that contribute to growth and expertise.

Takeaways

• 🧠 There is no inherent 'miracle' talent or ability to understand complex subjects like quantum mechanics; it comes from dedication, practice, and learning.
• 📚 Becoming a scientist or expert in a field requires a significant amount of time and effort, emphasizing the importance of hard work over innate talent.
• 🔍 A small subset of people can achieve great things due to their obsessive focus and dedication, which often leads to breakthroughs that more 'prudent' work might not.
• 🌍 Even when aiming to change the world, it requires a level of effort that is far above the average, suggesting that extraordinary outcomes demand extraordinary work.
• 🕒 The speaker advocates for the '10,000 hours' concept, suggesting that spending this amount of time on deliberate practice and work can lead to expertise in any chosen field.
• 🤔 The focus should be on the quantity and quality of work done, rather than just working smart, as even smart work requires substantial time investment.
• 😅 A humorous take on the idea of a four-day work week, implying that even with a seven-day week, there is not enough time to accomplish all that one aims to do.
• 🆚 Comparing oneself to others can be harmful; instead, one should compare their current self to their self from the past, which is a healthier and more motivating way to gauge progress.
• 💪 Mistakes and failures are not wasted efforts; they provide valuable lessons and 'scar tissue' that contribute to growth and future success.
• 🔄 It's important to iterate and improve, acknowledging that some time will be spent inefficiently but that it is part of the learning process.
• 📈 Personal progress is not just about avoiding mistakes but also about learning from them and using those lessons to inform future actions and decisions.

Q & A

What does the speaker believe about the concept of 'ordinary people' and their potential to become scientists?

The speaker believes that there are no 'miracle people' and that anyone can become a scientist if they are willing to devote a great deal of time to study, work, and thinking in mathematics and related fields.

How does the speaker view the role of obsession in achieving great outcomes?

The speaker suggests that a small subset of people who are very happy being obsessive about things can achieve great outcomes that may not be accomplished through practical, prudent, and pedestrian work.

What does the speaker think about the idea of changing the world without hard work?

The speaker believes that changing the world requires a lot of hard work and that there is no way to achieve significant change without working at a level significantly above the average.

What is the speaker's stance on the concept of a four-day work week for achieving great outcomes?

The speaker is skeptical about the four-day work week, stating that they cannot get enough done even with a seven-day week and implying that more time and effort are necessary for significant achievements.

How does the speaker relate the idea of working smart to their own work ethic?

The speaker acknowledges that some may suggest they are not working smart, but they believe they work smart and that the focus should be on the amount of work done rather than the efficiency of the work.

What is the '10,000 hours' concept that the speaker refers to and how does it relate to becoming an expert?

The '10,000 hours' concept is the idea that to become an expert in a field, one must invest 10,000 hours of deliberate effort and work. The speaker believes in this concept and suggests that it provides a sense of determinism about becoming an expert.

What advice does the speaker give regarding self-comparison and progress?

The speaker advises against comparing oneself to others and instead recommends comparing oneself to who they were a year ago, as it is the only way to accurately measure personal progress and growth.

How does the speaker view the role of mistakes in the learning process?

The speaker sees mistakes as valuable, as they provide 'scar tissue' that allows for growth and learning, making one stronger and better prepared for future challenges.

What is the speaker's perspective on the importance of deliberate effort in achieving expertise?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of deliberate effort, stating that if one spends 10,000 hours with focused effort on a subject, they will become an expert in that field.

How does the speaker define 'working smart' in the context of achieving great outcomes?

The speaker implies that 'working smart' involves not just efficiency but also the dedication to put in the necessary hours and effort to achieve expertise and significant outcomes.

What is the speaker's opinion on the necessity of time investment in one's area of interest?

The speaker believes that investing time is crucial and suggests that one should pick areas of interest and care, and put in the required 10,000 hours to achieve mastery.