Learning - How it Works & How to Do it Better ft. Seth Godin

Trevor Ragan

17 Dec 201411:40

Summary

TLDRThis video debunks misconceptions about learning and explains how true skill development works. It emphasizes that skills are not innate but built through repeated practice, forming stronger brain circuits. The video also discusses the concept of 'deep practice' and how the brain's myelin production enhances learning. It addresses how the fear-driven 'lizard brain' can hinder progress and advocates for embracing discomfort to improve. The key takeaway is that anyone can improve at any skill with the right mindset and practice, illustrated by insights from experts like Seth Godin.

Takeaways

😀 Learning is one of the most important skills, yet many misconceptions surround it.
🚴‍♂️ Skills like riding a bike, dancing, or public speaking are learned through brain circuits, not natural gifts.
🧠 Milin (myelin) in the brain strengthens circuits, improving skills with repeated practice.
🎯 There are no 'innate' talents like a dancing or math gene; skills are developed through repeated effort.
🏗 Aristotle taught that people become skilled by doing — practice builds ability.
🔄 Growth mindset is crucial for learning; believing you can learn is the first step.
😓 The 'lizard brain' or amygdala, a remnant from our evolutionary past, often triggers fear and avoidance of new challenges.
🐉 Trying to fight the lizard brain increases its power; instead, recognize its signals and push through fear.
👶 Babies and high achievers ('butt kickers') excel at learning because they embrace the unknown and practice consistently.
💪 Embracing discomfort and failure as part of the learning process is essential to mastering any skill.

Q & A

What is the main misconception about learning that the video aims to dispel?
-The video dispels the misconception that people are born with certain skills or talents, like a 'dancing gene' or 'math gene.' Instead, learning skills is about forming connections in the brain through practice and effort.
How does the brain physically change when learning new skills?
-The brain forms new circuits that are wrapped in a substance called myelin. The more you practice a skill, the more myelin is produced around those circuits, allowing you to perform the skill faster, better, and more accurately.
What role does the concept of 'deep practice' or 'deliberate practice' play in learning?
-Deep practice or deliberate practice involves engaging fully, pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, making mistakes, and repeating the process. This type of practice is essential for building and reinforcing the neural circuits responsible for a skill.
Why does the speaker mention Aristotle in the context of learning?
-Aristotle is referenced to emphasize that learning by doing is a fundamental principle. He said, 'Whatever we learn to do, we learn by actually doing it,' meaning practice is key to mastering any skill.
What is the 'lizard brain,' and how does it affect learning?
-The 'lizard brain' refers to the amygdala, a part of the brain that triggers fear and caution, causing people to avoid risk and discomfort. It hinders learning by encouraging people to stay in their comfort zones, resist challenges, and avoid mistakes.
What does Seth Godin mean when he says he fails 'with relish'?
-Seth Godin embraces failure as part of the learning process. He sees failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, understanding that the discomfort of not knowing or making mistakes is a necessary part of mastering new skills.
Why does the speaker say it is impossible to defeat the 'lizard brain'?
-The speaker explains that fighting the 'lizard brain' only strengthens its influence. Instead, it’s more effective to 'dance' with it—acknowledge the fear it creates and use it as a signal that you're on the verge of something important, then act despite the fear.
How do 'butt kickers' succeed at learning, according to the video?
-'Butt kickers' are people who excel because they understand how learning works. They embrace discomfort, push themselves outside their comfort zones, and persist through failures, using deep practice to continually improve.
What is the importance of having a 'growth mindset' in learning?
-A growth mindset is the belief that you can improve and learn new things through effort and practice. This mindset is crucial for learning because it encourages persistence, openness to challenges, and the willingness to make mistakes.
What evolutionary explanation does the speaker provide for why our brains are wired to learn?
-The speaker explains that in prehistoric times, learning skills that helped with survival (like hunting or building) was essential. The brain adapted by becoming efficient at learning and improving at tasks that were repeated often and required effort.

Outlines

00:00

🚴‍♂️ Understanding Skill Development and Dispelling Misconceptions

In this section, the speaker introduces the idea of learning as a skill that can be cultivated through effort, rather than something innate or 'in your blood.' They challenge common misconceptions like 'natural gifts' and phrases like 'muscle memory,' explaining that skills are the result of building neural circuits through repetition. The brain's ability to improve is enhanced by a substance called myelin, which strengthens these circuits the more they are used. The speaker emphasizes that no one is 'born' with a specific skill, and highlights Aristotle's perspective that learning happens by doing. Essentially, people excel at activities like public speaking or basketball because they have practiced more than others. This means anyone can improve at anything with practice, shattering excuses like 'I'm not a math person.' The takeaway is that we can get better at anything we invest time and effort into.

05:01

👶 The Power of Babies and 'Butt Kickers' in Mastering Learning

This paragraph contrasts the majority of people who struggle with learning against two groups who excel: babies and 'butt kickers.' These two groups, which make up about 10% of the population, have mastered the art of learning because they embrace failure and the unknown. The speaker references Seth Godin, who shares his perspective on learning through failure and discomfort. Godin explains that being 'thirsty' to learn means being willing to feel stupid or out of control, as this is when real learning happens. The secret to success, according to this mindset, is not in one's genes but in being open to making mistakes and pushing through difficult situations. The speaker uses this to illustrate the importance of confronting the discomfort and tension that come with learning, rather than avoiding them.

10:04

🦎 The Lizard Brain's Impact on Fear and Learning

This section delves into the battle between the 'lizard brain' (the amygdala) and the human brain, particularly in the context of learning. The lizard brain, a remnant of our evolutionary past, is wired to prioritize survival, shelter, and safety, leading to irrational fears and behaviors in modern times. These fears can manifest as social anxieties, resistance to change, and avoidance of risks—behaviors that once protected us but now hinder learning. The speaker argues that the lizard brain's fear of failure or making mistakes prevents us from stepping outside our comfort zones, which is essential for growth. The core idea is that the lizard brain's caution, which served ancient humans well, now holds us back from embracing new experiences and learning opportunities.

💃 How to Dance with the Lizard Brain, Not Fight It

The final paragraph shifts from trying to defeat the lizard brain to learning how to 'dance' with it. Seth Godin returns with advice on how to handle fear and self-doubt—core components of the lizard brain—by not fighting or resisting them. Instead of letting these fears control our actions, we should recognize them as signals that we are about to do something bold, brave, or important. Great artists and thinkers often experience fear and doubt, but they succeed by acknowledging those feelings and pushing forward anyway. The key message is to embrace the lizard brain's warnings, thank it for its input, and continue on the path of growth and learning despite those fears.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Learning

Learning refers to the process of acquiring new skills or knowledge through experience, practice, or study. In the video, learning is described as the formation of circuits in the brain that are strengthened through repetition and deep practice. The video emphasizes that anyone can learn a skill if they invest time and effort into practicing it consistently.

💡Muscle memory

Muscle memory refers to the idea that physical actions become easier and automatic with repetition. In the video, the concept of muscle memory is debunked as a myth, with the explanation that what we call muscle memory is actually the brain creating stronger neural circuits through practice. This emphasizes the brain’s role in skill acquisition rather than innate talent.

💡Myelin

Myelin is a substance that wraps around neural circuits in the brain, helping them work faster and more efficiently. The video explains that repeated practice stimulates myelin production, which in turn improves performance in any skill. The production of myelin is a core aspect of how learning and skill development occur at the neurological level.

💡Deep practice

Deep practice is a focused and deliberate form of practicing a skill that involves pushing beyond one's comfort zone and making mistakes. The video emphasizes that deep practice, not just repetition, is key to learning, as it encourages the brain to wrap neural circuits in myelin, leading to faster and more efficient skill development.

💡Growth mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work and dedication. In the video, having a growth mindset is presented as a crucial element of learning. It contrasts with a fixed mindset, where individuals believe their abilities are static. The video encourages viewers to adopt a growth mindset to improve their learning capabilities.

💡Lizard brain

The 'lizard brain' refers to the amygdala, a part of the brain that is responsible for fear, survival instincts, and the fight-or-flight response. The video discusses how the lizard brain often hinders learning by making people avoid risks and discomfort. To learn effectively, people need to recognize their lizard brain’s reactions and push through them to embrace challenges.

💡Comfort zone

The comfort zone is a mental state where one feels safe and in control but experiences little personal growth or learning. The video emphasizes that effective learning happens when people step outside of their comfort zones and embrace challenges, which stimulates the brain’s learning processes and encourages the production of myelin.

💡Mistakes

Mistakes are seen as an essential part of the learning process in the video. Rather than being failures, mistakes are portrayed as opportunities for growth, as they help the brain identify what needs improvement. The video suggests that making mistakes during deep practice is crucial for skill development because it encourages the brain to reinforce useful circuits.

💡Deliberate practice

Deliberate practice involves practicing a skill with specific goals in mind, often targeting areas that are difficult or unfamiliar. In the video, deliberate practice is compared to deep practice and is shown to be more effective than casual repetition because it forces learners to focus on improvement rather than just going through the motions.

💡Amygdala

The amygdala is the part of the brain responsible for emotional responses like fear and anxiety. In the video, it is referred to as the 'lizard brain,' which tries to protect us by avoiding risks and challenges. This part of the brain is presented as an obstacle to learning, and the video encourages viewers to recognize its influence and move beyond its fear-based limitations to embrace learning.

Highlights

Learning is one of the most important skills, with many misconceptions about how it works.

Learned skills are not natural gifts; they are connections and circuits in the brain strengthened through practice.

Myelin production wraps frequently used circuits, making skills faster and more accurate.

Deep practice, or deliberate practice, increases myelin production, enhancing skill development.

There's no such thing as a natural gift for specific skills; skills are developed through repeated practice.

Aristotle’s wisdom: Skills are learned by doing the activity itself, not through innate talent.

People who excel at skills have practiced more, not because they were born with the ability.

The brain is designed to learn what we do most frequently and what is most challenging.

Learning works best when you believe you can learn, engage deeply, and frequently step outside your comfort zone.

Two groups excel at learning: babies and high achievers (the 'butt kickers'), who understand and apply learning principles.

The amygdala, or 'lizard brain,' is responsible for fear and seeking safety, hindering learning by avoiding risks and change.

The lizard brain’s fears are irrational and do not reflect actual threats in modern life.

Learning involves managing the tension between the curious, learning-focused human brain and the fearful lizard brain.

You cannot defeat the lizard brain; instead, learn to work with it as a guide to identify brave, bold actions.

Great artists and achievers succeed by acknowledging their fears and taking action despite them, using fear as a compass.