Introducing the ‘Month to Master’ app
Learn anything in 30 days, with the help of your AI coach
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Eight months ago, on November 1, 2016, I challenged myself to learn one expert-level skill every month for a year.
Since then, I’ve become a grandmaster of memory, learned to draw realistic portraits, solved a Rubik’s Cube in 17 seconds, landed a standing backflip, played a five-minute improvisational blues guitar solo, held a 30-minute conversation in a foreign language, built a self-driving car, and developed perfect pitch.
In February 2017, I started coaching others who wanted to pursue their own monthly learning challenges. I coached via daily text messages, helping my students structure their challenges, remain accountable, find the best learning materials/content, optimize their practice, overcome frustrations, etc.
Each month, I’ve taken on a few more students, but I’ve quickly reached my capacity, not able to satisfy all the coaching requests I’m receiving.
So, three months ago, I decided that the best way to expand the Month to Master experience was to introduce a more “scalable” coach through a mobile app. After all, as I’ve honed my personal learning approach, as well as coached via SMS, I’ve found that there are clear, generalizable patterns across the most effective learning approaches that can be packaged up, productized, and distributed through software, allowing anyone to benefit from these techniques.
Today, I’m excited to announce the launch of the Month to Master app and introduce the first artificially intelligent learning coach, Max.
Max will guide you through your entire monthly learning pursuit via friendly, informed conversation within the app.
1. Set yourself up for success
After downloading the app and becoming acquainted with Max (your AI coach), you’ll jump right in and set up your monthly learning challenge.
Together, you and Max will identify the perfect learning goal — anything from learning a new instrument to learning a new language. Sometimes, you may know exactly what you want to learn, and other times, you can ask Max for some recommendations. Either way, Max will ensure that your goal is measurable, trackable, and exciting.
With your learning goal set, you and Max will then determine your optimal practice schedule — whether it’s 30 minutes in the morning or an hour at night.
Finally, to ensure you remain committed, Max will help you set up one of three accountability mechanisms: 1. Accountability to a friend, 2. Accountability to your social network, or 3. Monetary accountability.
Once your learning goal, practice schedule, and accountability mechanism are defined, you’re all set up for a successful month of learning.
Time to get started.
2. Stay motivated with daily coaching
Once your monthly challenge begins, Max will help you make daily progress.
Often times, this will just be through a quick check-in and some motivating words.
Other times, if you’re not making progress as hoped, you can chat with Max to get back on track — whether you need emotional support (you’re frustrated, confused, overwhelmed, tired, etc.) or you need learning support (you’re not sure what learning materials are best to use, you’re not sure how to optimize your practice sessions, etc.)
While Max’s coaching still has plenty of room to grow (I’m working on it!), with Version 1 of the app, you will have a dedicated partner by your side to ensure you have the best chance of success.
While it’s easy to put off your learning dreams until tomorrow, Max and the M2M app make it easy to get going and stay going, so it’s finally time to learn that thing you’ve always wanted to. No more excuses.
To me, there’s nothing more energizing, fulfilling, and joyful than the pursuit of mastery, and I hope to share this experience with you through the app.
If you’re ready to get started, you can download the app here.