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Language Learning: The Number One Predictor of Success Most Ignore
Technology makes us forget human nature
After learning Finnish for 3 years now, there is one overarching reason I stuck with the language for so long. And this comes from someone who’s quit many things he’s started in life. I’m not some hyper disciplined person. The “new shiny thing” is just as alluring to me as it is to anyone else.
But my quest to learn Finnish had one magical ingredient that drove me to put in those 3–6 hour days consistently.
But first let’s talk about what doesn’t work.
Discipline is like scraping your brain for inspiration. You persistently learn the language for a period, dialing into your “why.” This initial excitement is like the engine that pulls the reluctant train cars forward.
But inevitably your own “why” loses its inspiration power, and you’re left with this hollow and empty feeling. The reluctant train cars creak to a stop and the engine sputters.
You look for other “catalysts” to stay enthusiastic while you force yourself to keep learning. But eventually, learning a language will feel as dry as getting ready for work in the morning. Listening to a language podcast will become as ordinary as finding your work clothes while half asleep.
