How to Build Your Knowledge Base
3 simple rules of thumb to adopt a learning lifestyle
The Brain is the most complicated organism of the universe. It navigates complex environments and most of it is done unconsciously. It’s an extraordinary machine equipped with a memory storage capacity of about one million gigabytes (around 2.5 petabytes). That would be enough to hold three million hours of TV shows (about 300 years).
New cells are formed every day. But if you don’t use it, you lose it. It’s your responsibility to help them survive and strive.
How?
By exposing yourself to something new every day, by going just a step beyond your comfort zone. You should never cease learning in order to improve your cognitive reserve. The new knowledge economy reinforces the need to increase your cognitive abilities and adapt in a world of permanent disruption.
Building your knowledge base is a long-term process that expands through life. But it isn’t a linear mechanism. Instead, it follows an exponential rise. Does that ring a bell?
“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it … he who doesn’t … pays it.” — Albert Einstein
The compounding effect doesn’t apply just for money, learning reflects the same progression. This is because of the connections that your intellect is able to make between newly gained insight and existing knowledge. At some point, you will connect the dots.
Here are 3 simple rules of thumb you can implement now to adopt a learning lifestyle and start growing.
1. You need to be a non-stop reader
Warren Buffett, arguably one of the most successful persons on earth, famously said :
“Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it”.
Reading is probably the most powerful way to expand wisdom. You have access to expert level material. You can navigate through time and expose yourself to the ideas of the most thought-provoking people of all time. If you want to build a competitive advantage, you need to read more than everyone else. It’s that simple.
Read, read, read. Read all the time and enhance your reading using the great apps out there. Don’t limit yourself, there are plenty of ways to supplement your readings. I personally use Audible to boost my reading time. Audiobooks are very convenient while commuting.
I also use Blinkist as a tool to choose my books. You can use it to discover the key takeaways from the books you are willing to read. You need to choose your books carefully because you have a finite amount of time and an infinity of possible readings. Whether you use this method or another, keep an ongoing list of potential books and choose the one that inspires you the most.
One last thing: don’t read only in your favorite field because the same input will provoke the same output. Bringing a fresh perspective is a keystone. Reading outside of your domain of expertise will give you the extra edge you need to thrive.
2. Become a MOOC Addict
Quality learning has never been so easily accessible. In her great online course, learning how to learn, Barbara Oakley explains how online classes can be even better than physical classes. Among other things, she makes 3 interesting arguments:
- Competition is more intense among online classes. Think about it, there are thousands of online classes readily available to you for free. If you start a MOOC that is not up to your expectations, you will just drop it. On the flip side, we all have been through boring classes in order to get our degrees.
- Universities focus on research more than teaching. A lot of their ranking comes from the quality of their research. Don’t get me wrong here, you can gain invaluable insight from your teachers. I am very grateful for what I learned during my undergraduate and graduate programs. But the fact is that a lot of university fellows will be more focused on publishing a remarkable piece of research than on the quality of their guidance.
- The Internet allows for combining the best worldwide efficiently. Online classes provide access to condensed insights from individuals all over the world on the topic of concern. Also, efficiency is a requirement for good online classes. While a course can go through an entire semester in college, an online course is all about making the most of your time.
Me: You see? You can access quality learning for free right now. Give it a try!
You: All right, but how I choose my next MOOC?
Simple, follow these 5 steps:
1. Define your learning goals
2. Go to class-central.com and research your area of interest. Lists like the “Top 50 MOOCs of All Time” are useful
3. Watch the teacher for 30 seconds. It turns out, it’s enough for your brain to test the interest of the professor (I hold this one from Barbara Oakley as well)
4. Plan for enough time. A MOOC is a commitment. Be sure it fits your schedule
5. See how it goes and slip it if it’s not aligned with your ambition
3. Stimulate your brain
Scientists estimate that 1400 new neurons are formed every day in your hippocampus (the section of your brain responsible for the consolidation of information from short-term memory to long-term memory).
Contrary to popular belief, the production of neurons does not necessarily stop with aging. But for that, you must encourage your brain. The good news? There are straightforward ways to boost your intellect.
Align your environment with your goal
Your surroundings affect who you are. You know what they say, “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”. Which means you should take a careful at the people around you.
To develop expertise, surround yourself with people who have a thirst for learning. You need to multiply Interactions with stimulating individuals. Be open-minded and honestly interested in what people have to say, especially when they disagree with you. This will help you gain new aspects and challenge your thoughts pattern. Teamwork can help you find your blind spots and broaden your perspectives.
The same principle applies in a professional context. Studies show that interpersonal trust coupled with open-mindedness and deep respect encourage people to be more comfortable with risk-taking activities. It is the only significant factor responsible for increasing innovative power.
Exercise
You should incorporate workouts into your lifestyle. As we all know, it’s hard to overestimate the benefits of a training routine on your physical health. But what’s even more interesting is the beneficial impacts on your mental condition.
Reaching for physical strength is a very accurate metaphor for seeking to grow mentally. It trains your willpower and teaches you a lot of useful principles you can apply to your life. It’s also a fantastic step towards self-awareness.
What’s more, training is one of the most powerful ways to stimulate neurons production. It helps your brain producing fresh ideas and boosts your creativity.
If this is not already the case, find yourself any physical activity. There is plenty of workout routine available online. Choose the one that inspires you and start with 5 minutes per day.
Do not cut on sleep
Sleep is no waste of time, just like muscles build that extra strength during resting time, your brain use sleeping time wisely.
In simple terms, sleeping allows for strengthening neural networks, washing away negative cells and getting new ideas by making connections that weren’t obvious when you first exposed yourself to a new concept. If you’d like to know more, check BrainFacts.org.
Do not cut on sleep, it’s not worth it. Having more time and being more productive are two very distinct concepts. Instead, manage your energy and reach for consistency.
On a side note, what you do before falling asleep is key. Simple things like planning your next day or going over a challenge you are trying to solve before falling asleep are good practice. Your brain will process the information as you sleep, and you will have formulated new hypotheses by the next morning.
In fact, today you are not the same person as you were yesterday. Your brain updated during the night. You can use this phenomenon to become a different person.
Let’s do this, let’s develop a learning lifestyle and grow towards the best version of ourselves.
What’s your next MOOC?
What’s your next book?
Which kind of person will you be tomorrow?
Thanks for reading 😊
