If you can learn, you can do everything. How to protect the focus on the progression state?

When was the last time you started to learn something new that you really wanted to do? Were you in a state of excitement?

Recently, I started to learn chess as an adult. I knew of the game, but I never learned it. I thought it was too complicated. Under the impulse of my eleven-year son, I got interested in a first step and hooked in the second one. I’m fascinated by all the skills and sub-skills you can learn with this game.

So as with every learner, I started with the “progression state.” This is where the magic happens. You are interested, you want to know more, you learn and develop. This is the state that we all need to shoot for…

But…

At some point, we start to compare ourselves. Which is normal. It’s part of the learning path.

Frank Shamrock, a former Mixed Martial Arts fighter and well known for his ability to learn fast, disclosed his methodology. He calls it the plus/minus/equal.

What does it mean?

• Plus: Find a mentor. It could be a digital one. It could be a book — someone who knows more than you, from whom you can learn.
• Equal: Challenge and benchmark yourself with your peers. Where are you? How do you progress?
• Minus: To learn faster, you have to teach it. To teach it, you have to self-reflect and consolidate your knowledge. The clearer your message is, the better you understand it.

I love this methodology… but point two could bring you to the wrong place if you’re not prepared. “The state of comparison,” which could become a state of frustration.

• “He is better than me.”
• “I’ve started at the same time, and he is already there.”
• “I’m not good enough at XXX. This thing is not for me…”

And then you combine it with the plateau effect, a normal stage occurring in every learning experience. It’s the time where you start to regress or stagnate before jumping to a higher level. You may give up.

The plateau and comparison phases are undoubtedly responsible for most of the learning projects that are stopped.

I’m joking… They could not be. As we are in charge… 😉And don’t get me wrong, the “Equal passage” is needed to progress. So what is the solution? How to protect the focus on the progression state?

As often, it’s within us and our way of interpreting the situation. I see two mains ways:

• Confidence: When you hit the plateau phase, and you will, don’t stop. It’s part of your progression. Be confident with the process and continue to learn.
• Curiosity: When you challenge yourself with peers. When they find a better way than you. Don’t take it personally. It’s nothing to do with you. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn.

When I lose an online chess game, which often occurs in my actual plateau phase 😉 , I say congratulations and ask. What is your advice for me? I try to understand what this person knows that I don’t.

And you can apply that to anything you want to master. Business, language-learning, relationships…

Keep your confidence and curiosity. You’ll learn, understand and think faster than ever.

Enjoy the process.
Mr. OTG

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Books to go further.
Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career by Scott Young

Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise by Anders Ericsson 

Polymath: Master Multiple Disciplines, Learn New Skills, Think Flexibly, and Become an Extraordinary Autodidact by Peter Hollins