Understanding the basics. This is a key element of effective thinking. Understanding a simple idea deeply builds a solid foundation for complex ideas.
Build your foundation. Be honest with what you really know by using the Feynman Technique (by teaching others). It will reveal any gaps you have in your knowledge.
Obtain the basic mental models from multiple disciplines. You don't need to understand everything on a subject, but you should understand the basic concepts from various disciplines.
Understanding the basics allows for a better understanding of second and subsequent order consequences.
Each is best suited to different purposes, and neither is superior. By Mr. Willingham is a psychologist at the University of Virginia. A few years ago, when people heard I was a reading researcher, they might ask about their child's dyslexia or how to get their teenager to read more.
Audiobooks allow the listeners to get the meaning without the use of their eyes, which books require.
Reading as a skill is 'skipped' while listening to audiobooks, though it is ideal for people with dyslexia, those who cannot 'decode' the written word.
The reading act, which requires focus, and which makes us stop, think and re-read is somehow only confined to books, as a study proves that retention is higher with books than with podcasts.
The audio format also misses some key visual aspects of fonts paragraphs and headings, that are available in books.
Learning how to learn: how to make your ROI on reading explode Learning is a heavily misunderstood concept. As a paradigm example of deep work, we understand that, when reading, directing your full attention to the material at hand is essential. Grasping complex information is hard. But this is only half the battle.
"Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable." Dwight Eisenhower One of the primary frameworks I use in my work is something I call the business production function. It's a diagnostic tool that lets me quickly look at the four big categories of business and asks: which one of these is the current limit?
Prioritizing tasks at work involves getting all your tasks and commitments in one place. Take a piece of paper and make a list of everything you need to get done. Questions to help you:
Do you have commitments to others like your boss, partner, kids, or clients?
Do you have anything you need to submit?
Do you have any financial tasks that need to get done?
Do you have any planning that needs to get done?
Do you have any administrative tasks? Legal, insurance, staffing, or training?
Do you have any professional development tasks that need to get done? Training, areas to research, skills to develop, books to read or study, or classes to take?
Find your goals. Without them, it is impossible to prioritize your tasks. Try to set 90-day goals, which is long enough to make meaningful progress. Questions to prompt goals:
What’s the one thing you could do that makes everything else easier or unnecessary?
If you were giving advice to someone else in your position, what 1-3 things would you tell them to focus on?
What do you want to have accomplished over the next five years?