Ultralearning – Page 1
ULTRALEARNING
Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the
Competition, and Accelerate Your Career
SCOTT H. YOUNG
SCOTT YOUNG is a writer and business owner. In 2012, he ran his own self-directed education project where in twelve months
and for less than $2,000, he was able to learn how to code sufficiently well that he could pass the same final exams that MIT
computer science graduates are required to pass at the end of their four-year degree programs. To achieve this, Scott Young
used open-source computer science lectures available online along with his own self-organized learning activities and
exercises. His TEDx talk about his learning approach has been viewed more than half a million times. To further refine his
learning methodology, Scott Young then went on to learn four languages in twelve months. Scott Young is a graduate of the
University of Manitoba and Montpellier Business School.
The website for this book is at: [Link].
ISBN 978-1-77544-984-3
[Link] is a lifetime learning company specializing in business smarts. We provide concise information and tools for
salespeople, business owners and managers and entrepreneurs to get ahead. Read less, do more. [Link]
Ultralearning – Page 1
MAIN IDEA
NINE PRINCIPLES OF 1 METALEARNING DRAW A MAP FIRST
Is it really possible to get an MIT-level education
without attending MIT? Or to learn a new language 2 FOCUS SHARPEN YOUR KNIFE
to the point of becoming fluent and conversant in
just three months? Or to develop your own video
3 DIRECTNESS GO STRAIGHT AHEAD
game from scratch and make it a commercial ULTRA 4 DRILL ATTACK YOUR WEAKEST POINT
success without being a professional game
developer working for a big studio? 5 RETRIEVAL TEST TO LEARN
The answer to these and similar questions is an
unqualified "Yes". In fact, there is an entire culture
LEARNING 6 FEEDBACK DON'T DODGE THE PUNCHES
of people who have achieved these and other 7 RETENTION DON'T FILL A LEAKY BUCKET
compelling goals on t he basis of their
self-education projects. T hese are the 8 INTUITION DIG DEEP FIRST, THEN BUILD UP
ultralearners.
9 EXPERIMENT EXPLORE OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
"Ultralearning" is a strategy for acquiring skills and
knowledge in a self-directed and intense manner.
You make a decision about what you want to learn Principle #1 – Metalearning – Draw a map first . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2
and then undertake concentrated learning activities Start any ultralearning project by learning what is the most effective way to learn the
which push you to your limits and compress your subject or acquire the skill you're after. Figure out how to learn efficiently.
learning into the shortest feasible time.
Principle #2 – Focus – Sharpen your knife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3
Carve out chunks of time where you can concentrate and focus on what you're trying to
learn consistently well.
Principle #3 – Directness – Go straight ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 3 - 4
ULTRA LEARNING Learn by doing the things you're trying to become good at. Don't trade hands-on
experience for other more convenient alternatives.
Principle #4 – Drill – Attack your weakest point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4
Break complex skills into their component parts and then be ruthless about improving
Ultralearning can be used to accelerate the career your weakest points. Master the component parts and then reassemble them.
you already have, to transition to the career you Principle #5 – Retrieval – Test to learn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5
always wanted to have, or to rescue your career by Use the testing process to learn more as you go along. Always test yourself before you
adding new hard skills that are more valuable. feel confident, and push yourself to recall information, not just review it.
Ultralearning is the very best way to deal with a
Principle #6 – Feedback – Don't dodge the punches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 5 - 6
changing world.
Put aside your ego and look for the harshest feedback you can find. Extract the signal
There are nine principles that are involved in
from the noise, and pay attention to what that feedback highlights you need to learn.
running successful ultralearning projects. Master
them and you can learn anything you set your mind Principle #7 – Retention – Don't fill a leaky bucket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6
to. This is the ultimate competitive advantage of the Be aware and understand what you're consistently forgetting, and do something about it.
future, because no matter what happens, you'll be Learn to remember things not just for now but forever.
able to learn and adapt. Principle #8 – Intuition – Dig deep first, then build up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7
The world belongs to the ultralearners. Join their Play and explore to develop your intuition, and work to understand what you learn. Don't
ranks by mastering the art of learning hard things resort to memorization tricks but get to know your subject deeply.
quickly. It will serve you well.
Principle #9 – Experiment – Explore outside your comfort zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 7 - 8
Don't lose sight of the fact you can't become a true master of your subject by following the
paths trodden by others. Explore possibilities others have not imagined.
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