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#70: What’s the most valuable thing I learned today?

by Kirk W. McLaren

Ever wonder how some people can consistently accomplish so much more than others?

I know I have.

Take Elon Musk for example. He goes from one success to another in completely separate industries, while hardly missing a beat.

He’s revolutionized banking, clean energy, robotics, electric cars, space exploration, AI, brain interfaces, and more.

And yet, it seems like he is just getting started. 

Sure, part of his success comes down to an insane work ethic, but many people put in crazy hours but have little results to show for it. 

As I began searching for clues, I came across a quote from him stating “Most people can learn a lot more than they think they can. They sell themselves short without trying”

Whoa. 

After hearing this, I dug deeper and soon discovered he has a strict process for learning which exponentially expands his learning ability. 

He describes his process with a metaphor of a ‘knowledge tree’ with the trunk being the pure basics … the things that make everything else possible. 

Admittedly, this is slow at the beginning but quickly becomes exponential just like compound interest over time.

Then as his learning gets more and more complex and detailed, he simply connects it to what he already knows, without ever running out of room in that brain of his. 

For him, the true power comes from feedback loops and discovering what he doesn’t know, so he can then fill in the gaps.

It was at this point I started a new ritual.

At the end of every day I take a few quiet minutes to myself and simply reflect on everything I learned throughout the day.

Of course, every day is loaded with new lessons and feedback which is why it’s essential to sort through and determine the most valuable lesson.

Not only does this make it easier to remember, but the process of filtering enables you to see the bigger picture with much needed clarity.

About the author

MBA, CPA, IFM | CEO Foresight CFO | Georgetown University Lecturer | Forbes Author | Having built and sold his first company before graduating from high school, Kirk is a natural at using the numbers to help CEOs and their management team obliterate the obstacles to growth. Ultimately gaining financial freedom through effectiviness.

Growth CFO Bestselling Author on Amazon

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