Some Supplementary Maxims (6)
These 6 are closely aligned and build on or extend to 12 core maxims
Supplementary Maxims
- Meta-Learning (Learning How to Learn)
Know what to learn and how best to learn it.
Involves researching how experts learn the skill, identifying tools, resources and key sub-skills.
Why it matters: Jump-starts your learning with strategic planning, instead of trial and error.
- Project-Based Learning
Structure your learning around ambitious, concrete projects.
Real-world challenges sharpen skills faster than abstract study.
Why it matters: Projects force integration, application and deeper engagement.
- Active Learning Over Passive Exposure
Engagement matters more than time spent.
Watching lectures or reading passively is far less effective than solving problems, teaching or creating.
Why it matters: Passive study creates the illusion of knowledge without deep understanding.
- Constraint-Driven Creativity
Impose limits to increase focus and creativity.
Setting boundaries like time limits, etc can boost progress and force adaptation.
Why it matters: Constraints clarify priorities and eliminate procrastination paths.
- Embrace Intensity
Short bursts of high focus can outperform long, unfocused sessions.
Deep focus for 1–2 hours can yield more progress than 4–5 hours of scattered effort.
Why it matters: Focus is a force multiplier for learning speed and retention.
- Teach What You Learn
Explaining something tests and strengthens your understanding.
Known as the Feynman Technique, this practice aligns with the retrieval and feedback maxims.
Why it matters: Teaching reveals knowledge gaps and forces clarity.