📚 How to Learn Fast, The Best Video on How to Read More, and Never Need the Dentist Again.

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👋 Hey everyone,

Here are a few popular posts you may have missed:

• 10 Key lessons from “How To Read A Book.”

• I heard a crazy story from a CEO recently (this went viral on Threads).

• This is one of the best videos I've ever watched on how to read more books.

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📚 Book Summary:

This week’s book is “Lean Learning” by Pat Flynn.

Pat Flynn is a successful serial entrepreneur who’s built businesses in multiple industries (digital marketing, YouTube channels, physical products, etc.).

His secret? Lean learning. Learning just enough and applying it right away instead of overlearning and overthinking the situation.

If you feel stuck in learning mode and want to shift into doing mode, this book is for you.

If you enjoyed “The First 20 Hours” or “Ultralearning”, you’ll likely enjoy this book.

Here are 3 lessons from it:

📖

1) Overlearning Is A Symptom of Fear

Have you ever found yourself constantly consuming information about a topic but never taking action?

You feel like you’re being productive because you’re learning more and more, but the truth is that you’re procrastinating on taking action because you’re afraid of stepping outside of your comfort zone.

• Reading books about writing feels safe, but writing your own book feels scary.

• Watching videos about making content feels safe, but recording yourself feels scary.

• Listening to podcasts about business feels safe, but starting a business feels scary.

You tell yourself that “now’s not the right time” or you wait for the perfect moment when you feel fully prepared, but that moment never arrives.

These excuses are fear’s way of keeping you in your comfort zone, safe from potential failure or criticism.

That’s why you want to trade your “What If’s” for “Oh Well’s.”

An unlived life is much more painful than a lived life with a few mistakes made along the way.

10 Years from now, you don’t want to be saying, “What if I had been braver?” or “What if I had actually gone after my dream?”

Even if things don’t work out, at least you’ll be able to say, “Oh well, at least I tried” (and can sleep without regret).

📖

2) Learn Just-In-Time, Not Just-In-Case

If you want to make progress in life, you want to become a just-in-time learner, instead of a just-in-case one.

Just-in-time learning means you start with just the information you need, and then continue learning once you reach the next step.

It’s like when you’re reading a building LEGO set.

It would be silly to read through the entire instruction manual booklet or try to memorize all the steps just-in-case.

The better strategy is to read one page at a time, apply the lesson, and then move on to the next one.

Here’s Pat Flynn’s process for just-in-time learning:

1. Identify the next step in your journey.

2. Gather the minimum amount of information required to complete that step.

3. Take action to complete that step.

4. Rinse and repeat.

For instance, when I started my podcast a few years ago, I didn’t spend weeks researching the best microphones, editing software, or podcast marketing strategies right away.

Instead I:

• Used my laptop microphone and the free recording software.

• Recorded a fake podcast with my sister to test things out.

• Used the free editing software to edit the podcast.

• And then uploaded it to the podcast player to see if it worked.

Chances are you can stop learning because you already know what to do next. You just need to take a leap of faith and get started.

📖

3) Commit To Something You Can’t Quit

Have you ever noticed that you become more focused and work harder when you have a deadline?

Pat Flynn tells a story about how his close friend had to replace a keynote speaker a few weeks before a major conference.

He asked Pat if he could do it, and although Pat had a fear of public speaking, he said “Yes” because the guy was a friend.

Pat immediately got to work on his speech and reached out to a few friends for advice on how to give a great talk. For the next few weeks, Pat practiced his talk dozens of times.

And when the day finally arrived, Pat’s talk went amazingly.

Sometimes you need to sign up for something real to give yourself that extra boost you need to keep yourself accountable.

For instance, one reason I signed a book deal with a traditional publisher is that I knew they would hold me accountable and provide a deadline for my book. Otherwise, if I tried to publish it myself, I’d keep procrastinating on it (ps: you can join the waitlist to be an early reader for my book here).

So if there’s something you want to accomplish, make a real commitment to it:

• Sign up for a 5k race to force yourself to get in shape for it.

• Book plane tickets to Paris later this year to force yourself to learn French.

• Buy a smaller dress or suit for your friend’s wedding to force yourself to lose weight and fit into it.

Make a commitment today, and you’ll be amazed how focused you’ll become.

✅ Actionable Advice

1) Realize that overlearning is a symptom of fear. 10 Years from now, you’ll be happier that you took the risk than wondering “What if” for the rest of your life.

2) Be a Just-In-Time learner instead of a Just-In-Case learner.

3) If you want to achieve a goal, commit to something that puts your reputation, money, or comfort on the line. It will force you to focus and follow through.

💎 Weekly Gem:

Podcast: How to Improve Your Teeth & Oral Microbiome for Brain & Body Health | Dr. Staci Whitman

This is an amazing podcast on how to take care of your teeth and hopefully (never) get another cavity.

Here’s a short recap:

• Floss first, THEN brush your teeth.

  • Use an electric toothbrush (more effective at removing plaque than manual brushes).

  • Swish with coconut oil 3x a week to support gum health (do this before flossing or brushing).

  • Use a Waterpik and tongue scraper to help support good dental hygiene.

• Use toothpaste with hydroxyapatite to “heal” small cavities (it’s a safer alternative to fluoride).

• Use an alcohol-free mouthwash, avoid alcohol-based ones.

• Use mouth tape (over 50% of people breathe through their mouths, which leads to dry mouth, increased cavities, and poor sleep quality).

• Chew xylitol-based gum after meals to stimulate saliva and reduce harmful bacteria without feeding cavity-causing microbes.

There’s a lot more great advice, so if you want to avoid going to or spending money at the dentist, definitely listen to this podcast.

Thank you for your support,

Alex W.

PS: Want to learn all of my best reading tips in just 2 hours?

The Art of Reading is my flagship course that will teach you how to read more and better. You’ll learn how to find time to read more books, stay focused while reading, remember more of what you read, take notes in books, use AI to become a better reader, and so much more. Join 600+ readers here.