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The Cycle Of Accelerated Returns
Everything worth doing has a learning curve, known as ‘the cycle of accelerated returns’. In an activity such as riding a bicycle, we all know that it is easier to watch someone and follow their lead than to listen to or read instructions.
Callum Carver
April 12, 2024
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn”
THE CYCLE OF ACCELERATED RETURNS
488 Words | 1 Min 48 Sec Read
Everything worth doing has a learning curve, known as ‘the cycle of accelerated returns’.
In an activity such as riding a bicycle, we all know that it is easier to watch someone and follow their lead than to listen to or read instructions.
The more we do it, the easier it becomes.
Even with skills that are primarily mental, such as computer programming or speaking a foreign language, it remains the case that we learn best through practice and repetition—the natural learning process.
For example, we learn a foreign language by actually speaking it as much as possible, not by reading books and absorbing theories. The more we speak and practice, the more fluent we become.
Once you take this far enough, you enter a cycle of accelerated returns in which the practice becomes easier and more interesting, leading to the ability to practice for longer hours, which increases your skill level, which in turn makes practice even more interesting.
The thing that you have to remember is that it's not necessarily meant to be fun at the start.
Diving into something new, whether it's a new language or you’re learning a martial art, expecting it not to be hard is just foolish because you’d be setting the wrong expectations for yourself.
But know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Once you reach accelerated returns, your progress will skyrocket. It's like reaching the peak of a mountain with a slide on the other side; the hard bit is climbing, and the accelerated returns are the slide.
This isn’t just theory either; this was a study done back in 2001 by Ray Kurzweil, who found that the rate of progress in an ecosystem that learns through evolution and trial and error increases exponentially.
It's the same with the skills that you learn; that's why reaching this cycle is the goal you must set for yourself.
ACTIONABLE NEXT STEPS:
When it gets hard, remember the goal: reaching the cycle of accelerated returns, everything gets easier from there.
Read more about the study of the cycle of accelerated returns HERE
LESSON OF THE DAY ⤵️
BOOK OF THE WEEK ⤵️
The book of the week is ‘12 Rules for life’ by Jordan Peterson - You can read about it HERE
“How do you stick to the habits you're trying to build (like the gym and reading) when you work a 9-5?”
The best way to stick to habits and routines is to create systems for yourself.
As James Clear said, “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
Therefore, you need to develop a system for everything that you want to progress in and/or stay consistent with.
You should have a system for the gym, a system for work, and a system for everything that you do.
Tomorrow's edition is about how to create systems to improve your life; stay tuned for that!
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