#528: Become a More Competent Human Through Micromastery

#528: Become a More Competent Human Through Micromastery

The author Robert Heinlein famously said: “A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”

Compelling as that sounds, why do so many of us fall short of that kind of ideal, and cease to learn new and different skills in our adulthood? My guest would say it's because we approach learning the wrong way. His name is Robert Twigger, and he's the author of Micromastery: Learn Small, Learn Fast, and Unlock Your Potential to Achieve Anything.

Today on the show, Robert makes the case that we often fail to learn new things because we feel we have to learn the whole field of a subject, which is overwhelming, tedious, and de-motivating. A better approach, he says, is to first master just one distinct skill that's part of said subject, or what he calls a micromastery. We discuss what micromasteries are, why they keep you motivated to continue learning in that field and in general, the benefits of lifelong learning, and why specialization is indeed for insects. We also discuss what the punk rock scene of decades ago can teach you about tackling new skills. We end our conversation with Robert's use of omelette making as a case study in micromastery.

Get the show notes at aom.is/micromastery.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episoder(1160)

Episode #41: The Gentlemen and the Roughs with Dr. Lorien Foote

Episode #41: The Gentlemen and the Roughs with Dr. Lorien Foote

Welcome back to another episode of the Art of Manliness podcast!A few months ago we did a massive series on the history of manly honor in the West. In one of the posts, we explored what honor meant to...

4 Apr 201421min

Episode #40: Undefeated Mind with Alex Lickerman

Episode #40: Undefeated Mind with Alex Lickerman

So after being in hiatus for nearly a year, I've decided to bring back the Art of Manliness podcast. Thanks to all those who emailed and messaged me asking to bring it back.To kick off the resurrectio...

4 Apr 201427min

Episode #39: Eugen Sandow, Victorian Strongman with David Waller

Episode #39: Eugen Sandow, Victorian Strongman with David Waller

Before Arnold Schwarzenegger, even before Charles Atlas, there was Eugen Sandow. Rising from obscurity in Prussia, Sandow became an international celebrity during the Golden Age of the Strongman in th...

4 Apr 201428min

Episode #38: Ron Swanson with Actor Nick Offerman

Episode #38: Ron Swanson with Actor Nick Offerman

In this week's episode we talk to Nick Offerman, the actor who plays the manliest character on TV, Ron Swanson from NBC's Parks and Recreation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Calif...

4 Apr 201422min

Episode #37: The Big Scrum with John Miller

Episode #37: The Big Scrum with John Miller

While it’s now America’s favorite pastime, football was on the verge of extinction as soon as the game was forming around the 20th century. Severe injuries and even death were common in the early days...

4 Apr 201420min

Episode #36: The Decline of Males with Lionel Tiger

Episode #36: The Decline of Males with Lionel Tiger

Welcome back to the Art of Manliness podcast!Why are men in American falling behind? What’s caused their decline in the past 50 years? Many sociologists argue that driving forces are economic and cult...

4 Apr 201429min

Episode #35: Hemingway’s Guns

Episode #35: Hemingway’s Guns

Welcome back to another episode of the Art of Manliness podcast. In this week's episode we talk to Silvio Calabi, co-author of the book Hemingway's Guns. We discuss Ernest Hemingway's favorite firearm...

4 Apr 201426min

Episode #34: The Stuff Heroes Are Made of With Frank Farley

Episode #34: The Stuff Heroes Are Made of With Frank Farley

Welcome back to another episode of The Art of Manliness Podcast. In this week's edition, we talk to Dr. Frank Farley, a professor of psychology at the University of Temple. For the past twenty years, ...

4 Apr 201428min

Populært innen Fakta

fastlegen
dine-penger-pengeradet
mikkels-paskenotter
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
foreldreradet
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
treningspodden
jakt-og-fiskepodden
rss-bisarr-historie
rss-kull
takk-og-lov-med-anine-kierulf
rss-sunn-okonomi
fryktlos
sinnsyn
hagespiren-podcast
rss-kunsten-a-leve
level-up-med-anniken-binz
gravid-uke-for-uke
hverdagspsyken
rss-var-forste-kaffe