Ultra-Learning Changed My Life. This Is How It Can Change Yours
Rocket your knowledge
We live in a fast-changing world.
Nowadays, learning things quickly and effectively is more important than ever. AI, programming, books, scientific articles, blogs, etc. Information is everywhere. But it is hard to digest.
With ultra-learning, I managed to learn:
Programming in Python
SQL
Excel
Tableau
Math for Machine Learning
Computational Ethology and Neuroscience
Avian Neuroscience
Writing
German
Etc.
I don’t consider myself talented. I just found a strategy to learn anything :)
And here’s how it changed my life.
1. Improved My Cognitive Flexibility
Ultra-learning changed how I think.
Now, I see any topic as a problem that can be decomposed and drilled effectively. It doesn’t matter if it is programming in C, Geometry, learning a new language, or playing an instrument.
It all comes down to the same principles.
Of course, not everything is equal. Learning a new language requires much more practice than learning history. That’s why cognitive flexibility is important.
Think about this as the ability to adapt your behavior and thinking to new, changing, or unexpected situations.
The more I learned, the more cognitive resources (and flexibility) I got to learn anything. I felt this process was like getting good at math while practicing daily exercises. At some point, you find a way to mechanize any exercise.
I experienced something similar but with every learning challenge.
2. Helped Me Get A Job At Disney
At the end of 2023, I was desperate to get a job.
We needed money to pay the rent.
By then, I already knew how to program but couldn’t get enough with SQL or Tableau. Why? Because I barely used them. However, I knew that with ultra-learning, they were easily achievable.
So, I drilled that and applied for many data analyst jobs on LinkedIn.
One month later, I received a call while preparing a presentation for a conference. It was a recruiter from Disney. They did a quick screen interview and tested my English.
Three interviews and many paperwork later, I got the job.
Without ultra learning, it would have been impossible to master SQL, Tableau, and more in just a few months. Plus, this skill helped me outsmart the competition, as it showed flexibility and fast learning.
3. Helped Me Won A Scholarship
This was my milestone of the year.
And I couldn’t have done that without ultra-learning. Why? Because it was an essential point for all the CVs and skills I had built over the years. Without that extracurricular experience, I doubt I would have won the scholarship.
Here are some examples of why ultra-learning is important:
My supervisor was interested in me because of my programming skills.
The lab needed someone who could learn fast in an interdisciplinary team.
He needed someone interested and knew a bit of avian and human neuroscience, and data science.
Here’s a secret:
I never learned that during my Bachelor’s.
I only had one mandatory course on Neuroscience. So I had to self-taught Python, machine learning, math for machine learning, avian and human neuroscience, and more by myself.
Without ultra-learning, this would have been impossible.
So, how can ultra-learning can change YOUR life?
More cognitive flexibility for anything in your daily life, whether you are working full-time or as a student.
More job opportunities.
The chance to get a nice scholarship or opportunity for a PhD overseas.
Ultra-learning saved my career.
It helped me learn anything without overstudying or overworking. But remember, each person has a different life. Perhaps you work full-time and also study. Or maybe you have a family, etc.
Be reasonable, and don’t fall into toxic productivity.
Here are some last recommendations:
Don’t compare yourself with others. Take your time.
This is not a competition. This is about you. Make it fun and healthy.
Please take care of yourself. That’s the most important thing!
Now it is your turn.
What are you going to learn next?
Until the next time,
Axel
