Meta-Learning

Hey, it’s John 👋

I’ve always been obsessed with figuring out how to learn faster, work better, and, well… just do more.

You know that feeling when you start something new, and you’re on fire, thinking, “I’ve got this!”?

Yeah… we’ve all been there.

But then reality hits like a ton of bricks, and suddenly, you’re drowning in doubts, distractions, and deadlines.

Today, I’m diving into the stuff that’s helped me tackle learning (and life) head-on.

I'm gonna break this down into simple chunks:

• The Methods & Processes I use

• The Biological Mechanisms behind Learning

Also… you can watch the video I just published on meta-learning here:

I stumbled upon "meta-learning" in high school.

Meta-learning is learning about how you learn.

It’s the art and science of understanding your own learning processes.

I first encountered this concept in Tim Ferriss’ book The 4-Hour Chef, where he breaks down a four-part learning method.

But before diving into techniques, we must first understand the learning process.

Whenever I start something new—whether it’s a YouTube channel, a business, or a new skill—I’m filled with excitement and optimism.

Most people experience this too.

We stand at the peak of what some call "Mt. Stupid"—a place of uninformed optimism where everything feels possible, and the road ahead looks smooth.

But as we progress, reality sets in.

That optimism fades, and we find ourselves in the “Valley of Despair” (VOD).

This is where most people quit.

The initial spark is gone, and the challenges feel overwhelming.

Yet, this is the stage where real learning and growth begin.

Getting Through the VOD and the Plateau.

Think of something like getting six-pack abs.

You know the basics: diet, exercise, and recovery.

You start with enthusiasm, hitting the gym every day.

But soon, life happens—you miss a day, then three, then a week.

Before long, the goal feels out of reach.

This same pattern happens in many areas of life: starting a business, learning a new subject, or even learning about learning itself.

The information is out there, but persistence through the valley takes time, energy, and mental fortitude.

We enter this cycle repeatedly—sometimes unknowingly, sometimes knowingly.

It’s like that friend or cousin who always starts something new but never finishes.

I think there’s another term for this…

They chase the high of starting, but the moment challenges arise, they’re onto the next thing.

Those who succeed are riding the wave of their past hard work, continuously mastering their craft.

To avoid falling into this trap, we need a target—an aim, a destination.

Think of it like a GPS.

There are infinite ways to get to your destination, whether by car, bike, or Uber.

What matters is reaching that endpoint.

High-Hard Goals and Clear Goals

When I graduated college in one year, that was my aim, my destination.

This is what Steven Kotler calls a High-Hard Goal (HHG)—a big, audacious target, like becoming a doctor, buying a house, or moving to a new country.

These missions take time and perseverance.

Along the way, you need chunked goals and clear goals to keep you on track.

Chunked goals are the steps you slice into annual, quarterly, monthly, and weekly markers.

Tiny steps add up to big results.

A High-Hard Goal can take years to complete, but clear goals are the small, daily steps that help you achieve that big goal.

Why is this target so important?

According to Kotler, consciousness is an extremely limited resource.

Every second, millions of bits of information flood our senses, but we can only process a small fraction.

Most of what’s happening in the world is invisible to us.

What we do notice is driven by fear or our goals.

Evolution shaped our brains for survival, so anything that could threaten us grabs our attention.

But our goals are equally important because they help shape our reality.

Dissecting Learning (DiSSS Method)

Your brain is constantly trying to predict what’s going to happen next and how much energy it will take.

To make these predictions, it relies on three systems: information acquisition, pattern recognition, and goal direction.

The more information you feed your brain, the better it can predict and learn.

Think of your brain as an artist's canvas—each piece of information is a brushstroke.

The more you learn, the more vibrant your mental picture becomes.

Tim Ferriss is a master of this approach.

He breaks down skills into their simplest components and focuses on mastering the most critical 20%—the skills that yield 80% of the results.

This is known as the 80/20 rule, and it applies to almost everything in life.

For example, most pop songs are built on just a few chords.

Mastering those chords will help you learn new songs faster than trying to learn everything at once.

This principle applies to almost anything, including Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ).

Rather than trying to master every aspect of BJJ, Tim focused on one chokehold.

He practiced and perfected this single move because it was versatile enough to be used in 80% of the situations he would encounter on the mat.

By focusing on just one chokehold, he was able to attack and defend more efficiently than if he had tried to learn every technique.

This is the power of the 80/20 rule: identifying the key skills that will give you the most leverage.

For me, when I was trying to graduate college in one year, I focused on getting credits.

That was my 20%.

It wasn’t about mastering every subject—I just needed to do enough to get the credits to qualify.

The CaFE Method and Minimum Effective Dose

Once you identify that 20%, it’s time to put the pieces together using the CaFE method—another framework that complements Ferriss’ approach.

This involves compressing the critical 20% into digestible, actionable chunks, like flashcards or mind maps.

Then it’s all about repetition and tracking progress.

Understanding the Minimum Effective Dose (MED) is crucial.

For example, water boils at 100°C (212°F).

Once it reaches that temperature, boiling is boiling—you don’t need to heat it further.

In learning, more isn’t always better.

You need just enough practice to make progress without burning out.

Myelin and the Brain’s Highways

Imagine your brain as a highway.

When you first learn something, the road is bumpy, and the messages (or cars) travel slowly.

But each time you practice, it’s like adding a new layer of smooth pavement.

This “pavement” is called myelin, and the more you practice, the more myelin builds up around your neural pathways, allowing messages to travel faster.

With enough repetition, you can perform tasks effortlessly, almost instinctively.

Overcoming the Forgetting Curve

The ultimate goal is to combat the forgetting curve, which shows how quickly we forget information if we don’t actively work to retain it.

By the end of a day, we’ve forgotten up to 70% of what we’ve learned, and by the end of a week, we’ve lost around 90%.

To beat this, use compression, frequency, and encoding strategies—like active recall, retrieval practice, and teaching others.

Now go out there and learn like a Superlearner.

– John :)