SITDE #29: Learn Anything In 7 Days - The Growth Syllabus
The Growth Syllabus
Happy Miercoles!
If you're reading this lifeletter for the first time, welcome. đ
If you like what you read, sign up here.Â
This is a Loooooong Lifeletter
A lot of readers asked two questions last week:
Question #1: What investing app do you use?
Answer: Robinhood (âŹ
ď¸ this is a referral link).
Question #2: So what does this "personal syllabus" look like?
Answer: I'm glad you asked. đ
I am going into the deep end of a tool that's helped me to expedite the learning process.
[Warning: Today's lifeletter is not a quick read.
I know most humans don't like long reads.
But I don't care.
This tool is a gamechanger for people who want to change their game.
So, if you're with me, pour up some coffee, vino or Jack Daniel's and let's grow together.]Â
Functionality > Fluency
I engineer my life for efficiency.
Five kids will have that effect on you.
Our time on this đ comes with opportunity costs.
Spending a minute doing one thing means you can't spend that same minute doing another thing.
Therefore, I am constantly looking for force multipliers.
I define a force multiplier as an activity that involves low touch effort and high value output.
An example would be hiring a virtual assistant.
It's low touch (initial training, oversight, etc.) but high value (time savings).
Enter...the Growth Syllabus.
(I changed the name from "personal syllabus" because it sounds better.)
The goal is to absorb enough high-level information about a topic, skill or tool to become functional.
Don't Let the Word "Syllabus" Scare You
On the first day of my classes, I stare into my students' eyes and see one question:
"When is he going to give us the damn syllabus?"
As soon as they get it, frantic page-turning ensues.Â
They're looking for:
- How many papers are required?
- How many pages do the papers have to be?
- How many tests will there be?
If I'm honest, I was the exact same way as a strapping undergrad.
We all want to know exactly what kind of work we are getting ourselves into.
So, let's get this out of the way.
Building and executing a Growth Syllabus will take you no more than 8 hours.
That's equivalent to:
- Working one day at a job you hate
or
- Watching nine episodes of Tiger King
This is not a time-intensive activity.
But, it can jet propel your functionality.
Let's go. đ
Step 1: Identify the Topic
What do you want to learn about?
If that question doesn't conjure a list of topics, skills, or tools, then my first thought is: you need to read more.
If I were asking myself the same question, here's what immediately comes to mind:
- 1031 exchanges
- multi-family house investing
- financial independence, retire early (FIRE)
In the past, I've created Growth Syllabi for the following:
- podcasting
- how to use Canva
- LLC's
- self-publishing (for my first book)
- HTML
- writing op-eds
- book launch mechanics
Remember: The goal is to become functional, not fluent.
Most people never embark on "learning journeys" because the bigness of the experience frightens them.
Think of the Growth Syllabus as a mini-MBA.
Instead of going back to school for two years, paying $120K, and hanging out with people you don't really like, you can learn something new from the comfort of your phone. đ
So, stop obsessing over becoming an expert. Fluency is overrated.
And here's the beautiful part, if you find something that really tickles your brain synapses, then you can always graduate to the Masterclass (that's an entirely different post, but this is what I create when I want to get fluent and kick some a*s at something).
In the meantime, let's chill and learn. đ
Step 2: Find 9 Sources of Content
After teaching for three semesters in 2015, I realized I needed to make a change.
My syllabus was saddled with long readings and thick research reports.
This wasn't cutting it.
I asked myself: "What types of content do I like to consume?"
My answer: podcast episodes, TED talks, documentaries, in-person interviews and longform articles.
So, I scrapped my old syllabi and revamped it.
I scoured the interwebs for the best pieces of content in each category.
The next semester featured all of the content listed above and my teacher ratings went through the roof.
My students learned more and I enjoyed teaching.
Let's bring that same mindset into the syllabus building process.
Here's what we're looking for: 9 pieces of content in the form of:
1) Three podcast episodes
2) Three longform articles
3) Three knowledgeable people to talk with for a minimum of 30 minutes
1) Podcast Episodes
Tool: Spotify
Step 1: In the search menu, type what you're looking for
(Note: For this exercise, we are going to build a 1031 Exchange Growth Syllabus and I will share a template with you at the end.)
- Look at the results (you'll get a mix of episodes, podcasts and random bands đ)
Step 2: Scroll down the page and select "see all podcast episodes"
Step 3: Save three episodes to a playlist
(Note: Pick episodes that have words like "How" or "What is".)
Remember: We're looking for high-level sources of learning.
Resist the temptation to get lost in the weeds!
Now, look! Here's the playlist we've built:
"But Daron, I don't use Spotify!"
Me: "Stop making excuses, use whatever you use. Nobody cares. Just get it done."
Let's move to longform articles.Â
2) Three Longform Articles
Tools: Google (đ) and Google Keep
Your comrades on this leg of the journey will be Google and Google Keep.
Listen to me: If you don't have the Google Keep app..........D.O.W.N.L.O.A.D. I.T. N.O.W!
No, I am serious.Â
I'll wait.
âł...
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Welcome back!
I think of Google Keep as the love child born from a one-night stand between Evernote and BASIC.
It's simple. It just keeps stuff.
This app is where I capture, store and categorize all of the internet tidbits that I use to write books, op-eds, lifeletters and record GramCasts.Â
I also use it to remember my kids' đŠ orders.
I digress....đ
Anyway, here are the steps to finding good longform articles.
Step 1: Google your search term
I'm not going too deep into the weeds on the art of Google search terms.
Forget about fancy syntax, just type your terms in the damn rectangle.
Step 2: Go to Page 3 of the search results past the sponsored links to get to the good stuff
Dirty secret: The best stuff is usually on pages 3, 4 and 5+ of a Google search.
That's where you'll find articles written by someone obsessed with your topic.
The author doesn't have all of the SEO wizardry to boost the blog article.
But she knows the in's and out's of your topic like the back of her facemask.
And voila, I found her...Ruth writes for Investor Junkie and the article goes deeeeep.
âď¸ This is the kind of material we're looking for.Â
Step 3:Â Add your Articles to a Google Keep label
Don't get nervous. We'll walk through the microsteps.
a) Open Google Keep and select the three little lines in the top left cornerÂ
b) Select "Edit"
c) Select "Create new label"Â Â
d) Type in the name of your label
e) Then, when you find an article, hit the share button
f) Select Google Keep
g) Hit the pentagon button and select your label
h) And voila!
3) Three Knowledgeable Humans
Tools: LinkedIn and Your Rolodex
We're on the last lap!
Ok, now we need to find three people you know (or people who are known by people you know) who have some level of expertise on your topic/skill/tool.
Step 1: Flip through your brain and think of people you know
There's a good chance you know people who know something about what you want to learn.
Here's the email copy I would send to them:
Email Copy
Sarah,
I hope all is well and you're thriving in this COVID world.
I am trying to learn more about ____________________.
You instantly came to mind as someone who could add value on my learning journey.
Would you be willing to speak for 20 minutes this week?
In the alternative, I would be happy to send a list of five (5) questions and you could respond by email or with a voice file.
I respect your time and expertise.
Thank you for entertaining my request.
Sincerely,
Daron
That was easy, right?
Now, here's a key point: I usually approach four (4) people.
Why? I always assume there will be a 25% rejection rate.
Step 2: Leverage LinkedIn to find people
There's a good chance you know people who know something about what you want to learn.
LinkedIn doesn't make it easy to find people by particular skill, topic, etc.
So, I would create a LinkedIn post that looks something like this:
LinkedIn Copy
Hello, colleagues.
I am trying to learn more about ____________________.
Do you know of anyone who is: a) knowledgeable about this topic and b) would be willing to speak to me for 20 minutes this week?
I would also be happy to send a list of five (5) questions and your contact could respond by email or with a voice recording.
Thank you in advance!
Step 3: Execute
My Final Gift - A Google DocÂ
I hope this roadmap helps you on the journey to wage war against your status quo.
One final point: This tool will help you only if you use it.
As Sivers said, "If more information was the answer, then we'd all be billionaires with perfect abs."
To copy a template of the Growth Syllabus, click image below or here.
It provides a daily schedule and you can easily input your takeaways.Â
Feel free to copy it to your Drive (and I'd love to see a finished copy if you use it!).
Please share with anyone you think could benefit from it.
I love you.
Stay In The Deep End.
Deep End Debris
The Microwins Mindset: Well, I'm done with the first draft of The Microwins Mindset. đĽł
Â
I'm wading through the stage of editing that requires tactile methods.
I printed the chapters and am reviewing them with my trusty red V5 Precise pen.
Wish me luck...send virtual fist bumps (we can still do that, right?) and Tito's shots from afar. â + đĽ
Four Letters to Micah: I'm also working on a collection of letters to my youngest son.
The idea sprang from a letter that I wrote to him the day I visited the George Floyd mural in Houston.
Stay tuned.
Stay In The Deep End Book ClubÂ
6 Days Until đ!
We will jump into the first chapter of The Fire Next Time on June 30 (InstagramLive | 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Central).
To add this event to your calendar, click here.
Stay In The Deep End GramCast
The eleven episodes of the SITDE GramCast have generated 6,028 views. đ
Last Thursday, I hosted Philip Payne on the GramCast.Â
He's a former Texas football player who pivoted from the game into the world of music.
Philip has worked with J.Cole, Tory Lanez and others.
Check out our convo here.
[Spoiler Alert: There's a cameo appearance by Philip's wife and a cupcake at the 2:42 mark.đĽ°]