Developing Competence

By Dominik Lukeš

Two Types of Learning

To move between levels, you must engage in two distinct types of learning. Most people fail because they focus on only one.

  1. Conceptual Learning (Mental Maps): Understanding what things are and why they work. This is 'book smarts'. You develop this by reading, watching tutorials, and studying the system.
  2. Procedural Learning (Fluency): Developing the 'muscle memory' to do things quickly and accurately. This is 'street smarts'. You develop this only through repetition and practice.

In the early stages (Novice), procedural recipes are effective. To become an Expert, however, deep conceptual understanding is required.