Read, Converse, Write

Reading for Comprehension: Reading the same concept multiple times leads to a better understanding.

My original rule is that you have to read something 13 times before you understand the concept.  The basic premise being the more exposed to something the more likely you are to really get the grasp of it.  

In the early 90’s at the start of my career I began reading about TCP/IP, SNA and a lot of other network protocols.  It was like trying to read  a medical thesis with no medical education.  I bet I didn’t get but about 10% of what was being said for the first couple of months, ok maybe it was a year or two,  as I continued to read about the topic it began to sink in and I developed a deep understanding of the network stack. 

Your brain also likes to have time to gestate on things.   You work on understanding and problem solving in the back of your mind while you are doing other things, sleeping etc… the in between readings on the same topic gives you time to let it sink in.  So read, re read, and read some more.   Coincidentally, I heard on the radio yesterday that reading fiction is good for creativity.  Helps you develop different perspectives etc…

Conversation for Readiness: Engaging in debates and discussions helps solidify thoughts and improve material mastery.

Iron sharpens Iron as I have heard Ricky say a thousand or more times. Debating, discussing presenting your ideas and thoughts verbally has the unique side effect for solidifying and/or updating your perspectives.  Preparing to teach or talk on a subject is a great way to develop more detailed knowledge of your topic.  

In today’s world a lot of conversation takes place online via forums, post, and discords.  However, I don’t think it has the same effect as in person conversation.  I often times find myself wanting to be a part of Junto I enjoy a good philosophical conversation and it amazes me that my 15 year old and I have some of the best conversations and his depth of understanding politics, religion, and history is astounding. Still I would love to find a group of people that could participate in a regular session discussing the worlds problems and other philosopfical topics. 

Writing for Precision: Even with the assistance of AI writing and structuring your content in a clear, complete, and concise
manner reveals imperfections and encourages refinement, leading to a deeper understanding of the subject. 

Embarking on the journey of writing is a transformative experience that offers numerous benefits, not least of which is a deeper understanding of one’s own thoughts and the world around us. As many writers can attest, the act of writing is much more than putting words on a page; it is a rigorous intellectual exercise that demands clarity of thought and precision of expression.