What is the optimal learn/do ratio?

[Lovinglife]

I've been wondering recently what the optimal ratio is between learning and doing. How much should you work on learning vs working toward your goals?

[nvictor]

Hi,
put this way I believe the line between learning and doing is thin. At school they taught us to learn for test days, they day we actually show what we've learned. But in PD, it's different, in the way that you should learn and at the same time apply what you've learnt. So I don't think there is a real line between the two conceptions since you learn from what you do

[Lovinglife]

Originally Posted by nvictor

Hi,
put this way I believe the line between learning and doing is thin. At school they taught us to learn for test days, they day we actually show what we've learned. But in PD, it's different, in the way that you should learn and at the same time apply what you've learnt. So I don't think there is a real line between the two conceptions since you learn from what you do

I was mainly talking about reading vs working, in a way.

[RT Wolf]

Might this have a clue to an answer?

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...ght-vs-action/

Edit: I just realized the irony of posting more material to read in a thread about doing versus reading. I think you should do an insane amount of stuff. Keep quotas and stuff. I think that a lot of people haven't mastered the first level of PD including improving self-discipline and productivity before trying to go further.

[Baltar]

There's a great quote that's attributed to Confucius:

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

Over the years, and especially at this point in my life I'm finding this to be a very powerful message. There are things I've read years ago that I'm only starting to understand today. In that sense I think doing is a lot more important than learning. I suppose the 80/20 rule applies -- 20% learning and 80% doing.

[Conan Stevens]

I read for an hour or two everyday and do for 14 hours then I sleep. That is about the correct ratio - anymore reading and you do not absorb that days message.

Though it helps a lot when you do the work you love.

[mtrimpe]

Only read when it's the best thing to do for you towards achieving your goals.

[kat]

Originally Posted by Conan Stevens

I read for an hour or two everyday and do for 14 hours then I sleep. That is about the correct ratio - anymore reading and you do not absorb that days message.

It sounds like the correct ratio for you. I personally benefit from reading significantly more than that. I suspect this is something everyone has to discover for him/herself, even if other people's opinions and experiences can be helpful.

[Conan Stevens]

Originally Posted by kat

It sounds like the correct ratio for you. I personally benefit from reading significantly more than that. I suspect this is something everyone has to discover for him/herself, even if other people's opinions and experiences can be helpful.

Any more than that and you are not doing enough. I know plenty of PD junkies who read every book, go to every seminar, know everything about every guru - yet they never get off their ass.

Just one good idea acted upon can make your life. 9 million ideas and you don't do anything and nothing changes.

Not enough people take action

[toptemp]

This is definitely a question that will have a unique answer for each person. Personally, I've been learning non-stop for the last 2 years, and have done virtually no "doing" (...I haven't even had a job; thank goodness for college scholarships). This is because I have extroardinary goals that require extroardinary understanding. I don't plan on "doing" until this summer; so that will be 2.5 years of learning. Almost everything I read, I remember and I truly understand because I think about it.

Ultimately, I believe the answer is that you must know where you're going which will give you a good, general idea of what you need to learn to get to step 1 most efficiently (time > speed) and effectively (performance > productivity). At that point, always be looking out what it takes to get to step 2, etc. Thus, the optimal learning ratio is relative to what is most efficient for your life and most effective for you.

[Freelancer]

Originally Posted by toptemp

This is definitely a question that will have a unique answer for each person. Personally, I've been learning non-stop for the last 2 years, and have done virtually no "doing" (...I haven't even had a job; thank goodness for college scholarships). This is because I have extroardinary goals that require extroardinary understanding. I don't plan on "doing" until this summer; so that will be 2.5 years of learning. Almost everything I read, I remember and I truly understand because I think about it.

Ultimately, I believe the answer is that you must know where you're going which will give you a good, general idea of what you need to learn to get to step 1 most efficiently (time > speed) and effectively (performance > productivity). At that point, always be looking out what it takes to get to step 2, etc. Thus, the optimal learning ratio is relative to what is most efficient for your life and most effective for you.

If you don't mind me asking, what is your ultimate goal?

[Grigor]

I suppose that with PD is the same as with anything. First learn something, then apply your knowledge. After that you will know if there is still something you have to learn. Then learn it.
There are methods which might help in the whole process, like PDCA.