184- meta learning, speed reading, and how to learn ...mean, they found their unique talent, or...

Copyright © 2018 Wellness Mama · All Rights Reserved

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Episode184:MetaLearning,SpeedReading,andHowtoLearnAnythingFasterwithJimKwik


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Child:WelcometomyMommy’spodcast.

ThisepisodeisbroughttoyoubyGenexa.Thesearecleaner,healthiermedicineandhomeopathics,allorganicandNon-GMO,extensivelytested,andwithaspecialpatentedsystemthatletsthemtakeouttheharmfuladditives.Oneofmyfavoritesistheirsalinesprayanddrops,thesearefreeofparabensandfillersthatareinmanysalinesprays.Itisgreatforflushingawaycongestionandnasalsymptomsfromallergiesandcolds,andthereisaninfantandkidsafeversion.Ialwaystravelwiththisanduseitbeforeandaftergettingonanairplanetohelpreducethechancesofgettingsickbyflushingoutmynasalpassages.YoucanshopthisandtheirentirelineoforganicandNon-GMOmedicinesbygoingtoGenexa.com/WellnessmamaandusecodeWELLNESSfor20%offyourorder!

ThisepisodeissponsoredbyThriveMarket,acompanyIhaveknownandlovedsincetheirverybeginning.ThrivewasfoundedwiththemissionofmakingrealfoodavailableandaffordabletoeveryoneintheUSandendingfooddesserts,orareasliketheoneIusedtoliveinwhereorganicfoodwasdifficultorimpossibletofindlocallyattimes.Here’satip.CheckouttheThriveMarketlineofproducts.Theyhavereallyhighqualityproductsatalowerpricethanmostotherbrands.Forinstance,IordertheircannedsardinesbythecaseastheyarethecheapestandbestoptionIfound.They’reagreatproteinsourceandIusetheseinthingslikesardineandtunasaladorIjusteatthemalonewithsomemustard.Ialsoturntotheirproductsforbulkitemslikeglutenfreeflours,bakingingredients,nuts,raisins,andprettymuchallofmyotherpantrystaples.JustforbeingaWellnessMamapodcastlistener,youcanget25%offyourfirstpurchaseatThrive,plusa30-dayfreemembershipbygoingtothrivemarket.com/Katie.

Katie:Helloandwelcometo"TheWellnessMamaPodcast."IamsoexcitedtobeherewithyoutodayandtosharewithyouoneofmydearpersonalfriendswhoisalsooneofthesmartestandkindestpeopleIknow.JimKwikisawidelyrecognizedexpertinspeedreading,memoryimprovement,brainperformance,andacceleratedlearning.Andheteachestechniquesyouwillnotlearninschool.I'vetakensomeofhiscoursesandtheyarefascinatingandsomuchfun.Andforovertwodecades.hehasservedasabraincoachtopeopleallovertheworld.ButthereasonIamsoexcitedtotalktohimwithyouguysheretodayishisownlifeandhisownexperience.Soafterachildhoodbraininjurylefthimlearningchallenged,hecreatedstrategiestodramaticallyenhancehismentalperformanceandhehassincededicatedhislifetohelpingothersunleashtheirtruegeniusandbrainpowerandlearnanythingfasterandtolivealifeofgreaterpower,productivity,andpurpose.AndIknowthatJimandIshareapassion,especiallyforhelpingchildren.AndIknowthatthisepisodeisgoingtobehelpfultoallofusasadults,butalsoinbeingabletoteachourchildreneffectivelytolearnandtolovelearning.So,Jim,welcomeandthanksforbeinghere.Jim:Katie,thisisarealpleasure.I'vebeenlookingforwardtothissomuchandthankyou,everyone,who'sjoiningusforthisconversation.Katie:Ihavebeenlookingforwardtothis,aswell.Andaswegetstarted,IhavetobragonyoualittlebitbecausewhenIfirstmetyou,mymemoryofmeetingyouissovividbecauseIsawyoumemorizeonthespotaseriesof,ifI'mrememberingcorrectly,80numbersandthenrecitethembackforwardsandbackwards.AndIthinkthat'sanamazingfeat,obviously,initsownright.ButevenmoresoonceIheardyourpersonalstory.SoI'dlovetostarttherebecauseIthinkthere'sincrediblepowerinastory,andIthinkyoursillustratesthatit's


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sopossibletoovercomethingsthatseemverydifficultorinsurmountableinlife.Socanyoutellushowyoubecameamemoryexpertandkindofdelveinto,wereyoubornwiththisperfectbrainorhowdidyougetthere?Jim:Well,it'sinterestingwhenpeopleseemedothosedemonstrations,whetherit'smemorizingallthosenumbersorlonglistsofwords,or100peopleIhavestandupinanaudienceandmemorizetheirnames.AndIalwaystellpeopleafterwards,"Idon'tdothistoimpressyou.Ireallydothistoexpresstoyouwhat'sreallypossible."Becausethetruthiseverysinglepersonwho'slisteningtothiscoulddothatandawholelotmore,meaningyoucoulddoit,yourspousecandoit,yourteamcoulddoit,yourchildrencandoit.It'sjustweweren'ttaught.Ifanything,Ifeellikeweweretaughtsomehowunconsciouslyorweweretaughtsomekindofliethatsomehowthatourintelligence,ourpotential,ourlearningability,ourmemoryissomehowfixedlikeourshoesize.Andyouknowthis,Katie,thatwe'vediscoveredmoreaboutthehumanbrain,moreinthepast,maybe,10yearsthanthepreviousthousandyears.Andwhatwefoundisthatwe'regrosslyunderestimatingourowncapabilities.AndIknowthatbecausemyinspirationreallywasmydesperation.Asyoumentioned,Igrewupwithlearningchallenges.IwasputinspecialclassesandoneoftheinflectionpointswaswhenIwasfiveyearsold,Ihadabadaccident,headtraumaandbraininjury.Andso,Ihadtheselearningdifficulties.Andsohowdiditmanifest?Itmanifestedwhereteacherswouldhavetorepeatthemselvesthreeorfourtimesinorderformetounderstandthings.Andoften,Ididn'treallyunderstand.IwouldpretendIunderstood.Ihadverybadfocus.Ihadaverypoormemory.Itactuallytookmeanextrathree,almostfouryearslongertolearnhowtoread.Andthatwasaverydifficulttime.Andattheageofnine,Irememberateacherpointingtome,talkingtoanotheradultthinkingIwasn'tpayingattention,saying,"That'stheboywiththebrokenbrain."Andit'sinterestingbecauseparentsandadultshavetobeverycarefulwiththeirexternalwordsbecauseyourexternalwordsbecomeachild'sinternalwords.Andthatbecamemyinnerselftalk.IremembereverysingletimethatIwoulddobadlyonatestoraquiz,orareport,ornotpickedforthesoccerteam,Iwouldalwayssay,"Oh,it'sbecauseIhavethebrokenbrain."Andyouhavetobeverycarefulbecauseyourmindisalwayseavesdroppingonyourselftalk.Andoftenpeoplearealwayssaying,"Oh,I'msoforgetful,"or"I'mgettingolder,"orwhatever.AndItellpeople,"Ifyoufightforyourlimitations,yougettokeepthem,"right?"Ifyouargueforyourlimits,they'reyours."Andso,youknow,Dr.DanielAmen,whoIknowyouknow,hereferstothemas"ANTs,"automaticnegativethoughts,andyouhavetosquelchthoseANTs.Andso,Igrewupwiththesedifficultiesallthroughschoolwhetheritwasthroughelementaryschoolandmiddleschool,juniorhighandhighschool.And,youknow,ItalkaboutsuperpowersalotbecauseIactuallytaughtmyselfhowtoreadbyreadingcomicbookslateatnightwhenmyparentsthoughtIwassleeping.AndIlikethemetaphorofasuperhero.Ifindthatlike,Ifeellikeyou'reasuperhero.EverytimeIseeyou,Ifeellikeyou'rewearingthiscape,becauseasuperherois,forme,issomebodywho'sdiscoveredanddevelopedtheirsuperpowers.AndIdon'tmeansomebodywhocouldflyacrossbuildingsandshootlasersoutoftheireyes.Imean,theyfoundtheiruniquetalent,oruniqueability,theirstrengthsand,butjusthavingasuperpowerdoesn'tmakeyouasuperhero.Youhavetouseit,likeyouhave,tomaketheworldabetterplace.And,butwhenwe'retalkingaboutsuperpowers,Ithinkgrowingup,mysuperpowergrowingupwasbeinginvisible,youknow,being,whenyoufeellikeyou'rebroken,youdon'treallyfeellikeconnectingtopeople.Youdon'tfeellikeyouhavealottooffer.SoIbecamepainfullyshy.Like,Iwould...IrememberonetimeIwasdoingabookreport,theteachergave,calledmyparentsinforaspecialmeetingbecauseIwasnotdoingwell


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inschoolforEnglishandgavemeasecondchancethatIcandoabookreportonandgetsomeextracredit.Andso,IdidoneonEinsteinanddaVinci.ButIrememberIspenttwomonthsworkingonthisandIwassoproud.Ihaditprofessionallybound,anditwaslikethemostI'veeverputintoaproject.ButthedayIhadtoturnitin,Iremembertheteacherattheendofclasssaying,"Wehaveasurpriseforeverybody.Jim,cometothefrontoftheclassandtellusaboutyourbookreport."AndIwasfrozenbecauseIwasnotjustintroverted,butagain,IwaspainfullyshyandIwasphobicofpublicspeaking,andIwassoscared.AndIputmywholelifeintolike,feltlikemywholelifeintothisbookreport.AndIlied.IsaidIdidn'tdoit.AndItookazero.AndIrememberbeingthelastoneinthatclasswhenitletout,andIendedupthrowingitinthegarbageandwhenIdidthat,IfeltlikeIwasalsothrowingoutapartofmypotentialormydreams.Anyway,sothatwasmeinschoolinanutshell.Butattheageof18,IwasluckyenoughtogetintoauniversityandIwantedtomakeafreshstartandIactuallydidworse,youknow.Iwassodeterminedtoshowmyselfandmakemyparentsproud,showtheworldthatIcoulddosomethingandIcouldamounttosomething.ButIactually,collegewassomuchmoredifficultandIwasreadytoquitwhenIwastellingafriendofminethathewaslike,"Hey,whydon'tyoucomehomewithmethisweekend?I'mgonnavisitmyfamilyandgetsomeperspective."AndIfindthatwhenitcomestolearninganditcomestoyourlife,perspectiveissoimportant.Youknow,achangeofplace,orachangeofpeople,youknow,changeofenvironmentreallyhelpsyoutohavenewideasandamorerefreshedtakeonthings.AndIwentthere,andthefamilywasprettywelloff.AndIrememberthefatherwaswalkingmearoundhispropertyrightbeforedinnerandaskedmeaveryinnocentquestionandsays,"Jim,how'sschool?"Whichprettymuch,Katie,istheworstquestionyoucouldaskmeatthetime.AndIjustbreakdownandIjusttellhimmywholestoryaboutschool,andthebrokenbrainandhowIjustwasn'tsmartenough.Andhesays,"Jim,whyareyouinschool?"Andit'skindofinterestingwhenitcomestoourpotentialandlearningfasterthatquestions,Ifind,reallyaretheanswer,thatIneveraskedmyselfthatquestionbefore.AndIwaslike,"Whatdoyoumean?"He'slike,"Well,whyareyouinschool?Whatdoyouwannabe,do,have,share?"AndIgotoanswerhimandhepauses.Hesays,"Stop."Andhetakesoutajournaloutofhisbackpocket.AndInoticedanotherqualityofjustsuccessfulindividuals,istheykeepdiariesortheykeepaplacewheretheyhavetheirnotesandtheyreflectonthings.Andhemakesmewriteitdown.Hetearsoutacoupleofsheetsofpaper,anditbecamelikeabucketlist,youknow,allthethingsthatIwantedtobe,do,haveandshareinmylife.AndwhenIwasdone,Itakethepiecesofpapertofoldituptoputitinmypocket,andhetakesitrightoutofmyhands.AnditreallyfreaksmeoutbecauseIwasn'texpectinghimtoseewhatIwaswritingdown.Imean,thesearemyintimatethoughtsandmygoals,andmydreams.Andhestartsreadingthem.AndIdon'tknowhowmuchtimegoesby,buthelooksatme,hesays,"Jim,youarethisclosetoeverythingonthislist."Andhespreadshisindexfingersaboutmaybe10inches.AndI'mthinking,"There'snoway.Youknow,giveme10lifetimes,I'mnotgonnacrackthislist."Andhetakeshisfingersandheputsthemtothesideofmyhead,meaningthatwhatwasinbetween,whichwasmybrain,ifyouwill,wasreallythekey.AndhetakesmeintoaroomofhishomethatI'veneverseenbefore.Itwas,you'dloveit.It'swall-to-wall,ceilingtofloorcoveredinbooks.Imean,canyouimagine?I'veneverbeenin,like,alibraryinsomebody'shousebeforeand,remember,I'mphobicofofbooks.I'veneverreadabookcovertocover.I'maverypoorreader.Andit'slikewalkingintoaroomofsnakes,butwhatmakesitworseishestartsgrabbingsnakesofftheshelfandhandsthemtome.And


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Istartedlookingatthetitlesandtheywerethesebiographiesofsomeincrediblemenandwomeninhistory,andalsosomeveryearlypersonalgrowthbooks.Imean,NormanVincentPeale,"ThePowerofPositiveThinking."Youknow,NapoleonHill,DaleCarnegie,youknow,alltheseclassics.Andhesays,"Jim,Iwantyoutoreadonebookaweek."AndI'mthinking,"Oh,mygoodness.Ican't."AndI'mfightingformylimitationsagain,andItellhim,"Ican'tdothat.YouheardmystoryandthenIhaveallthisschoolwork."Andhelooksatmeandsays,"Jim,don'tletschoolgetinthewayofyoureducation."Andthiswasover25yearsago.Ididn'trealizeitwasaMarkTwainquote.Iwaslike,"That'sreallypowerfulandyetIcan'tcommittodoingthatbecauseit'snotpossible."Andthenhereachesintohispocketandhetakesoutmybucketlist,whichhestillhas,andhehastheaudacitytoreadeverysingleoneofmydreamsoutloud.AndIdon'tknowifyoucanimagine,youknow,I'm18yearsold,veryinsecureandthispersonwho'sobviouslyprettysuccessfultohearyourdreamsinanotherperson'svoicebeingsaidandincantedoutintheuniversereallymessedwithmymind,myheart,mysoulsomethingreallyfierce.Andhonestly,Katie,alotofthingsonthatlistwerethingsIwantedtodoformyfamily.Thingsthattheycanneveraffordorwouldneverdoforthemself.Andwiththatmotivation,andIthinkmotivationisanother,youknow,we'retalkingaboutalotofkeyconceptswereallycouldgointointhisconversation,perspective,thepowerofquestions,thepowerofwritingthingsdown.Butmotivationreallyiskey.Youknow,alotofusknowwhattodo.Weknowweshouldmeditate,weknowweshouldeatright,weknowweshouldmove,weknowweshoulddodeepbreathingandjournaling,andallthesethings.Butwedon'talwaysdowhatweknow,anditcomesdowntoalotofmotivation,which,youknow,whetheryou'reateacher,you'reaparentworkingwithkidsisreallyunderstandingwhatgetsthemtodothings,right?Becausecommonsenseisnotalwayscommonpractice.Andso,withthisleverageofwantingtohelpmyfamily,Iagreedtoreadonebookaweek.Sofastforward,I'minschoolandI'msittingatmydesk,andIhaveapileofbooksthatIhavetoreadformidterms.ButthenIalsohaveapileofnewbooksthatIpromisedtoreadformyownpersonalgrowth.AndIcouldn'tevenkeepupwithoneofthosepiles.SowheredoIgetthetime?Idon'teat,Idon'tsleep,Idon'tspendtimewithfriends.Idon'tworkout.Idon'tdoanythingthat'sreallygoodforme,youknow,intermsofself-careandIjustliveinthelibrary.AndI'mtherefor,like,weeksandweeks,pullingalltheseall-nighters,andskippingmeals,and,youknow,it'snotverysustainable.AndIenduppassingoutonenight,andIrememberIfelldownaflightofstairsinthelibrary.IhitmyheadagainandIwokeuptwodayslaterinthehospital.Andatthispoint,I'velostallthisweightbecauseIwasn'teatingandIwasdownto117pounds.Iwokeup,hookeduptoalltheseIVs,and,youknow,Iwasmalnourished,dehydrated,andIthought,"Therehastobeabetterway."Anditwasthedarkesttimeinmylife.Youknow,I'veneverexperiencedsomuchdepression,somuchdespair.AndIthought,"Therehastobeabetterway."AndwhenIhadthatthought,thenursecameinwithamugoftea,andonitwasapictureofAlbertEinstein.Nowit'ssointerestingbecausethatwasmybookreport,right?Like,andtherewasthesewordsonthemugofteathat,therewasaquotethatwe'veallheardbeforeinsomedifferentform,insomeiteration,itsaid,"Thesamelevelofthinkingthat'screatedyourproblemwon'tsolveyourproblem."Thesamelevelofthinkingthat'screatedtheproblemwon'tsolveit.AndIwasthinking,"What'smyproblem?"Thathastodo,goingbacktothepowerofquestionsandthought,"Wow,I'mareallyslowlearner."AndIwaslike,"Well,howdoIthinkdifferentlyaboutthisproblem?PlusmaybeIcanlearnhowtolearnfaster,right?AndmaybeIcouldlearnhowtolearn."AndwhenIhadthatnewidea,Iwaslike,"Okay,well,wheredoIlearnhowtolearn?"AndIwaslike,"Well,wheredoIlearnanything?


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Inschool."SoIaskedthenursetobringmeacoursebulletinwiththecoursesfornextsemester.AndwhenIgetit,IlookedthroughallthepagesandIlookatallthesedifferentclassesthatIcouldtake.Andalloftheclasseswereclassesonwhattolearn,youknow,importantsubjectslikemath,history,science,Spanish.Buttherewerezeroclassesonhowtolearn.Forexample,howtothink.Howtosolveproblems.Howtofocusandconcentrate.Howtolistenbetter.Howtoreadfaster.Howtoremembermore.Ialwaysthoughtthatshouldhavebeenthefourth"R"inschool.Youknow,youhavereading,writing,arithmetic.Butwhataboutretention?Whataboutrecall?Whataboutremembering,right?Socratessays,"Learningisremembering."Becausewhystudyifyoucan'trecallthisinformation.Right?Andso,IputmystudiesasideinschoolandIstartfocusingonthisthingcalledmeta-learning.Iwantedtosolvethisriddle,thispuzzle,ifyouwill,that,youknow,Iwantedtosolvethispuzzlethinglike,"HowdoesmybrainworksoIcouldworkmybrain?HowdoesmymemoryworksoIcouldworkmymemory?"AndIstartedstudyingadultlearningtheory.Istartedstudyingmultipleintelligencetheory.Istartedstudyingspeedreadingandmnemonics,andallthesedifferentthings,alittleaboutbrainscience.Andafterabout60daysofintensivestudy,alightswitchwenton.Andforthefirsttimeinmylife,Istartedtounderstandthings.Forthefirsttimeinmylife,Istartedtohavebetterfocus.Forthefirsttimeinmylife,Istartedtoretaininformationfrommytextbooksandmygradeswentup,butnotonlymygrades,butit'sjustasmygradesimproved,mylifereallyimproved.Andthat'swhenIrealizedthatit'spossibletoworksmarterandnotjustharder.Andwhatputmeonthispathis,Iactuallygotreallyangry.Igotreallyupsetthattheseskillsandtheseabilities,whatIthoughtwasfixedwithlikeyourIQoryourintelligencewasn't.AndIwasthinking,"Whywasn'tthistaughttomeinschool?"Simpletechniquesortools,resourcesonhowIcouldjustlevelupmylearningandlevelupmylife.AndsoIstartedtobemoreofanevangelist.Istartedtohelpmyfriends.Istartedtotutor.Andoneofmyveryfirststudents,shewasafreshmanincollege.Sheread,getthis,Katie,sheread30booksin30days.Imean,canyouimagine?like,goingonlineandpickingup30booksonanything,Mandarinandmarketing,music,youknow,martialart,orwhatever,andshereadit,notskimmedit,butreallyretainedandwasapplyingit.AndIwantedtofindoutnothow,becauseIknowhowshedidit,Iwantedtoknow,goingbacktomotivation,Iwantedtoknowthepowerofwhy.AndIfoundoutthatbyaskingherthathermotherwasdyingofterminalcancer.Doctorsgaveheronlytwomonthstolive.Sothebookshewasreadingwerebooksonhealthandwellness,alternativemedicine,energy,alotofthingsthatyoucouldblogabout,becauseshewasdeterminedtosavehermom'slife.AndIfoundout,Igetacallfromhersixmonthslaterandshe'scryingandcryingandcryingandIfindoutthey'retearsofjoy,thathermothernotonlysurvivedbutisreallygettingbetter.Doctorsdon'tknowhow.Theydon'tknowwhy.Theycalleditamiracle,buthermotherhadattributed100%tothegreatadviceshegotfromherdaughterwholearneditfromallthesebooks.Andthat's,inthatmoment,Irealizedthatifknowledgeispower,learningisoursuperpower.Thatifknowledgeispower,learningisoursuperpowerandit'sasuperpoweravailableforallofus,forus,forourchildren,youknow,forourteams.AndIthinkit'ssoimportantthatpeoplelearnhowtolearn.SoI'vededicatedthepastquarterofacenturyandmorejusttohelppeoplebuildbetter,brighterbrainswitheasy,easytools,easytechniquesthatweshouldhavelearnedbackinschool.Andmymissionreallyis,"Nobrainleftbehind."Katie:Ilovesomuchofwhatyoujustsaidanditremindsme,too,ofmyownchildhoodanditactually,like,triggeredsomepainpointsformeinagoodwayinthatIthinksooften,andthisispartoflife,sooftenthose


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strugglesendupbecoming,likeyousaid,oursuperpowerbecauseyousaidyouweretheboywiththebrokenbrain,andIwasthegirlwiththebrokenbody.SoIhadstrepthroatprettymuchconstantly.Thefirstfiveyearsofmylife,Ihaddozensofroundsofantibiotics.Eventuallyhadsurgerythattookoutmytonsilsandmyadenoidsandgottubes.AndIwasinsomewhatgoodhealthafterthat,otherthanthatIhadhadsomanyroundsofantibioticswhichnowIcanlookbackandseetheearlyrootsofautoimmunedisease,andIhadthatmindsetforsolongthatmybrainormybodywasbrokenanditdidn'tworkrightanditwasn'tevergonnadowhatitwassupposedtodo.Andthat'ssomethingthat,evenasanadult,I'vehadtoreallyconsciouslylearntoletgoof.Anditreallycameupformeinbecomingamotherandduringpregnancyandeveninmyfirstdeliverywithmyfirstson,fightingthatmindsetthatmybodywasbrokenanditwasn'tgonnadoitright,andIwasn'tgoingtobeabletohaveababy,andjusthowdeeplythosechildhoodexperiencescanaffectusforourwholelife.ButIalsolovethat,andIknowthisisacoretenetforyouandacorepartofyourlife,thatyoureallyequatesuccessandsuperpowers,likeyousaid,nottomoneyorachievement,buttohelpingothersandchangingtheworld.AndIthinkthat'swhyIwassodrawntoyourapproachandwhyIlovetheworkthatyoudo.Andso,I'dlovetogoalittledeeperontheconceptsyou'vetalkedaboutbecauseIknowthere'salotofparentslistening,andIknowthatmanyofthemhaveheardfromteachersorfromschoolprofessionalsthattheirkidsaremaybenotgoodlearnersincertainways,orthattheydon'thaveenoughfocusorthey'renotgoodatcertainsubjects.AndIfeelliketheschoolsystemingeneral,ittendstogradeourdeficiencies,notwhatwe'regoodat.Liketheycountoffpointsformistakes,butyoudon't,youknow,youdon'tgetpointsforbeingcreativefororforthinkingoutsidetheboxorforhavingauniquegeniusthatmaybedoesn'tshowuponatest.SoIwouldlovetohearyouspeaktothatalittlebit.Like,totheseparentswhothinkthatmaybetheirkidsdon'tquitehavewhatittakes,orlikemaybetheirchildislikeyouwereasakidandhowtheycanapproachthatdifferentlysothat,becauseasparents,noneofuswanttopasson,obviously,anythingnegativetoourkids.AndI'dlovetohearyourtakeonthatfromhavingseenthatasachildyourself.Jim:Absolutely.AndIhonorwhatyouweresayingbecauseit'ssointerestingthatthroughyourstruggles,you'vegainedsomuchstrengthandbeabletosharethat,evenwhenwe'retalkingaboutsuperpowersandsuperheroeswithsomanymillionsofpeople.Andso,IwouldsaythatfortheparentslisteningoranyonewhohasarelationshipwithachildthatthereareafewideasthatIthinkweunderstandascommonsense,buthowdoweputitintocommonpractice?So,likeIwouldsay,forexample,whenwe'retalkingaboutintelligence,Idon'tbelievethat,likeyou,Ibelievethatintelligenceandpotentialisnotfixed,thatit'sfluid.Oneofmyfavoritebooksis"Mindset,"youknow,allabout,youknow,byCarolDweck,whichIknowyou'refamiliarwithandthatthere'sadifferencebetweenafixedmindsetandagrowthmindset.Andoneofthedisserviceswedosometimeswithchildreniswereward,youknow,anidentityaroundthembeinga,youknow,giftedor,orsomehowagenius.Butwhat,really,weneedtobereinforcingistheir,theirworkethic,right?They'redevelopingtheirgritandbelievingthathavingtoworkhard...Sometimeswhenpeoplehaveafixedmindset,youknow,they'reconcernedaboutmoreaboutlookingsmart,likechildrenlookingsmartandtheyregardlessforlearning.Andit'smoresomethingtheyeitherhaveortheydon'thave,andsonegativeviewstowardseffortorbelievingtheyhavetoworkhardatsomethingwasassignedofmorelowerstatusorlowerabilityandthethoughtthatapersonwithtalentorintelligencedidnotneedtoworkashard.Andweknowthatit'snottrue,thatweshouldberewardingpeopleforchildrenandothers,youknow,


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inourcare,whetherwe'releadingtheminabusinessoranyotherwiseproperpraiseishowdowetransmitthatgrowthmindsettochildren.Andweknowthatonewayisreallyreinforcingandtellingstoriesaroundachievementsthatcamefromhardwork,thatsomebodyisnotjustageniusatmusicorageniusatmath,butit'sthesepeople,youknow,fellinlovewiththesesubjectsandtheypracticedeverysingleday.Thatit'spossiblethatyoucanactuallygrowyourbrain.ThatIQ,standardizedtests,youthinkaboutschool,likeevenSATs,whenItook,IremembertakingtheSATsanditwaslikeverbalandmathematical.Butweknowthroughalltheresearchthatthere'snotjusttwoformsofintelligenceandnotonlyisitnotfixed,thatit'snotthewaywe'reratingwithindividuals,it'snotfine,meaningit'snotnarrow,butit'sfar-reaching.Andsoit's,youknow,forexample,it'ssomebodyisnotgreatatverbalandmath,butiftheydon'tdowellonthosetests,theyfeelliketheydon'thavesomethingtoofferorthey'renotsmart.Butwhataboutpeoplewhohavegreatvisual,spatialintelligence,right?Andyou'retalkingaboutlikethegraphicartistsandthearchitects.Whataboutpeoplewhohavechildrenwhohavegreatinterpersonalskills,meaningthatthey'regreatwithpeople?Imean,that'ssuchanimportant,thatEQ,ifyouwill,issoimportantintoday'ssocietywheremaybeit'snotinterpersonal,selftoothers.Maybeselftoself,likeintrapersonalintelligence.Peoplewhoreallyunderstandhumanpsychology.Whataboutpeoplewhoarearegreatwithmusic?Youknow,musicalintelligence.Youhavealltheentertainersandthesingers,thecomposers.Whataboutkinestheticintelligence?Peoplewhohavechildrenwhoaregreatoradultsgreatwiththeirbody,youhaveyourathletes,youhaveyourdancers.Andthere'ssomanydifferentformsofthis,oftheseintelligence,butIfind...andHowardGardnerisreallycredited,outofHarvardUniversity,isreallyexpandingthismultipleintelligencetheory.AndsoIwouldsaythattalkingtoparentsthatintelligenceisnotfixed.It'sfluid,itcouldgrowandyouwannareinforcethatwithyourchildren,hardwork.Also,intelligenceisnotjustfixed,butit'snotfixedandit'salsonotfineornarrow.It'sfar-reachingandthatit's...There'sahugespectrumofgenius,ifyouwill,thatit'snothowsmartsomebodyis,nothowsmartyouare.It'snothowsmartyourchildrenare,butit'sanotherquestion.It'snothowsmarttheyare.It'showaretheysmart?Andsoweallhavethisgeniusthatwewanted...Withchildren,youknow,yougivethemabroadexperiencebaseandthenyoucouldseewheretheirinterestsgonaturally.Andthenyouhelpthemtobeabletodevelopthem.AndthethirdthingIwouldsaybesidesintelligenceisnotfixedandthatit'salsosomethingthatisfar-reaching,Iwouldsayathirdthingisthatthere'snosuchthingasagoodorbadstudent.There'snosuchthingasagoodorbadstudentanymorethanthereisasuchthingasagoodorbadmemory.There'sjustatrainedstudentandanuntrainedstudent.Andjustlikewithamemory,there'snosuchthingasagoodorbadmemory.There'sjustatrainedmemoryandanuntrainedmemory.AndwhatIwouldsayissomethingpractical,whenyou'reworkingwithyourselforyourteamoryourfamily,istotakenounsandturnthemintoverbs.WhatdoImeanbythat?Ioftenhearpeopleonsocialmedia,they'llmessagemeandsaying,"Oh,Jim.Idon'thaveagoodmemory."Or,"Mychildrendon'thavefocus."Or,"Idon'thavemotivation."Or,youknow,"Mychilddoesn'thavecreativity."Thesearethingsyouhavelikenouns.Youdon'thavefocus,youdofocus.Youdon'thaveconcentration,youdoconcentration.Youdon'thaveenergy,youdoenergy.Youdon'thavecreativity,youdocreativity.Justlikeyoudon'thaveamemory,youactuallydoamemory.Andthebenefitofturningitintoaverbisitbecomesanactionanditbecomesaprocess.Andso,inourpodcast,forinstance,youknow,everyweekwegivetipson


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howtoremembernames,howtoreadfaster,howtobeaneffectivelistener,howtotakenotes.It'salwaysfocusingonthehow,becauseitbecomeslikearecipe.Likeifyouwantedtobakeacake,youknow,agluten-free,sugar-free,organic,naturalcake,youknow,therearestepsandyouhavetodothosestepsinorder.Well,therearestepsonhowtolearnalanguage,howtoreadatextbook,howtochangeyourhabits.Butthesethingsareoften,youknow,peoplefeelliketheyhavehabits,youknow,ortheyhaveintelligence.ButIfeellikethatwhenwemakeitactive,it'ssomethingthatwecouldacton,andwecanberesponsibleorabletorespondforit.Andreally,that'sthefocusofmyworkistoshowpeoplethetools,thetactics,andtheactionsthattheycouldtake,littlesimplethingsliketheirdailyroutines,orhowtheyapproachstudyingortheenvironment,orthefoodsthattheyeattoreallyoptimizetheirgreatestasset,youknow,andtheirchildren'sgreatestasset,whichisfoundbetweentheirears,whichistheirbrain.Becauserightnow,children,yourself,andit'skindoffa-,...Andweliveinthisveryfast-pacedworldwherereally,wehaveautonomouselectriccarsandspaceshipsthatarebeingbuilttogotoMars.Butwhenitcomestolearning,ourvehicleofchoiceforeducationislikeahorseandbuggy.AndIdon'tmeanthatasaslightagainstteachers.Youknow,mymotherbecameaspecialeducationteacherbecauseshedidn'tknowhowtohelpmewithallmystrugglesgrowingupasachild.Butit'smoreofasystemissue.TheysayifRipVanWinkle,he'stheguythatsleptfordecades.Ifhewokeuptoday,theonlythinghewouldrecognizeareourschools.Andit'sreallyasystemicissuebecauseourworldhasevolvedsoquickly.Weliveinthisdigitalagewhereyouhavethesedigitalsupervillains,likedigitaloverload,anddigitaldistraction,anewtermcalleddigitaldementiawherewe'relosing...We'resoabsent-mindedrightnowbecauseourmindislikeamuscle.Itgrowsstrongerwithuse,butwe'resodependentonoursmartdevices,sowecan'tevenrememberasimplephonenumberanymore.Youknow?Imean,youremembergrowingup,youandI,weusedtoknowlikehowmanyphonenumbers,likeallthesephonenumbers.Buthowmanyphonenumbersdoweremembernow?Right?Maybeoneortwoorthree.Andit'snotthatIwannamemorizehundredsofphonenumbers,butwe'velosttheabilityjusttorememberoneorasimplepasscode,orasimpleconversationwehadwithsomebody,orourroomnumberorsomething,youknow,someonewejustmet.AndIthinkmemorylapsesforyourchildren,foryourself.Twoofthemostcostlywordsare"Iforgot."Youknow,"Iforgottodoit.Iforgottobringit.Iforgotthatmeeting.Iforgotthatconversation.Iforgotthatname."Andso,youknow,weliveinthisdigitalworld,butwehad...ifyou'restrugglingrightnoworyourkidsarestruggling,it'snotyourfault.It'sjustweweren'tprepared.Youknow,theysaythattheaveragegraduaterightnow,somebodygraduatingschoolisgoingtohaveanywherefrom8to14differentcareers,Ireadrecently.Imean,that'scrazy.It'snotdifferentjobs,differentcareersbecausetheworldischangingsorapidly.Andinaworldofrapidchange,themostimportantskilltohave,inmyopinion,isyourabilitytolearnjustasfast.It'sjustweweren'ttaughthowtodothat.Andso,mymessagetoeveryonewho'slistening,isthatyourchildren,yourintelligenceisnotfixed.It'sfluid,that,youknow,thatstandardizedtestsdoasub-optimaljobofofyourIQ,sayingit'sfixedfromtheageoffiveorsixtowhatever.That'snottruebecauseweknowthatitcouldgrowbecauseIcouldteachanybodylisteningtothisonhowtodobetteronthatbecausethey'rejuststrategies.AndthenIwouldalsosaythere'snosuchthingasagoodorbadstudent,oragoodorbadmemory,orgoodorbadfocus.There'sjustatrainedstudentandanuntrainedstudent.It'sjustweweren'ttaughthowtodothesethings.Sooneofthewaysofovercomingistotakethesenounsandturnthemintoverbs,anditgivesyouthepowertobeabletoaffectpositivechange.Katie:Ithinkthat'ssuchabrillianttip.AndIhearyousaythatabouttrainedstudentsanduntrainedstudents


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andIlookbackandrealizeIwassuchagoodtrainedstudent.Thatwasmyforte.Icoulddoschool,Icoulddotests.IacedtheACTandSAT,anditturnsoutthat'sactuallylikeacompletelyworthlesslifeskill,andthatdoingreallywellonthistestdoesn'tserveanyoneelse.Itdoesn'thelpyounecessarilyinlife.It'sametricandit's...Ibasicallylearnedhowtotaketestswell.Andthat'soneofmyfrustrationsnowasaparentandasahomeschoolingmom,isthatIfeellikeweare,we'reinaneducationsystemthatwasdesignedforadifferentage,butyetourchildrenaretheoneswhoaresufferingwiththisbecausewe'renotgivingthemthetoolsthey'regonnaneed.Likeyousaid,they'regoingtohavemultiplecareers.Andontopofthat,weneedchildrenwhobecomeadultswhocanthinkoutsidetheboxandconnectthedotsandsolvesomereallybigproblemsbecauseourkidsaregoingtofacesomedooziesasadults.SoI'mcurious,ifyouhaveanytips.Let'sseehowIcanphrasethisquestion,maybetwopart.Firstofall,howdowemaintainthatloveoflearninginourchildrenandkindofteachthemfromanearlyagewhatyoulearnedolderinlifetolovelearningandtobeabletolearnquickly,butalsoforthoseofuswhohomeschool,isthereawaythatwecanadaptevenhowwe'reteachingtoreallycatertothatmoreeasily?Jim:Well,IknowyouandIcangeekoutaboutthisforhoursintermsofpeoplesteppingintothebestversionofthemselves.Andso,let'sdeconstructthisalittlebit.IwouldsaythatIhonorwhatyou'resayingaboutkids,youknow,inthisworldandnotbeingpreparedandnotteachingthemhowtobecreativeortosolveproblems.Rightnow,justasignofthetimes,everythingrightnow,youknow,intermsofjobsismovinginacertaindirectionandtheycallthemthethreeAs.Aisartificialintelligence.So,morejobsarebeingtakenbycomputersthatcoulddoasimilarjobthroughartificialintelligence.AlsothesecondAisautomation,right?Becauseanassemblyline,justlikewehadassemblylineeducation,wehaveeverythingbeingautomatedonlinealsoforpeopleandthat'stakingawaycareersandopportunities.ThethirdAisAsia,whichreallysignifiesthatthingsarebeingoutsourcedoverseas.Andso,thesejobsareavailableoverseasforafractionofthecost.Sowhatcan'tbeoutsourcedtoacomputer?Well,Iwouldsaythreeofthesuperpowersyoureallywanttoencouragewithkidsarecreativity,right?Theidea,theirabilitytotranscendtraditionalideasandrulesandpatternsandrelationships,ortheliketobeabletocreatemeaningfulnewideas,forms,interpretations,methods,becauseacomputer'snotgoingtobeabletodothatanytimesoon.ThesecondsuperpowerIwouldsaytoencouragewithchildrenisthissuperpowerofimagination.Wedoanannualeventfor...It'sreallyinterestingwhereouraudienceisalmostasinterestingasthepeoplewhoareonstage.WehadthefounderofWordPressandIrememberwehadQuincyJonesinourlast,youknow,sittingintheaudience,wehadDonMiguelRuizwhowrote"TheFourAgreements,"oneofmyvery,veryfavoritebooksofalltime.AndIrememberpullingDonMiguelRuizonstage.AndIsaid,youknow,"What'syoursuperpower?"Andhelookedattheaudienceandhesays,"Mysuperpowerislikeeverybody'ssuperpowerhere.It'sthesuperpowerofimagination."Because,really,knowledgeiswhatis,butimaginationiswhatcouldbe.Youknow,thisabilitytoformmentalimagesandconceptsandthat'snotactuallypresentinoursenses.Iwouldsaythatabilitytotaketheinvisibleofwhat'sinachild'smindoraninventor'smindoranauthor'smindandmakeitvisibleisreally,leadershipistakingtheinvisibleandmakingitvisible.Andso,creativityandimagination.AndIwouldsayathirdareatoreally,tofocusonwithchildren,toreallypreparethemtolivetheirbestlifeisyes,youwantthemtobecreative.Yes,youwantthemtoharnesstheir


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imagination,whichislikeamuscleandthestrategiesforalloftheseisreallythatthirdthingIjustsaid,isstrategy.Youknow,aplanforsuccess.Ibelievethatwhenyouseesomebodysuccessful,thatgeniusleavescluesand,meaningthatifsomebodyissuccessfulinmusic,orinart,orinsomephysicalform,orthey'reagreataccountant,ortheyhavegreatrelationships,they'regreatwithfinancesandthey'redoingcertainthingsthatthere'salwaysamethodbehindthemagic.Whenpeopleseemeonstagememorizenamesorwordsornumbersor,youknow,theyknowIreadabookadayorwhatever,Ialwaystellpeople,"Geniusislearned,"itcompletelyis.There'salwaysamethodbehindthemagic.Whenyouseesomebodypickupamusicalinstrumentfaster,oryouseeachildbeingabletofocus,they'redoingcertainthingsthatotherpeoplearen't,anditlookslikemagic.It'sjustweweren'ttaughthowtodothat.Andso,Iwouldsaythosearethreesuperpowers.Intermsofchildrenfallinginlovewithlearning...It'ssointeresting,children,I'mveryconcernedwiththeworldwelivein.Ihaveavideojustcameoutjustlikeamonthagoandithasover,wehaveover31millionviewsandit'sjustmeandmyfriendSimonSinektalkingaboutthedangersofsomeofthesocialmedia,wheresocialmediadepressionanddistractionandthesethings,theseforces,thesesupervillains.Weretalkingaboutsuperheroesandsuperpowers,butthesearethesupervillainsthatareholdingusbackinalotofways.Beingreactive,pickingupourphonefirstthinginthemorningwhenwereallyshouldbefocused,insteadofreactingtotheworldandfightingfires,weshouldbecreatingavisionforourlife.Andthesedopaminehitsthatwegetwitheverylikeandcommentandshareandcatvideothatwewatch,youknow,it'straining,it'srewiringourbrainfordistraction.Andso,Iwouldsaywithchildren,oneoftheimportantthingsisifyouwannaboosttheirselfesteem,teachthemabouttheirownbrains.Imean,youcanimprovetheirselfesteemovernightjustunderstandinghowtheirbrainworksbecauseit'slikethemostmagnificentdeviceontheplanet,youknow,andinthewholeuniverse,right?Butit'snotuserfriendly,anditdoesn'tcomewithanowner'smanual.Andsothat'swhywedothesevideosandwedoourpodcastbecausewewannaeducatepeopleabouthowtheyworksotheycouldhavethatconfidenceandthatselfesteem.ButtheotherthingIwouldsayishowpeoplefallinlovewithlearningistobringjoyandfuninto,youknow,backintoeducation.AndIknowthisisapriorityforyouandit'safocuswithyouwhenyou'reworkingwithyourchildren.It's,Ifeellikethat,youknow,andIknowyoudo,alotofthewellnessyoutalkaboutisaboutoptimalhealthandanti-agingandevenasyou...Actually,Ifollowyourworksomuch.IhavelikemyViometesthere,Ihaveonmydesk,myNanoViandeverything.Iusealltheseresourcesandthosearesoimportant.AndIwouldsayaspeoplethink,forexample,childrenarethefastestlearnersontheplanet,whichtheyare,right?Theycanpickupamusicalinstrument,theycanpickuplanguagesfaster.Andoneofthereasonswhyistheyplay.ButwhenIsaythistoaudiences,theyoftensay,"Oh,no,IstoppedplayingbecauseIgrewolder."ButIdon'tactuallythinkthat'saccurate.Idon'tthinkyoustoppedplayingbecauseyougrewolder.Ithinkit'stheopposite.Ithinkyougrewolderbecauseyoustoppedplaying.AndIfeellikethatatsomepointinourlife,maybewhenaschildren,itwaslike,"Oh,Iwannatogooutandplay,"ortheyasktheirfriendslike,"Hey,doyouwannagooutandplay?"Butlateronit'slike,"Oh,doyouwannagohangout?"Andwestartedchangingthatlanguage.ButIfeellikewhenwe'replayinginanaturalstate,whenwehadthatsenseofwonder,andwhendoweeverfeelthosefeelings?Ibelievealllearningisstate-dependent.Alllearningisstate-dependent.Thatifyouwannaknowoneofthekeystohavingalongtermmemory,informationitselfisveryboring.It'sforgettable.Butinformationtiedtoemotionbecomesalong-termmemory,becauseweallknowthis,right,frompersonal


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experience.Therecouldbeasongthatcantakeyoubacktowhenyouwereakid,therecanbeafoodthattakesyoubacktowhenyouwereachild.Therecouldbeafragrancethatcouldtakeyoubacktowhenyouwereachild,becauseinformationisforgettable,butinformationcombinedwithemotionbecomesalong-termmemory.Soalllearningisstate-dependent.Andsothat'swhyIloveplaybecauseinthatstateofwonder,right,oneofmyfavoritepoets,Rumi,hasthisquotethatsaid,"Sellyourclevernessforbewilderment.Sellyourclevernessforbewilderment."Imean,when'sthelasttimeyoufeltbewilderedaboutsomething?Orcuriousaboutsomethingorfascinated?It'sjustlikechildrenaresoengagedwiththeprocessandthey'renotafraidtofail.Evenchildren,asyouwatchthemlearninghowtowalk,youknow,theydon'ttrylikethreetimesandlike,"Oh,Ifailedatthis.I'mnevergonnatrythisagain."Right?Thatwouldbeludicrous.Butadultsdothisallthetime.Youknow,adultswouldtakeadanceclass,orthey'lltakeavoiceclass,orthey'lltakeaprogramming,codingclass,andthey'renotgoodatitfirst.Andthey'llbelike,"Oh,"youknow,theydon'twanttolookbad.Andthey'realwaysconcernedabouteveryoneelse'sopinionsandtheirexpectations.Andhere'sthething,youcangobrokebuyingintotheopinionsandexpectationsofothers.IwasworkingyearsagowithJimCarrey.Ihelpalotofactorsspeedreadscripts,havebetterfocusonset,remembertheirlinesinafractionofthetime.AndIrememberwewereinhiskitchen,weweremakingguacamole,andIwaslike,"Jim,whydoyoudowhatyoudo?Whatdrivesyou?"Andhewaslike,"Jim,thereasonwhyIplayedallthesecharactersandthey'reveryextremeandIactlikeafoolisbecauseIwannagivepeoplepermissiontobethemselves."Andhe'slike,hereally,hismissionreallyistofreepeoplefromtheconcernsofotherssotheycanreallybethemselves.AndIfeellikeasadults,andIdon'tmeanwhengrowingolder,Idon'treallymeanchronologicalage,Imeantheageofourminds,theageofourhearts,theageofourspirits,ifyouwill.Like,Iknowsomebodywhojustturned95yearsoldandhe'sliketheyoungestoldestperson,andhestillgoestoworkMondaythroughFridayandhelovestellingstoriesbecausethat'shisjob,andhelearnssoquicklybecauseit'samindset,right?ButIalsoknowsomebodywho'snineyearsoldandhe'sgoingonlike,youknow,59.Andhe'ssoin,andthenthischildisnine,buthe'ssoold,right?Soit'sreallyamindset.SoIwouldsayintegratingplayandexperimentationinourlearning,youknow,takingthingsbecauseeverybodyhasdifferentlearningstyles.We,youknow,wetalkedaboutthatit'snothowsmartsomebodyis,butit'sreallyhowaretheysmart,thatifIaskedeverybodyheretowritetheirnamesonapieceofpaperandyoucandothiswithyourchildren.Youwriteyourfirstandlastname,andthenIaskedyoutoswitchhandsandwithyouroppositehand,writebelowityourfirstandlastname.Thesecondtimeyoudidit,Iwouldhallucinate.Itwouldtakelonger,itwouldfeelmoreuncomfortableandthequalitywouldn'tbequiteasgood.Andit'skindoflikelearning.Maybeyouoryourchild,you'rereallyinterestedinthesubjectandyougotoaclassonit,even.Butforsomereason,eventhoughyou'reinterestedinit,you'rejustnotgettingitbecausethewaytheteacherpreferstoteachisdifferentthanthewaythatthechildpreferstolearn,andit'sliketwoshipsinthenightandyoupasseachotherinthedarkandyoudon'tevenrealizetheotheroneisthereandyoudon'tevenconnect.Andso,that'sabigchallenge.Andso,youknow,theselearningstylesareimportantanditgoeswaybeyondjustvisual,auditoryandkinestheticlearning.There'sdifferentways,youknow,weprocessinformationandtobeabletohonorthat,it'slikeyou'retryingtolearnitwiththeoppositehandsoittakeslonger,itfeelsuncomfortableorweird,andthequalityisnot


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quiteasgood.Andso,youknow,Iremembergoingbacktoaninitialconversationaboutquestionsbeingtheanswerisaskingquestions,like,"HowcanIbringmorejoyintothis?HowcanImakelearningfun?"YoumighthearsomechildreninthebackgroundrightnowbecauseI'minahousefullofkidsrightnowwiththeirfriends.Butit'sjustlike,evennow,likethey'reyellingandthey'replayingandthey'reeverywhere,butthat'showtheyengage.Right?AndsoIfeellikethereasonwhywecouldhavechildrenoradultsreadtwoorthreetimesfasterwithbettercomprehension,howtheycanretaintheperiodictable,youknow,inminutes...IputavideoonInstagramtheotherday.Itookallthesesix-year-oldsandtaughtthemhowtomemorizethefirst20elementsontheperiodictableandlearnhowtocountto10inJapanese.LiterallyIdidallthatinnineminutes.Youknow,andit'snotthatbecauseI'msogreat,it'sjustthere'sgeniusinallofthesechildrenandit'sreallyshowingthemhowtobeabletoaccessthat.Andso,creativity,imagination,strategy,rememberingthatoneofthekeystolearningfasterisalllearningisstate-dependent.Andthatifsomebodylearnedsomethingintraditionaleducation,youknow,ifyouweretorememberwhatschoolwaslikeforthemostpart,knowingthatemotionplayssuchanimportantrole,what'stheprimaryemotionmostpeoplefeelintraditionaleducationand90%ofanaudiencewillalwayssaytheywerebored.Andonascaleof0to10,boredomislikea0.Andanything,informationtimesemotionbecomesalong-termmemory,butiftheemotionalleveliszero,anythingtimeszeroiswhat?Iszero.Andyouwonderwhyyouforgetthesethings.Besidesthefactthatalotofchildren,whenthey'relearningsomething,evenasadults,iftheydon'tseetherelevanceofsine,cosine,thetangentofx,theywon'tretainitbecausetheydon'thavecontext.Andifcontentisking,youknow,whichweoftenhear,right?Weputonalotofcontent,thencontextreallyisthekingdom,andit'ssoveryimportantforpeopletohavecontextwhenitcomestolearning.Andso,thosearealotofthefocalpointsbesidesallthethingsthatyoublogaboutandshareinyourshowsaboutself-care,becauseIalsofeelontheothersideofitispeopledon'trealize,butonethirdofyourpotential,whenitcomestoyourbrain,yourmemoryandsoonispre-determinedbygeneticsandbiology.That'swhatscienceissaying.Now,somepeoplesayyouhave100%control,butthatleavestwo-thirdsinyourcontrol,right?Butsomepeoplesaywithepigeneticsandeverything,youactuallyhaveevenmoreinfluencethanscienceissaying,thatsomeofthescienceissaying,butthatmeansyouhavealotmoreinputintakingcareofthishardware.Youknow,we'retalkingaboutthingslikeagoodbraindiet.We'retalkingaboutthingslikegettingridofnegative,youknow,self-talkandwetalkaboutthingslikeexercise,movementbecauseprimarily,wehaveabraintocontrolourmovementsandasachild'sbodymoves,theirbraingrooves.Literallyaspeoplemove,theycreatebrainderivedneurotrophicfactors.It'slikefertilizerforneurogenesisandneuroplasticity.Thesearetermsalotofpeoplehaveheardbefore.Thatneurogenesismeansthatyoucouldcreatenewbraincellstothedayyoudie.Andneuroplasticityissayingyourbrainislikeplasticinapositiveway.Meaningit'sverymalleable.ThatEinstein'sbrainwasn'tbiggerthananyofours,itwasactuallysmaller.Buthehadcertainpartsofhisbrain,whentheyanalyzedit,theywerehighlydensebecausethereweresomanyconnectionsbecausehewoulddothesethoughtexperimentsandreally,youknow,whereeverysinglethoughtyouhavechangesyourneurology.Literally,whenwe'rehavingthisconversation,youandIandpeoplearelisteningtoit,you'regettingsmarterandit'snotjustsomethingethereal,it'syourbrainisactuallychangingthatrightnow.Youhavehundredsofmillionsofneurons,braincellsthatarelituprightnow.AndtheysaythatOliverWendellHolmessaidthat,"Onceaperson'smindisstretchedbyanewidea,itneverregainsitsoriginaldimensions."Andpeopledon'trealizethatyourthoughtsarethings,thatthey're,youknow,asyou'veheard,there'sabiologytobelief,ifyou


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will,thatifpeoplerealizedhowpowerfultheirmindswere,theywouldn'tsayanythingtothemselvestheydidn'twanttobetrue.AndIcan'toverstatethisenoughwhenI'mtalkingaboutnegativeself-talk.IrememberIwaspreparingtorunamarathon.AndIwasreadingthisbook.Withanamelike"Kwik,"there'salotofpressure.Iwasreadingthisbookonhowtomentallytrainforamarathonanditsaid,inoneofthechapters,itsaidthiswordforword,verbatim,becauseI'mamemoryexpertanditsaid,"Yourbrainislikeasuper-computerandyourself-talkisaprogramthatwillrun.Soifyou'retellingyourselfyou'renotgoodatrememberingnames,youwillnotrememberthenameofthenextpersonyoumeetbecauseyouprogrammedyoursuper-computernotto."Andthat'swhatImeanwhenpeoplearesaying,"Oh,I'mnotsmartenough.I'mnotgoodenough.Ihavehorriblefocus.Ihave,youknow,abadmemory,"orwhateveritis.Youhavetochangethat.Andthereareanumberofwaysyoucoulddothat,right?Anythingfromself-hypnosistotapping,EFTorevenaddingasimplewordlike"yet"attheendofthesentence,"Idon'thaveagreatmemoryyet."Or,"I'mnotagreatstudentyet."LittlethingslikethatopenupthepossibilityofsomethinggreaterbecausetheotherthingIwouldsaywhenitcomestoyournegativeself-talkisyourmindisalwayseavesdroppingonyourself-talk.Yourmindisalwayseavesdroppingonyourself-talk.Soyouhaveyourgoodbraindiet,right,withyouravocadosandyourblueberries.Icallthem"brainberries"andallthose,youknow,thewildsalmon,ifthat'sallowedinyourdietandtheturmericandallthesegreatthings.Youhaveyour,youknow,getridofnegativethoughts.Youhaveyourmovement,butotherthingsareimportant,too,brainnutrients,right?There'scertainbrainsupplements,ifyou'renotgettingit,ifyoudoafullspectrumbloodanalysisonfoodallergiesandnutrientprofiles,somepeoplearejustlacking.IfyoulackinvitaminB,ifyoulackinDHA,whichissuchanimportantnutrient,yourbrain'snotgoingoperateatoptimalfunctionnomatterwhatstrategyyou'reusing.Iwouldsayanotherthingisapositivepeergroup.Youknow,whoyourkidsoryouspendtimewith,theyarereallywhoyoubecome.Youknow,theysayifyouspendtimewithninebrokepeople,youaregonnabethetenthandthere'sactuallyasciencetothisevenwhen,youknow,withthekidsthat,yourchildren,theirfriendsthattheyhangoutwithbecauseallofus,nomatterwhatourages,thereasonwhyisbecausewehadthesethingscalledmirrorneuronsandmirrorneuronsiswhatallowsyoutofeelempathywhenyouwatchasporting,agame,sportsandyoucouldfeelwhattheplayersarefeelingkindofmove,oryou'rewatchingascarymovieandyoucouldfeelyougetthatempathy.Thosearemirrorneurons.Andsomirrorneuronsreallystart...Thereasonwhyyouhavetobecarefulwhoyouspendtimewith,yourpositivepeergroup,isbecauseifyoustartadoptingtheirbeliefs,youstartadoptingtheirhabits.Youstartadoptingtheirbehaviors.Youknow,wedidaninterviewwithDr.MarkHymanonourpodcastandwe'retalkingabouthowit'snotjustyourbiologicalnetworksoryourneurologicalnetworks.Andjustasimportant,ifnotmoreimportant,areyoursocialnetworks.Thatwhetherornotyourchildendsupsmokinghaslesstodowiththeirbiology,ithasmoretodowhetherornottheirfriendssmokebecausethathasagreaterinfluence.Andsowhoyouspendtimewithiswhoyoubecome.Anotherthingwhenitcomestoyourkids,whenitcomestotheself-care,thesearethe10thingsthatItalkaboutwhenitcomestounlockingwhatIcallyour"KwikBrain."Numbersix,Iwouldsay,arecleanenvironments.Youknow,whenyou'retellingyourkidstocleantheirroomandbeorganized,yourexternalworldisareflectionofyourinternalworldandyouknowthisbecausewhenyoucleanyourdesktoponyourlaptop,youroffice,don'tyouhaveclarityofthought?


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Numberseven,Iwouldsayintermsofoptimizingyourchild'sbrainperformanceandyourownissleep,andthisisahugeepidemicforallages.Andyouknow,likewhenyougetabadnight'ssleep,howdoesyourbrainperformthenextday?Imean,howdoyoumakedecisions?Howisthequalityofyourthinking?Howareyouabletosolveproblems?How'syourfocusthenextday?How'syourrecallthenextday?Andsomanychildrenarepullingall-nightersinschoolandyouthinkthat'shelpingthem,butitdoesn't.Youneedtosleepbecauseofthreethings.Iwouldreallysaythreethingscognitivelythatmostpeopledon'tthinkof.Numberone,whenyousleeporyourchildsleeps,that'swheretheyconsolidateshorttolong-termmemory.Andthat'swhyit'simportanttosleepisbecausethat'sactuallywherealotoflearningtakesplace.Numbertwo,thoseall-nightersdefinitelydonothelp.Numbertwo,it'swhereyoucleanoutplaqueinyourbrain,whenyousleep,that'swhenyoursewagesystemreallyisoperatingandthatcanleadtodementiaandotherbrainagingchallenges.Andthenthethirdreasonwhyyouwanttosleep,andthisissomething,Imean,therearemanymorereasonsthanthis,butIwouldputinthereiswhenyoudream,right?Ifyou'renotgettingtheREMsleep,you'renotgoingtodream,andyou'rethinking,"Whatdoesdreaminghavetodowithperformance?"Andpeopledon'trealizethis,butwhenyou'relearningoryourchildrenarelearningallday,yourbraindoesnotshutoffatnight.Ifanything,it'smoreactive,it'smoreactiveatnightandintheformofdreams.Andwhenyou'redreaming,Imean,haveyoueverstudiedsomethingor,youknow,withyourbusinessoranythingotherwise,andyoustartdreamingandstartthinkingaboutit?Andsomanypeopledon'trealizethatsomanythingsinourrealityinourworldandcultureandliteratureandfilmandmusiccamefromdreamstates.So,forexample,MaryShelleycameupwithFrankensteininherdream.PaulMcCartneycameupwiththesong"Yesterday"inhisdream.InventionslikethesewingmachinecametoEliasHoweinhisdream.Theperiodictablecametoachemistinhisdream.Sowhatarewedreamingabout?Whatareourchildrendreamingabout,youknow,lateatnight?Butthatrequires,youknow,yougetthesleep.Andsowedidawhole...Buttheotherthingisthatyourememberyourdreams,youknow,inthemorning,alotoftimesyouwakeup,yourememberyourdreams,butthenyouforgetitshortlyafterwards.Sooneofourmostpopularpodcastepisodeswedidwaslikehowtorememberyourdreams,whichisthefirstthingIdoeverymorning.EverybodyhastheirmorningroutineandIhavemine,youknow,10thingsIdoandwhatmakesminealittlebitdifferentthanotherpeople's,likeTimFerrissorOprah'sorTonyRobbins'orwhatever's.Eachofmineisallaboutactivatingyourbrain.Jumpstartingyourbraininthefirsthourofthedaysoyoucanwintherestoftheday.Butremember,yourdreamsarethefirstthingIdo,sothatrequiressleep.Eight,Iwouldsayisbrainprotection,meaningthatwithyourkids,youhavetoprotecttheirbrain.Ihad,andthisis,where,forme,Ihadanumberoftraumaticbraininjuries.Andsoyourbrainisveryresilient,butit'salsoveryfragile.AndsoI'vehadmybrainscannedanumberoftimesbyDr.DanielAmen,whowrote"ChangeYourBrain,ChangeYourLife."Heraisedover$40milliononPBS.HehasclinicsacrossAmerica,butImeanyourbrainreally,youknow,withconcussionsanddamageslikethatcanleadtosomelearningchallenges,whichIhad,soprotectyourbrain.Idon'tjustmeanfromphysicaltraumaeither.ImeanfromEMFs.Youknow,electromagneticfieldsbecauseIdidn'trealizeIwasdoingapodcastepisodeanddoingresearchliketheover90%ofkidssleepwiththeirphonesunderneaththeirpillows.Notevenon,we'renoteventalkingaboutonairplanemode.Sowedon'tknowthathavingthatdeviceso


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closetothehumanbrain,thehumanbraindidn'thavethis,youknow,throughoutallofhumanhistory.It'sonlyjustobviouslyrecently.Sowedon'tknowtheeffectthathasonourbrains.Andthenthat'snumbereight,isbrainprotection.Number9and10reallysimplyis9isnewlearnings,thatifyouwantyourchildrentobeattheirbest,atpeak,it'snotjustaboutmentalintelligence,it'saboutmentalfitness.Andoneofthewaystokeepyourbrainfittocreateneurogenesis,neuroplasticity,twothings,noveltyandnutrition.Sciencesaysthatifyouwanttocreatenewbraincellsornewconnectionsbetweenbraincells,it'sjustlikebuildingphysicalmuscles.Ifyouwannabuildyourphysicalmuscles,youhavetogiveanovelty,likeaworkout,andthenyouhavetofeeditwithnutrition.Samethingwithyourmentalmuscles,andsoyouneedtogiveitnoveltyintheformofnewlearnings,astimulus,andthenyouhavetogiveitthenutritionthroughyourdietandsupplementation.Andthenalsotherewasastudyon...Idon'tknowifyousawit.Itwasalongevitystudydoneonthesegroupofnuns.Theywantedtofindout,Icallthem"supernuns."Itwasonthecoverof"Time"magazine.Theywantedtofindouthowthisgroupofwomenwerelivingwellintotheir80s,90sandabove,andtheyweren'tjustlivinglonger,theywerelivingwell,andtheyfoundouthalfofithadtodowiththeirgratitudeandemotionalfaith.Buttheotherhalfofithadtodowiththeywerelifelonglearners,andbecausetheywerelifelonglearners,thataddedyearstotheirlife,butnotonlyyearstotheirlife,butalsolifetotheyears.Andthenfinally,the10ththingIwouldrecommendforparentswiththeirchildrenandforanybodylisteningtothisatanyageisstressmanagement.Andthisisalwaystheinvisiblethingbecausepeopledon'trealizehowmuchstressyou'reunder,chronicstressandthedamagesithasonyournervoussystemandthenparticularlyyourbrain,meaningchronicstressactuallyreducesyourbrainsize.Andwhenyou'reconstantlycreatingcortisolandadrenaline,it'sfightorflightwhichcouldequateto,youknow,physicalactivity.Butstressdoesnothelpifyouneedtostudyforatest,ifyouneedtopreparetotakeatest,ifyouneedtogiveaspeechinfrontofyourclassmatesoratwork,orsomethinglikethat.AndsoIwouldsaymonitoryourstress.AndwhenIsaythat,Iwouldsaythatwearen'tawareofhowmuchstresswe'reunderonadaytodaybasis,physicalstress,emotionalstress,financialstress,relationshipstressand,youknow,environmentalstressesandthelike,becauseit'slikefishinwater,fishdon'tseethewaterbecauseit'sthereallthetimeandalotofpeopledon'trealizehowmuchstressthey'reunderuntilthey'regettingamassage,orthey'reonabeachsomewhereonvacation.Theydon'trealizewhatnormalreallyis.Andit'ssoimportanttodisconnect,toreconnecttoourselfbecauseself-loveandself-careisnotselfishandIthinkweneedtoprioritizethisonaregularbasis,whichiswhyI'msuchafanandadmirerofyourworkbecauseyou'reteachingpeoplehowtobetheirbestselfand,youknow,withawellnessapproach.AndtheseareallthingsthatIreallywishthatallthethingsthatyouwroteaboutandyoureportedonwastaughtinschool.MuchlikeIfeellike,youknow,thecontentthatIteachintermsoflearningisavailablebecausehowmucheasierandmorefulfillingcanpeople'slivesbe?Katie:Yeah,absolutely.AndIstill,Igobacktothatquotethatyoumentionedaboutifwerealizedhowpowerfulourbrainswere,wewouldneverwanttotellthemanythingthatwasn'ttrue,andIthinkofalso,asparents,howmuchpowerwehaveandhowmuchweneedtobeawareofthatpowerinthewordsthatwesaytoourchildren.Andlisteningtoeverythingyoujustsaid,Ithinkkidsaresonaturallybornwithimaginationandcreativityandatwo-year-old'sbrainisthiswonderfulmixtureofthetwoofthosethings.AndIfeellikeweasparentsandaseducators,wehavetokindofadapttothisnewworldoftechnologybecauseinasense,Ilookbacktohighschooland,like,IwouldgetfedupwithcalculusandclassesthatIjust,likeyoumentioned,IwasboredbythemandIwaslike,"WhenamIevergonnaneedtoknowthis?"


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Andtheteacherwouldsaythingslike,"Well,you'renotalwaysgoingtohaveacalculator.You'renotalwaysgoingtohavewhatevertool."AndnowIlookatitandI'mlike,"Well,actuallywedo,wehaveourphonesandwehavetheentiretyofknowledgeavailableatourfingertipsthroughtechnology."Andsolikeyousaid,Ithinkthatbeingabletoadaptandlearnquicklyandthinkcritically,thosearetheskillsthatcomputerscan'tdoandthataresoimportant,Idon'teventhinkwehavetoteachthem.Likeyousaid,Idon'tthinkwehavetoteachkidsthis.Ithinkwejusthavetopreservethatinnate,amazingcreativitythattheyhavealready.Andsoasasomewhatselfishquestion,I'dlovetoknowifyouweregoingtodesignaschooloralearningenvironment,noteventocallitaschool,whatitmightlooklikeandhowitmightbestructured.Becausethisissomething,asahomeschoolingmom,Iobviouslyhavetodoonadailybasisandwetryto,forinstance,keeplikeaverySocraticmethodandbeveryquestion-basedandhands-on.Ourwholeclassroomismovement-based.Sowehavebalanceboardsandtrampolinesandswingsandthings.ButI'dloveanytipsthatyoucanthrowmywayoranyotherhomeschoolingparent'swaywhenitcomestothat.Jim:Okay.IwishIwashomeschooledbyyou.Thatjustseemslikesuchanincredibleadvantagebecauseyou're...Thereasonwhyyoucangetthesekindofresultsisit'snoteven...Youknow,whenweworkwithourstudents,it'sbecauseit'snotevenjustaboutwholebrainlearning.It'saboutwholeselflearning,right?Whereit'snotjustleftbrain,rightbrain,butit'salltheirintelligencesandit'stheirtriunebrain,therearethreedifferentbrainswhereyou'reappealingtothereptilianbrainandthesedifferentparts,theiramygdalaandallthesethings.We'retalkingabouttheirconsciousandtheirnon-conscious,theirunconscious.We'retalkingabouttheirdietandtheirsleep,andtheirstressmanagementandtheirpeergroupandnutritionandallthesedifferentthings.Andso,alloftheseplayarole.Andalotofpeople,theyjustwantthemagicbullet,right?Andtheywantthisfortheirhealthallthetime.Theywantthesilverbullet.Themagicbullet."What'stheonethingIcoulddo,theonethingthatjustmakeseverythingbetter?"Andunfortunatelytheonethingislikeallthesethings.AndwhatIwouldsayis,buttherearecertainthingsthatmovetheneedleandthat'swhatIliketofocuson.Ijustdidapodcastaboutthedifferencebetweenworkingsmartandworkinghardandeveryonetalksaboutit,butwhatisitfunctionally?AndIopenedupwithastorybecauseIhappenedtobeinthispowerplantinEstoniaandIwasdoingthistalktoabunchofteachersinfromFinlandandacrossEurope.AndwhenIwasthere,IrecordedthispodcastepisodeandIwaswalkingthroughthispowerplantandthestoryopenslikethis,thattherewasapowerplantandwe'revery,veryactive.Andoneday,itjustshutsdown.Outofnowhere,itjustshutsdown.Deadsilence.And,youknow,theemployeesarefreakingout.Theoperationsmanagerdoesn'tknowwhattodo.Theytrytofixitforafewhoursandnoresolve.Sofinally,operationsmanagerpicksupthephone,tracksdownalocaltechnician,theengineercomesdownandhesays,"Yougottahelpme,youknow,we'relosingallthisbusiness.Thisisverydangerousandsoon.Pleasehelpme."Andthetechnicianwalksaroundthefloorofthepowerplantandyouseeallthesebeamseverywhereandhegoestoonespecificbeamandthereis,youknow,ithasanumberofelectricalboxesonit.Hegoestoonespecificboxandheputsanxonit,andheopensuptheboxandinsidearewhatyouexpect,alltheseboltsandwiresandscrews.Hegoestoonescrewandheturnsitclockwise,justaboutaquarterofaninchandallofasudden,bam.Theentirepowerplantturnsbackon.Andtheoperationsmanager'sfloored,he'slike,"Thankyousomuch.Yousavedtheday."Hewaslike,"Thankyou."He'slike,"HowmuchdoIoweyou?"Andthethetechnicianlooksathimandhesays,"Thatwillbe


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$10,000."Andthenjustenthusiastically,theoperationsmanagerwaslike,"What?Areyoucrazy?Youwerehereforallof5minutes,10minutes,youknow,allyoudidwasturnascrew.Anyonecouldhavedonethat."Andhe'slike,"Givemeanitemizedbill."Andthetechnician,hereachesintohisbackpocket,takesoutapieceofpaper,anotepadandwritessomethingdownquick.Hehandsittotheoperationsmanager,theoperationsmanagerlooksatitandsays,"Iunderstand."Andthenimmediatelytakesoutacheckandwritesacheckfor$10,000andgivesittothetechnician.Whenyoulookatthatpieceofpaperfortheitemizedbill,itsayssomethingverysimple,itsays,"turningascrew,$1,knowingwhatscrewtoturn,$9,999."Andthelessonhereisnotthat,youknow,wehaveascrewloose,right?Thelessonherearetwothings,thatintoday'seconomy,knowledgeisnotonlypower,it'sprofit,right?Thereasonwhywewanttoteachchildrentolearnfasterisbecausethefasteryoucanlearn,thefasteryoucanearn.AndIdon'tjustmeanfinancially,that'sobvious,right?ButImeanallthetreasuresofyourlife,eventhisyoungwomanwhohelpedsavehermom'slifebyreading30booksin30days,youknow,ithelpedboostthetreasureofhealthandwellness,right?Andso,inabook,that'swhyIlovereadingandteachingkidshowtoreadandmakingreadingahabiteverysingledaybecauseleadersarereaders.That'sthebestexercise,Ifind,forthebrainwherethechildrendevelopand,orevenforadults,especiallyifhecanlearnhowtoread,howtoreadfaster.Buttheotherlessonbesidesknowledgeispowerandprofitisthattherearecertain,whattheycallforcemultipliersinthemilitary.NotthatIsubscribetothis,butit'sjustspecificallytoviolenceisup,butit'smorethatcertaininput,youcangetmuchmoreoutput.Andso,thesefocalpoints,ifyouwill,orlikethatxontheboxorthescrew,inwhat,inyourchildren'slifeorinyourownlife,whatarethekeyingredientsthat'sgoingtogivethepositivechangethat'sgoingtoturneverythingelseon?Youknow,somepeoplewouldrefertoitasthefirstdomino,thatlikethefirstdominothatyouhitandthenalltheseotherdominoesgethitbecauseofit.AndsoIliketofocusonthose10areasofself-care.Thoseareveryspecificleveragepointsthatgiveyouwhat,youknow,more,morereturn,moreoutputforthis,forsimilarinput,ifyouwill.Butoutsideofthatintermsofwhateducationcouldlooklikebesideswholeself,youknow,likewellness,becauseIthinkpeoplecouldlearnhowtoreadfasterorremembernamesorlearnlanguagesfastlikeweteach,buttheyalsohavetotreatthehardware.Sothat'swhatalotofthose10thingsdo.Itaffectsthe...Youknow,Iteachpeoplethesoftware,thestrategies,butthehardwareisyourbrain.Sothat'swhysleepandgooddietandstressmanagement,allofthataffectsthehardware.Outsideofthat,weknowthatclassroomstodayaren'tlimitedbyfourwalls,right?Rightnow,youcanlearnanythingonpodcasts,onYouTubeandeverything,andkidsaregrowingup,youknow,oneswipeaway.They'regrowinguponjoysticks.Andwhat'ssometimesdifficultiswhenwesitthemdownandjustlecturetothem.Andhere'sthethingwiththehumanbrain,thehumanbraindoesn'tlearnbyconsuminginformation.Itdoesn'tlearnthroughconsumption.Itlearnsthroughcreation,especiallyco-creation.It'snotthismodelofbeinglecturedtoandsittingquietlybyyourself.Thisassemblylineeducation,youknow,onesizefitsallbecausethatgearedus...becauseifyou'restressedrightnow,thereasonwhyadultsarestressedisbecauseweallgrewupwitha20thcenturyeducation,andthe20thcenturyeducationattheturnofthecenturypreparedusfora20thcenturyworldwhichwas,ontheturnofthecentury,itwasworkinginfactoriesandfarms.Wehadtobeabletofollowsimpleorders,right?Wedidn'tneedtobeabletothinkforourselvesanddoallthesedifferentthings.


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SowhatI'mthinkingiseducationrightnow,wehaveaccesstothegreatestmindsontheplanet,right?Wehavemoreaccessthroughtheinternet,whetherit'sonourphoneoralaptoporwhatever,oursmartdevicesthan,youknow,thantheleadersofthisworldhad20yearsago,youknow,withalltheaccessthatwehave.Andsowehavegreataccess.AndsoI'mthinkingexactlywhatyou'resayingisthat,youknow,webecomefacilitators,webecomecoaches.We'dbeabletoreinforceexperiments.We'reexposingchildrentodiverseexperiences.Whenachildexhibitsstronginterestinsomething,theydevelopcertaintalents.Weprovidethemopportunitiestobeabletodevelopthem.Wesupporttheirbrainhealth,wesupporttheirintellectualneeds.Wesupporttheiremotionalneeds,whichisreallyimportantbecause,youknow,childrenrightnowwithsocialmedia.Andagain,Idon'tsaytechnologyisbad,Ijustfeellikeit'satoolthat,youknow,Iloveit,thatwecanlearnallthesedifferentthings,thatwecouldstayintouchwithourfriendsandourfamily.But,youknow,whenyouhearaboutFacebookdepressionanddistraction,allofthesethingswherepeoplefeellikethey'relessthanbecausethey'recomparingtheirlifetotheirfriend'slifeandeveryoneposts,everyone'spostingprettypicturesof,"There'sthisbeautifullife,"andpeoplefeellike,youknow,fearofmissingout.Theyfeellikethey'renotenough.AndIreallyfeelthat'sourbiggestfear,whetherasachildorasanadult,isthatwe'renotenough,becauseifwe'renotenough,we'renotgoingtobelovedandwe'renotgoingtobetakencareofandwewon'tsurvive.Ithinkpreservingandfosteringthatgrowthmindsetbynotpraisingsomuchabilityandatalent,butpraisingeffortissoimportantinthisprocess.Ithink,gettingthemtostudyandreallyreadandresearchwhere,youknow,yougiveaccesstobooksisabigpredictortosuccessbecauseitstimulatesthemind,ithelpsmakenewconnections.Ithinkbeingwaryofwhenwe'retalkingtokidsaboutgivingthemlabels,likebecauseidentitiesarelike"genius"orwhatever,or"gifted,"orwhatevercouldleadtoanemotionalstraininsomecases.Ithinkit'simportantalsojusttohaveyourkidsnottested,butmorelike,asinlikeIQ,buthavethemassessedtofindoutwheretheirnaturaltalentslie.Alsojusttotestforthingsweknow,whetherit'sEDDordyslexiaandstufflikethat.Iwouldalsosaythatifpeoplearehavingastickingpoint,let'ssay,intermsofmanagingtheirbehavior,children,right?Alotofpeopletryevenwiththemselvestotrytostruggleusingwillpowerormotivationandgetachildtoreadeverydayortostudyeveryday.Orevenwithyourselfasyou'relisteningtothis."SoIwanttochangeabehavior.Iwanttostopsmoking,"or,"Iwanttostopprocrastinating,"whateverthatis,thatyoudon'tjusttreatthebehavior,thatthere'samuchmoreenrichedview,ifyouwill,ifyoupullbackalittlebitfromjustbehaviorthatifyou're,we'veallsufferedandstruggledthroughfromself-sabotage,right?ButIthinkeveryonecanidentifywithprocrastinating,puttingthingsoff.Whydowedothat?Whydoourkidsdothat?Right?AndIwouldsaythatifyouimaginedbehaviorasbeingonelineofoneleveloftransformation,ifyouwill,alotofpeopletrytojustmotivatethemselvesorusewillpowertochangethatbehavior,butthatrarelyworks.WhatIwouldsayislookrightabovethatlevelofbehaviorintothislevelofcapability."Capability"meaningyourtraining.Soforexample,let'ssayyouwanttotrainachildtobehave.Theywantthemtoreadeverydayortostudyeveryday.Butthecapability,they'renotdoingit.Maybetheyweren'ttaughtthecapabilityofhowtostudyorhowtoreadfaster,orhowto,youknow,wejustdidawholeprogramonhowtoteachkidshowtostudy.Wedidapodcastepisode.Theyputitonthefrontpageofthe"L.A.Times"forhighschoolstudentsandsuch,becauseitwassuchanimportanttopicanditwasjustlike,youknow,theyweren'tcapabilities.Sosomepeopledon'tstudy,forexample,thebehavior,kidsdon'tstudy,butyoucan'tforcethemtostudy.


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Maybeiftheyhadgreatercapability,theyweretrainedhowtostudyinpsychology.Theyhavesomethingcalledthecompetence/confidenceloop,meaningthatalotofpeople,whenyougetmorecompetentatsomething,let'ssayit'sstudyingorreadingorplayinggolforwhateveritis,youbecomemoreconfidentatthat.Andbecauseyou'remoreconfidentatplayinggolf,forexample,you'regoingtodoitmoreoften,whichisgoingtoincreaseyourcompetenceoryourabilityanditbecomesapositivecycleofmomentum,right?Soit'sacompetence/confidenceloop.Soyoutraincapability.Butifthechild'sstillnotdoingthebehavior,thenyoulookabovecapabilityandlookatthisthingcalledbeliefsandvalues.Thesethingscalledbeliefsandvalues,meaningthatmaybethebehavioryou'relookingtoteachisteachsomebody,Idothiswithbusinessesallthetime,howtoremembernames,butmaybetheydon'thavethecapability,theyweren'ttaughthowtoremembersomeone'sname,orevenifthey'retaughtthelevelabovethat,beliefsandvalues,maybetheybelievetheyhaveahorriblememoryandallbehaviorisbelief-driven,right?Soyouhavetoanalyzethosebeliefsormaybeit'snottheirbelief.Maybeit'stheirvalues,maybeit'stheirvalues,meaningthatmaybetheydon'tvaluerememberingsomebody'sname.It'snotimportanttothem,soisthatgonnaaffecttheirbehavior?Itcouldexplaintheirbehaviororlackthereof,butlet'ssaytheyhavethatinline.Lookatthehighestlevelabovebeliefsandvaluesforyourchildrenoryourself,andthat'sthelevelofidentity.Identity.Andwhat'sanidentity?Anidentity,simplestwayIcanthinkof,ofputtingitisyou'veallheard,you'veheardthatthetwomostpowerfulwordsintheEnglishlanguagearealsotheshortest."Iam,"becausewhateveryouputafterthatbecomesyourlife,right?Itbecomesyourdestiny,ifyouwill.Andsolet'ssaythebehaviorisyouwantyourchildtostopprocrastinatingoryouwanttostopprocrastinating,right?Butyouridentityis,"Iamaprocrastinator."Youwonderwhyit'dbedifficulttobeabletogetthepersonto...orlet'ssaythebehavioris,"Iwanttostopsmoking,"buttheiridentityis,"Iamasmoker."WhatI'marticulatinghereisforpeopletobesensitive,sotomakeusabetterteacher,tomakeusabetterparentorhumanbeing,amanagerofourteamsforworkorwhathaveyouorcoworkersisyoudon'ttakethingspersonallybecauseonceyouwanttohavethesedistinctions,youcouldseewherepeoplearestuckbecauseit'snot,it'sveryrarelythelevelofbehaviorwhenyoucan'tgetsomebodytodowhattheyneedtodooryoucangetyourselftodowhatyouneedtodo.Lookattheotherlevelsandthat's,that'samoreofawholeselfapproachtowardstransformation.Iwouldaddthereonemorelevel.Iwouldlookrightbelowbehavior.Rightbelowbehavioristhislevelcalledenvironment.Environment.Andwe're,again,we'retalkingaboutthesefivelevelsoftransformation,ifyouwill.Thatenvironmentallevel,let'ssaythebehavior,youwantyourchildtoreadeverysingleday.Buttheenvironmentisit'sdarkortheenvironmentistheydon'thavetheir,theydidn'tbringtheirbookhomefromschoolorwhatever.Thatcouldaffectthebehavior,right?Becauseenvironmentplaysabigroleintermsofourhabits.Andso,weknow,forexample,first,youcreateyourhabitsandthenyourhabitscreateyou.SooneofthethingsI'dbedoingwithchildrenisencourageanyoftheirhabitsofthought,thequestionsthatthey'realwaysaskingthemselves.Questionslike,"HowcanIusethis?HowdoesthisrelatetowhatIalreadyknow?HowcanIteachthistosomebodyelse?"Right?Andso,youingrainedthesehabitsandalsohabitsoffeeling,right,habitsofplay,habitsoffascination,habitsofconfidence,ifyouwill,showingthemhowtousetheirphysiology.Youknow,whenthatphysiologyaffectsyourpsychologyandchangingyourpostureandyourbreathingaffectsyourlevelofattention,youknow,for


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example.Butonceyouknowthesedifferentlevels,weknowweopenedthisconversationwithsayingthat,"Yes,it'simportanttohaveperspective."Andoneofthethingsthatchangesourperspectiveischangingthequestionsthatweuse.Weknowquestionsaretheanswer,thatifachildreadsapageinabook,oryoureadapageinabook,gettotheendandforgetwhatyoujustread,youknow,youwonderwhereitisandyoujustre-readitandyoustilldon'tknowwhatyoujustread,mostpeoplearen'taskingquestionsaboutit.Evenwhenitcomestoatest,right?Likestandardizedtests,you'llhavepagesandpagesofreadingcomprehension,andthenyouhave10questionsattheend.Andwhenkidsgettothosequestions,mostofthemwillbelike,youknow,"Oh,Ididn'tknowthat'swhatthey'relookingfor."Whynotlookatthequestionsfirst?Andthenwhenyou'rereadingsomething,you'relike,"Oh,there'sananswer.There'sananswer.There'sananswer."Becauseyou'reactivatingthatpartofyourbraintheycallthereticularactivatingsystem,RAS,becauseyourbrainatanygiventimecouldfocuson1to2billiondifferentstimulus,butitdoesn'tbecauseyouwouldgocrazy,right?Primarily,yourbrainisadeletiondevice.Ittriestokeepallthatoutandyoucanonlyfocusonacertainamount,afiniteamountofinformation.Sowhatdetermineswhatyoufocuson,oneofthethingsareyourquestions.Soquestionsreallyaretheanswer.Andgoingbacktoschool,therewassixprimaryquestions,right?FiveWsandtheH,right?Andso,goingtolookattheselogicallevelsoftransformation,ifyouwill,theselevelsoftransformation,theidentitylevel,thetoplevelanswersthequestionofwho,right?Thebeliefsandvaluesanswersthequestionofwhy.Thecapabilitylevelanswersthequestionofhow.Howdoyouremembernames?Howdoyoustudyatextbook?Howdoyoulearnalanguage,right?Allthisstuffthatwedoshowson.Thefourthlevel,behavior,answersthequestionofwhat.That'sthebehavioristryingtochangewithyourkidsorforyourself,oryourspouse,oryourteam,whatever.Andthen,thefinallevelisthelevelofenvironment.Andthatanswersthequestionofwhenandwhere,right?Becauseit'snotjust,"where"isveryimportantbecausecontext,wetalkedaboutcontextisthekingdom.Andthatwhenyouforgetsomeone'sname,oneofthefirstquestionsyouaskyourselfis,"WheredoIknowthispersonfrom?"Right?The"where"isveryimportant.Andthe"where"ofoptimizing.Wedo,wehaveawholeprogramonlineforstudents,likea30-dayprogramthattheyget,youknow,studyskills,speedreading,memory,andpartofitisdesigningyourperfectlearningenvironmentfromthetemperaturetobestlightingtothebestseating,tothebest,youknow,environmentandhowtoholdthebookandeverythingelselikethatforoptimizingyoureye,youknow,tobeabletoprocessmoreinformationandsoonwithyourperipheralvision.Butit'salsothepowerofwhen.Likewedidawholeshowon,it'snotjusthowtodothingsorwhattodoit,orevenstartingwithwhy,it'salsothewhenyoudosomething,youknow,basedonyourchronotypewhichisthefourdifferentbodytypesdetermine,like,whenyouactuallycheckyouremail,when'sthebesttimetostudy,basedonyourbodytype,when'sthebesttimetogotosleep.And,youknow,accordingtoyourbodytype,maybeasanadult,when'sthebesttimetoaskforaraiseorwhatever.There'scertaintimes,basedonyourhormones,whenyou'regonnagetthebestresult.So,it'ssomuchmorewhenwe'rethinkingabouteducationandlearningandpersonalgrowth,youknow,it'sthisfullspectrumhere.Andultimately,thereasonwhyIfocused,evenIwentthroughthesefivelevelsisbecauseultimately,youwantachangeofbehaviorbecausenothingchangesunlessabehaviorchanges,right?BecausetheformulaIfollowisbe,do,have,share,right?Be,do,have,andthat'sintactinthatorder.Andithastohappeninthatorderintermsofwhoyou'regonnabe,identityandyourbeliefs,andthendoingintermsofyourcapabilitiesandyourbehaviors.


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Thenyougettohave,right?Alotofpeople,andweknowthis,right?Somebodywinsthelottery.Theyjumprighttothe"have"part,theyhavemillionsofdollars.Butwhathappens?Weknowthathistorically,allthedatashowsthatsomebodywinsalottery,hasmillionsofdollars,afteracertainamountoftime,theynotonlyloseallthatmoney,buttheyactuallygobelowwhattheyhadtobeginwith,becausetheygottothe"have"stageandtheyweregivenmillionsofdollars,buttheywereneveratthe"be"stage,right?Theywereneverbeingamillionaire.Andso,allbehaviorisbelief-driven.Andthenthere'sinterventionsatallofthesedifferentlevels.Youknow,manythatyou'reawareof,Katie,thatcouldhelppeopletochangetheiridentity,tohelpthemchangetheirstate,tohelpthemchangetheirhabits,right?Tohelpthemchangetheirnegativeself-talk,tohelpthemtobeabletotraintheminthecapabilities.Butifpeopledon'thavethedistinctions,thennothingchangesunlessyoutakethisunconsciousandyoumakeitconscious,right?Otherwise,peoplejusttreateverythinginlifeaslikefate,andtheydon'thaveanycontroloveritbecausetheyhaven'thadthesedistinctions.AndthesearethekindsofthingsIfeellikeeducatorsandparentsandalsostudentsreallydeservetoknow,becauseotherwise,reallyit'sthedifferencebetweenbeingathermometerandathermostat.This,youknow,partoflearningwithchildrenisweusemetaphors,right?Parables.It'soneofthethingsthatifachildisstrugglingwithsomething,Iaskthemthequestionlike,"Howdoyoucomparethistoanapple?"Right?Becausealllearningistakingsomethingyoudon'tknowandcomparingitandlinkingittosomethingyoualreadyknow,becausesomanytimeswherepeoplelosechildrenwhenthey'reteachingistheytrytoconnecttwounknownsandthey'renotconnectingittosomethingtheyalreadyknow,anditstaysoutsideofthemselves.Butlearningistakingsomethingunknownandconnectingittosomethingthatisknownontheinside.Andmetaphorsallowyoutodothat.SoIusethismetaphor,verysimply,ofathermometerversusathermostat,thatyouwantyourkidsandyouyourselfwannaidentifymoreasathermostat,notathermometer.Becausewhat'sathermometerdo?Theprimaryfunctionofathermometerisitreactstotheenvironment,literallyimmediatelyjustreactstotheenvironment,whatevertheenvironmentisgivingit.Andhumanbeingsandchildren,adults,weareoccasionallythermometers.Wereacttoourenvironment,wereacttotheweather.Wereacttotheeconomy.Wereacttopolitics.Wereacttohowaclientorcustomertreatsus,right?Butinactuality,right,alotofpeoplehavethosesamekindofexternalstimuli,buttheydon'trespondthesamewaybecausethey'remoreofathermostat,meaningathermostatdoesn'treacttotheenvironment.Itgaugeswhat'sgoingonintheenvironment,butitsetsatemperature.Anotherwordfor"temperature,"itcanbeagoal,itcanbeavision,itcanbeanintention,andwhathappenstotheenvironment?Itrisesandraisestothatnewvision,ifyouwill.Talkingaboutthepowerofimagination,creativity,strategy,thestuffwetalkedaboutearlier.Andso,weknowthatathermostatismoreproactive,Katie:I100%agreewiththatandthat'ssomethingItalkaboutoftenwithmychildren.AndIthinkit'ssomethingthatIknowI,atleast,hadtosomewhatlearnasanadult.AndIthinkthat'sanimportant,superimportantlessontoknowfromanearlyage.

ThisepisodeisbroughttoyoubyGenexa.Thesearecleaner,healthiermedicineandhomeopathics,allorganicandNon-GMO,extensivelytested,andwithaspecialpatentedsystemthatletsthemtakeouttheharmfuladditives.Oneofmyfavoritesistheirsalinesprayanddrops,thesearefreeofparabensandfillersthatareinmanysalinesprays.Itisgreatforflushingawaycongestionandnasalsymptomsfromallergiesandcolds,andthereisaninfantandkidsafeversion.Ialwaystravelwiththisanduseitbeforeandaftergettingonan


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airplanetohelpreducethechancesofgettingsickbyflushingoutmynasalpassages.YoucanshopthisandtheirentirelineoforganicandNon-GMOmedicinesbygoingtoGenexa.com/WellnessmamaandusecodeWELLNESSfor20%offyourorder!

ThisepisodeissponsoredbyThriveMarket,acompanyIhaveknownandlovedsincetheirverybeginning.ThrivewasfoundedwiththemissionofmakingrealfoodavailableandaffordabletoeveryoneintheUSandendingfooddesserts,orareasliketheoneIusedtoliveinwhereorganicfoodwasdifficultorimpossibletofindlocallyattimes.Here’satip.CheckouttheThriveMarketlineofproducts.Theyhavereallyhighqualityproductsatalowerpricethanmostotherbrands.Forinstance,IordertheircannedsardinesbythecaseastheyarethecheapestandbestoptionIfound.They’reagreatproteinsourceandIusetheseinthingslikesardineandtunasaladorIjusteatthemalonewithsomemustard.Ialsoturntotheirproductsforbulkitemslikeglutenfreeflours,bakingingredients,nuts,raisins,andprettymuchallofmyotherpantrystaples.JustforbeingaWellnessMamapodcastlistener,youcanget25%offyourfirstpurchaseatThrive,plusa30-dayfreemembershipbygoingtothrivemarket.com/Katie.

Katie:AndIliterallycouldtalktoyouforhours.Infact,I'vedonethatinreallifebefore,butIwannamakesureIaskthelastfewpartingquestionsIlovetoask.Andthefirstis,thismaybeahardquestionforyou,butisthereabookoracoupleofbooksthathavereallyimpactedyourlifethatyouwouldrecommend?Iknowwe'vementionedalreadyseveralinthispodcast.Butarethereanythatreallystandout?Jim:Onebookformeislikeaskinglikewhat's,like,thebiggest,mostimportantbookislikeaskingwhat'sthemostimportantmealorfoodI'veeverhadthat'shadthegreatestimpactonmylife.Ifeedmybodyandmybraindaily.Imean,everyonecanseemybooklistiftheyGooglemyname.Andjustrecommendedbooks,butIwouldsayone...It'sinteresting.RememberItoldthisstoryaboutthisyoungladywhoread30booksin30days?Shesentmeoneofthosebooks,andinit...well,firstofall,thebookshewasreadingatthetime,thelastbookwhenshetoldmethisstory,wasthatshe,asabookmarkshewasusing.Rememberhermotivationwashermom,and...well,Igetemotionalthinkingaboutthis.Thephotographshewasusingasthebookmarkwashermominthehospital,anditremindedmeofbeinginthehospitaland,youknow,withhercomingthroughit,Ikindofwentfullcirclewithmyownlife,becausethatwasmeinthathospitalbed.Butshesentmethisbook,anditwasaboutquantumphysicsappliedtowardshealth.AndIhadneverheardofanythinglikethis.Thiswas25yearsagoorsomething.Andeventually,Igotaroundtoreadingit,anditblewmymind.Ihadnever...Ididn'tevenknowwhatquantumphysicswas,andIdidn'treallytakeownershipofmyhealthatthattime.Butafterhearingthis,hermother'sstory,IrealizedthatwehavemuchmoreinfluenceonourwellnessthanwhatIthought,whatIwastaught.Andso,Ireadthebook,andIwasblownaway,andIkeepajournal,right?Everyday,Ithinkthat'simportant.Iwouldrecommendeveryonetodothat.Irecommendyouteachyourchildrentodothatandsoonbecausetheydoallthese...I'mwonderingifgeniuses,allthesegeniusesoutthere,theykeptjournals.Andit'scuriouslike,"Dotheykeepjournalsbecausethey'regeniuses?Orisitbecausethey'rejournalingallthetimethattheybecomegeniuses?"Right?YouthinkaboutdaVinci'sjournalandEinstein'sjournal.Imean,they'repriceless,right?Anyway,Iwroteinmyjournalsaying,"Iwannameetthisauthor.I'mnotreadyrightnow.I'mnotsmartenoughbecauseIwannahaveagoodconversationwithhim.Butgivemetwoyears."AndIwrotethisinmyjournal.Twoyearslater,IaminBostonandI'mgivingatalkandIgetoutofthelecturecenter,Iturnthehallway,andIsweartoyou,Katie,there'stheauthor.Twoyearstothedate.Andthisisabookonquantumphysics,right?Andso,thatjustblewmymind.Andwehavethis...It'sDeepakChopra,


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right?Thiswas25yearsago.AndItellhimthestory.Iwaslike,"Oh,youdon'tknowthatIreadthisbooktwoyearsago.Iwroteitformyjournal."AndIsaidthetwoyearsand,"Twoyearslater,thisisyou."AndIwasjustblownaway.AndwesitdownandhavethisincredibleconversationoverlunchaboutAyurvedicbodytypesandhowtheycorrelatetolearningstyles.AndIrememberhesaidthisphrasetome,it'slike,"Jim,theaveragepersonhas..."Iwastalkingaboutquickthinking,whichislikesomethingI'mreallybigon,teachingpeoplehowtomakedecisions,andsolveproblemsandeverythingbecausewe'renottaughthowtomakedecisions,yetourlifeisareflectionofallourdecisions.He'slike,"Jim,theaveragepersonhas60,000thoughtsaday."AndI'mthinking,"Wow.That'salotofthoughts."Hewaslike,"Yeah.Buttheproblemis95%ofthosethoughtsarethesamethoughtstheyhadyesterdayandthedaybeforethat,andthedaybeforethat."Andweknowthepowerofthoughtsarethings,andthat'swhypeoplearen'tchangingbecause,youknow,theyhavethesamehabitofthought,goingbacktothoselogicallevelsoftransformation.Butthebookwas,thatwasthebook,itwas"QuantumHealing,"anditwasjustoneofmanyofthosebooks,ifyouwill.Butitkindofgotmereallyopentotheideathatthoughtsarethings.Butsincethen,Imean,forfourandahalfyearsI'vebeenreadingabookaday.Youknow,atleastrecently,atleastfivetosixbooksaweek.So,Ilovebooks.I'veneverreadabookthatIjust,Ididn'tgetsomevalueoutof,justlikepeople.I'venevermetapersoninmylifeIhaven'tlearnedsomethingfrom.Katie:Absolutely.Ithinkyou'reright.Thelessonsinlifeareeverywhere.AndlastquestionandthenIwannamakesurepeoplecanfindyouonline,but,isthereanypartingadviceorjustasinglepieceofadvicethatyou'dliketoleaveuswith?You'vealreadysharedsomuchandgivensomuchwisdom.Butanylastpartingadvice?Jim:Iwouldsaythis,that,IhaveaquotethatIgettaggedineverysingledaydozensoftimes,anditbasicallysaysthis,itcomparesyourlifetoanegg.That,"Ifaneggisbrokenbyanoutsideforce,lifeends.Butifit'sbrokenbyaninsideforce,lifebegins."Allgreatthingsbeginontheinside,right?AndIbelievethatyouhavegeniusinsideofyou.Youhavegreatnessinsideofyou.Yourkidshavegreatnessinsideofthem.Theyhavegeniusinsideofthem.Andthatmyadviceistorememberandtoteachthemthatgeniusislearned,thatgeniusislearned.It'strained,right?Andit'sreallyourworkas,whetherit'sasparents,orasteachers,it'sabouttranscending.It'saboutendingthetrance.Transcend.Endthetrance.Endingthismasshypnosispropagatedbymediaormarketingthatwe'renotenough,thatsomehowwe'rebroken,like,youknow,Iwastheboywiththebrokenbrain.Andteachingpeoplethetruth,thatgeniusislearned,thatthroughdiscipline,study,throughconsistency,ifyou'repersistent,youknow,youcangetit.Andifyou'reconsistent,thatyoucouldkeepitandit'savailabletoeveryoneregardlessoftheirage,theirbackground,theircareer,theireducation,theirfinancialsituation,theirgender,theirpersonalhistory,theirIQ,noneofthatmatters.It'savailabletoallofus.Andso,havingthatmindsetthatweareresponsible,thatgreatnesscomesfromwithin,andit'savailabletoallofus,that'stheadvice,istoencouragethat.Ibelievethat,really,mymissionisyes,weteachpeopletoolsandresourcesandtechniques,butalsothere'sanattitudehere,youknow,thatwestandfor.Westandfor,allofuscollectivelywho'slisteningtothis,westandfor,youknow,ourpotential,thatit'snotfixedlikeourshoesize,thatitcouldgrowwithintentionandthrougheffortandeverythingisavailabletous.Andthegoaltodoitistobeabletodoittogetherthroughcommunity,exactlywhatyou'vecreatedanddedicatedyourlifeto.


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Katie:Iloveit.And,Jim,wherecanpeoplefindyou?Iknowthatyouhaveinspiredalotofpeopleinthisepisodeandtheywannastayintouchwithyouandkeeplearningfromyou.And,ofcourse,thelinkswillbeintheshownotes,aswell.Butwherecanpeoplefindyouonline?Jim:Iwouldjustsaytwoplaces.Peoplelistentoourpodcast.Whenpeoplelistentoit,they'reshort.Everyepisodeisonly10or15minuteslong.Wedon'tevenhavesponsorsinit.Peoplecouldlistentoit.Therearebrainhacksforbusypeoplewhowannalearnfasterandachievemore.Sothere'sepisodesonhowtostudy.There'sanepisodeonhowtolistenbetter,howtolearnalanguage,howtochangeyourhabits,howtobreakoldhabits.There'sanepisodeonmytop10favoritebrainfoods.There'sanepisodeactuallywhereIteachthe10keysthatItaughthere,butIshowyouhowtomemorizeitandgiveaspeechwithoutnotes.Thereareepisodesofhowtoremembernamesandhowtoreadfasterandhavebetterfocus,andit'sallavailable.Really,Idesignedittobeanonlineportableacademy.Youstartwithepisodeone,downloadalltheepisodes,andit'slikeamobilemind.Soyouhaveitonthereanditdoesn'ttakeupalotofroomonyourphonebecauseit'ssoshort.Peoplecanjustgotokwikbrain.comandaccessanyofthat,K-W-I-K,brain,that'sreallymylastname,.com.Andalsogetsomefreetrainingonhowtoteachyouhowtomemorizetheperiodictableandsomereallyfunstuffandonvideoform.Wemakethatavailableforpeople.Andthenthelastthing,thesecondthingIwouldsayisonsocialmedia.Likeyou,youknow,we'reveryactiveonFacebook,Twitter,andInstagram.Andso,whatIwouldsuggesteverybodydoesthatwillacceleratethelearningistakeascreenshotofthisepisode,ifyouwill,postit,tagKatieandtagmyselfsoweseeit.AndIwouldsaythatifyou...Mylasttipforeverybodyisifyouwannalearnsomethingfaster,learnitwiththeintentionofteachingsomebodyelse,becauseIwanteveryone,ifthey'rewillingtodothis,Ichallengeyoutore-listentothisepisodebecauseIknowitwasdense,takenotes.Andifyoudon'tknowhowtotakenotes,wedidawholeepisodeonourpodcastonhowtotakenoteseffectivelybecause98%ofthepopulationdon'tbecausethey'renottaughthow.Whenyoulistentoit,takenotesandshareyourbiggestaha.Learnwiththeintentionofteachingafriendofyours,oryourchildren,oryourfamily,orsomebodyatwork,becausewhenyoulearnwiththeintentionofteaching,yourfocusisbetter.You'lltakebetternotes,you'llaskbetterquestions.Andtakeascreenshotofthisepisode,tagusbothandsharewithusandyourdescription,whetherit'sonFacebookorTwitterorInstagram,yourbiggestaha,yourbiggesttakeaway,becausethat'syousteppingintotheroleofbeingateacheragainandowningtheinformation,becauseIthinkthebestteachersarethebeststudents.Andpostyourbiggestahaortakeawaysfromthisepisode,andthenmaybeyourquestion,becauseI'lldefinitelyseeitanddothebestIcantoansweryourburningquestionyouhaveaboutit.SoI'mjust@jimkwik,K-W-I-K,onFacebook,TwitterandInstagram,andIlovetoconnectwithyou.Katie:Wonderful.You'resogeneroustoofferthat.And,ofcourse,thoselinkswillbeintheshownotes,aswell.Jim,likeIsaid,IcouldtalktoyoualldayandIthinkwe'regonnahavetodoaroundtwo.Maybeonedayoncewegetquestionsin,butIsomuchappreciateyoubeinghere.Iknowthattimeisoneofourmostvaluableresourcesandassets,andIreallyappreciateyoutakingthetimetobewithustoday.Jim:Katie,thankyousomuch.Iappreciatethecapethatyouwear.Andifyou'restilllisteningtothisrightnow,likeKatiementioned,yourtimeandyourattentionisyourmostvaluableassetandit'stheonethingyoucan'tgetback.Andso,Ithankyouforyourtime,respectyousomuchforinvestinginyourgrowthandyour


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family'sgrowth.AndIwishyourdaysbefulloflotsoflife,lotsoflove,lotsoflaughter,andalwayslotsoflearning.Katie:Thanks,Jim,andthankstoallofyouforlistening.AndIhopetoseeyouagainnexttimeon"TheWellnessMamaPodcast."

Ifyou'reenjoyingtheseinterviews,wouldyoupleasetaketwominutestoleavearatingorreviewoniTunesforme?Doingthishelpsmorepeopletofindthepodcast,whichmeansevenmoremomsandfamiliescouldbenefitfromtheinformation.Ireallyappreciateyourtime,andthanksasalwaysforlistening.

184- meta learning, speed reading, and how to learn ...mean, they found their unique talent, or...

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