Slow Learning or Quick Learning?

Have we ever wondered if quick learning is useful or not? My opinion is, learning should be slow. And I say this with experience. When learning something new, take your time to understand all aspects of it. Take your time to ask questions. Understand the process. Understand why you’re learning what you’re learning. Try to look through the subject.

Coming back, have we ever wondered if quick learning is useful or not? My opinion is, learning should be slow. And I say this with experience. When learning something new, take your time to understand all aspects of it. Take your time to ask questions. Understand the process. Understand why you’re learning what you’re learning. Try to look through the subject.

While you spend your time slowly at a subject, many nuances will start to uncover. You could have easily overlooked them if you were moving too fast. And then, when you need that piece in actual application in the future, that’s when you will come back to find answers, or worse, you move without it and make more mistakes. And then what happens? Either you are delivering incomplete or low quality work, or slowing your execution down significantly.

I personally hate that part - I don’t like to break or slow down my momentum while I’m executing. Also, if you haven’t taken the time to understand your concepts well and are not confident of your learning, you will always be moving cautiously, instead of going aggressively all in. You will try and go slow so you don’t make mistakes. These are the two ways this goes: Learn Fast, and keep moving slow OR Learn slow, and keep moving faster!

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve been laughed at for this. For taking time. For asking too many questions. But in the end, everybody comes around when they see you delivering high quality work at a super fast speed.

As far back as I can remember, the first time I was introduced to this idea was when I was learning to drive. I had always wanted to drive fast, and even during my practice sessions I would try and do the same. When my friend asked me to slow down, I used to tell him that if I practice driving slowly, I would forever be driving slow and I don’t want that! And he said this, ‘you are thinking completely opposite. The slower you learn, the faster you can drive later’. I almost ignored that piece of advice at that moment, but succumbed to practicing slow anyway. It was much later when I realised that I had actually developed a very good control over the wheel. And hence, I can drive faster than most people feel comfortable at.

Slow learning is conscious learning. Slow learning helps you develop muscle memory. And that gives you the confidence to move at lightspeed without giving a second thought.

Any thoughts?

Jai Jinendra.