## Metadata - Author: [[Kevin Li]] - Full Title: Learning to learn - Category: #articles - Summary: Kevin Li conducts interviews to find the right fit for startups and values open-ended questions that reveal a candidate's unique insights. He emphasizes the importance of knowing what to learn and suggests a structured approach to becoming an expert. Learning efficiently can save time, as being more effective in fewer hours yields better results. - URL: https://kevin.the.li/posts/learning-to-learn/ ## Full Document In the past 3 years, I’ve run over 300 interviews. On average, I meet someone new every 3-4 days to understand if they’re the right fit for an early-stage startup. I especially like capping interviews with an open-ended question that really lets great candidates shine. One of my favorite now-retired questions is, [in Thielian fashion](https://www.safegraph.com/blog/why-the-famous-peter-thiel-interview-question-is-so-predictive): “What’s something you’ve learned that you believe gives you an edge - something that you’re almost surprised more people don’t know about?” One of the all-time best answers I heard was this: > When you’re starting something new, the most important thing is knowing what to learn. > > Followed by unpacking an optimal learning flow: 1. Very quickly identify what the foundational knowledge is. 2. Build a personal curriculum to become an expert and avoid the trap of the [expert beginner](https://daedtech.com/how-developers-stop-learning-rise-of-the-expert-beginner/). 3. Sprint hard the first 15-20 hours to impress initial memory, then decelerate to a more regular pace. #1 and #2 are common structured approaches to learning, whereas #3 is a relatively novel interpretation of [spaced repetition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition). But at a more meta level, the unexpected takeaway is the vast majority of people likely haven’t updated their mental model for learning in decades. (Stop and think for a moment on the last time you did this.) Learning to learn is extremely high leverage. 40 hours at 25% efficiency does is the same as 12.5 hours at 80% efficiency. And it turns out that being *productively honest* is one of the most effective and kindest things you can do for yourself.