The Feynman Technique is a foundational mental model for unlocking growth in your career, startup, business, or writing.
A thread on how it works and how it can change your life...
Richard Feynman was an American theoretical physicist.
He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965 for his groundbreaking work in quantum electrodynamics.
Feynman's true genius, however, was in his ability to convey extremely complex ideas in simple, digestible ways.
Richard Feynman observed that complexity and jargon are often used to mask a lack of deep understanding.
The Feynman Technique is a learning framework that forces you to strip away needless complexity and develop a deep, elegant understanding of a given topic.
The Feynman Technique involves four key steps:
(1) Identify (2) ELI5 ("Explain It To Me Like I'm 5") (3) Reflect & Study (4) Organize, Convey & Review
Let's cover each step and how you can make this powerful framework work for you...
Step 1: Identify
What is the topic you want to learn more about?
Identify the topic and write down everything you know about it.
Read and research the topic and write down all of your new learnings (and the sources of each).
This first step sets the stage for what is to come.
Step 2: ELI5
Attempt to explain the topic to a child.
Once again, write down everything you know about your topic, but this time, pretend you are explaining it to a child.
Use simple language and terms.
Focus on brevity.
Step 3: Reflect & Study
Reflect on your performance in Step 2.
How well were you able to explain the topic to a child? Where did you get frustrated? Where did you resort to jargon or get stuck?
These are the gaps in your understanding.
Read and study to fill them.
Step 4: Organize, Convey & Review
Organize your elegant, simple language into a compelling story or narrative.
Convey it to others. Test-and-learn. Iterate and refine your story or narrative accordingly.
Review (and respect) your new, deeper understanding of the topic.
The Feynman Technique is an incredible framework for unlocking growth.
The best entrepreneurs, writers, thinkers, and operators have leveraged this technique (directly or indirectly).
They share a common genius - the ability to convey complex ideas in simple, digestible ways.
It is easy to overcomplicate and intimidate. We all know the people - teachers, peers, bosses - who try to do this.
Do not be fooled - complexity and jargon are often used to mask a lack of deep understanding.
Remember The Feynman Technique. Find beauty in simplicity.
The Feynman Technique is a foundational mental model and learning framework.
For five more powerful mental models, see my thread below.
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FAQ: Yes, The Feynman Technique is essential in my writing process.
My aim - demystifying business and finance concepts so that they are accessible to anyone - requires a Feynman-like process.
It also forces me to build my understanding and learn alongside you.
A true win-win!
@JamesClear touches on the underlying spirit of The Feynman Technique - to learn through action - in this tweet. If you aren’t following @JamesClear or subscribed to his weekly newsletter, you are really missing out.
I’ve been experimenting with AI financial tools. The new AI Advisor release from Origin is neat.
Every day:
1. What happened in markets 2. What it means FOR YOU
Then prompt AI Advisor for recommendations based on trends.
(not an investor, just a user and fan)
The power of stuff like this is in democratizing access to sound financial advice.
There’s a huge segment of the population that will be able to connect financial accounts and get personalized/customized financial guidance at a strong CFP level.
I don’t think it eliminates human financial advisors.
More like augments + broadens access to important information.