Two types of knowledge
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“I recently read about the scientific distinction between two types of knowledge: declarative knowledge and procedural knowledge.”
“What is the difference between them?”
“We might think of
declarative knowledge as knowledge of, and of
procedural knowledge as knowledge how.
They correspond to what I’ve identified as two important aspects of the learning process: Understanding and Implementation.
The efficient output of declarative knowledge is the formation (and refinement) of mental models (model-making). You’re forming a schematic mental map of what you’re learning by connecting it with other information nodes [network model].
The efficient output of procedural knowledge is the formation of habits and skills. You’re forming optimal neural patterns through strategic mindful repetition (deliberate practice).
Visually, it looks something like this:
“
“So this is an example of declarative knowledge.”
“Indeed.
Efficient learning requires striking a balance between these two types of knowledge. I call it the declarative/procedural ratio.”
Specificity
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“How can I implement x?”
“Before you start looking for answers, get clear on what the question means, and optimize it.
What does it mean to implement something?”
“To turn it into a habit.”
“Then the question becomes:
How can I turn this into a habit?
This already suggests a course of action.
The principle here is specificity.
Get clear on what you’re trying to accomplish, and how.
What does the habit look like? When do you want to engage in it, how often, for how long?
Then follow up with:
How can I make it actionable? What specific action-steps can I take to get started?”
The Essence of Implementation
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“What is the essence of Implementation?”
“I like to express it as two directives:
Think something different.
Do something different.
“
“What does it mean?”
“The first directive expresses two ideas (so far):
Thought is the blueprint for action.
It all starts in the mind. First as an idea-seed, which grows into a plan, which blossoms into action.
Thought is the fundamental means by which we access our resources. It’s a tool-making tool – a meta-tool.
Implementation is a creative process.
You can get inspired by the ideas of others, but you must adapt them to your own circumstances. It’s a beautiful opportunity to express yourself creatively and innovate.
The second directive expresses three ideas (so far):
Implementation means changing your behavior.
If you do what you’ve always done you’ll get what you’ve always gotten. (Tony Robbins)
To change something about your life, you must change your behavior.
Eben Pagan took it one step further:
Learning is behavior change.
Implementation is a design process.
This is an extension of the point about implementation being a creative process. What this one emphasizes is that implementation is essentially problem-solving, hence focused on the practical.
Design is a structured creative process. It’s a beautiful opportunity to embrace your Designer identity.
Implementation is experimentation.
Implementation is an iterative process. You generate ideas, you evaluate and narrow them down, you test them, get feedback, then repeat the process, optimizing with each iteration.”
Turning obstacles upside down
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“I woke up in an unresourceful state which messed up my entire morning ritual.”
“What do you think triggered it?”
“I think it was a combination of factors. I didn’t sleep very well, woke up with an intense lower-back pain, and felt cold. Normally I’m resistant to cold, so when I am feeling cold, it’s a sign that something is wrong.
It made me realize that changing state is the most important thing, because only in the resourceful / beautiful state you are able to effectively / efficiently access your resources and find solutions.”
“But didn’t you already know that?”
“I did, but this time it was different. It made me really engage with the questions:
How can I access the beautiful state under any conditions?
How can I make the beautiful state my center, my baseline?
Changing state became my implementation focus, my ONE Thing for this month, and I mobilized all my resources towards solving this puzzle.”
“Would you have mobilized your resources in this direction had you not encountered this obstacle?”
“No, I wouldn’t have.
I guess I’d started taking the beautiful state for granted. Every morning I’d do my activation ritual, charge up, and get down to work.
Only when my state impaired my capacity to get my soul work done – combined with an implementation mindset – that it finally became my work.”
On Implementation
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“We’ve talked before about reclaiming verbal empties [<link; short read].
How’s the implementation going?”
“What you said made perfect sense in the moment, but then I forgot about it.”
“Implementation must be foremost on your mind at ALL times.
Focus on this meta-level first.
Repeat it over and over and over and over and over and over again, until EVERY TIME you encounter a piece of wisdom, you think to yourself:
How can I implement this?
Then, think of ONE little thing you can do to initiate the implementation process.
For instance, concerning verbal empties, the first step might be to simply notice them. Turn noticing verbal empties into a practice. Once it becomes a habit, move on to the next little step.
Make it a Game to discover ALL the verbal empties in your life, and ACTUALLY reclaim them.”
Beautiful Systems: Implementation
Learning is behavior change. (Eben Pagan)
LIVE the words.
Turn the words into WORKS. (Seneca)
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“How can I optimize Implementation?”
“Think of it as an essential Life-System.
To optimize any system, you have to identify its context, its function, and its components.
Start with the Macro-Perspective.
What system is this a subsystem of?”
“What if it’s part of more than one system?”
“Use the ONE Thing model. Identify the most important one.”
“I’d say the Learning System.”
“Think of the Learning System as the background.
What’s the scope of the system?“
“I’m thinking its scope is the creation of persistent structures…
Habits! Its scope is habit creation.”
“Think of habits as the compass.
What’s the most powerful habit creation tool you know?”
“James Clear’s Four Rules of Behavior Change (from his book Atomic Habits):
Make it obvious. (Cue)
Make it attractive. (Craving)
Make it easy. (Response)
Make it satisfying. (Reward)”
“Use the Four Rules as a model. Pass everything you want to implement through this filter.
How can you make it obvious?
How can you make it attractive?
How can you make it easy?
How can you make it satisfying?
You’ve identified one important component of the system.”
Dani Trusca 
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