Mindshift
5.0
15 min

Mindshift

by Barbara Oakley

Brief Summary

Everybody, at least once in their lives, has been at a crossroads. “Mindshift” by Barbara Oakley will help you choose the right course to change your life. After reading the summary, you will know how to follow your desires as well as discover and develop your hidden talents.

Key points

Listen first key point
00:00

Key idea 1 of 10

Changing jobs can be quite challenging. What about changing lives? This is where the concept of mindshift comes into play. Mindshift is a profound change in life that occurs through learning. It's not just about changing jobs; it's about transforming one's entire career. It helps bring external knowledge into one's life, allowing for increased creativity in daily work routines and a better development of one's potential.

While eras and cultures have always been in a state of flux, change is the only constant. Now, people have unlimited access to new learning methods. It doesn't mean that a mindshift is easy. It still requires persistent and complex work. But if you've ever thought of becoming a computer scientist, don't be afraid to start acting. As Barbara Oakley writes, "Whatever you think you are, you are bigger than that – you can find a way to go beyond."

Let's consider the example of Ali Naqvi from Pakistan. At school, he excelled in English, history, and social studies, yet had trouble with math and science. No matter how hard he tried to learn mathematics, he couldn't grasp it. When Ali moved with his family to Singapore, he enrolled in an international school with an American curriculum. Initial success in mathematics became evident — his new math teacher made him learn mathematical concepts through songs. It took Ali years to reach his educational epiphany.

What did Ali realize, and what does he now advise others? Practice and repeat small learning segments over several days. This creates neural patterns that form the basis of your gradually growing expertise. The more challenging the small segments are to learn, and the more deeply you absorb them, the faster you become an expert.

Ali learned throughout his life and wasn't afraid of change, using techniques that helped him. He began working in Search Engine Optimization, improved his tennis skills, and took various computer courses. Ali absorbed more knowledge, aided by the Pomodoro app on his phone. It's a technique that works on specific timing and helps maintain focused attention. The next technique is chunking. Before bed, Ali enjoyed revisiting the learned material. He also emphasizes the effectiveness of learning out loud.

There's no need to fear learning something new, having setbacks, or experiencing exhaustion. As Ali’s golf coach told him, "The past is the past. You can’t change that. What you can control is your attitude on the next shot. The only thing in the world that matters right now is the next shot."

01
Change your life with the mindshift
02
Even seemingly "useless" knowledge pays off
03
Find the approach to learning that suits your personality
04
Do not fear walking a different path than others
05
Pursuing a new career and getting out of a rut
06
What Singapore can teach us about career resilience
07
Getting over the imposter syndrome and learning to reframe
08
Discover MOOCs from within
09
The Internet provides access to endless opportunities
10
Final summary

You may also like these summaries

Mobile App Screenshots

Find full Audio & text of your favorite books in the AdvanceMe app!

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur.

Start your free trial