Be Selective on Your Expertise

"You only have so much cognitive energy.  Be selective about what you choose to become expert as you don't want to be typecast as an expert in areas you do not want to spend time on."

-- Barbara Oakley

Create Goals That Make You Stretch

“If you want to be exceptional,” the instructor said, “you have to set goals that you cannot achieve with your current level of capability. You need goals that will make you stretch.”

-- Barbara Oakley

Keep Moving and Learning

"Traditionally, careers have been stepping stones where you lingered at each step. Modern careers, however, are more like conveyor belts. You have to keep moving and learning no matter what stage you’re at."

-- Barbara Oakley

Getting a Workout for Your Brain

"Hobbies often bring valuable mental flexibility and insight.  If you're lucky, these insights can spill over and enhance your job.  But even if they don't, your brain can be getting a workout."

-- Barbara Oakley

The Only Thing That Matters Right Now

"The best bit of advice his coach gave him was: “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.”"

-- Barbara Oakley

The Best Version of You

"There will always be somebody out there who is better than you at something you want to do.  You must realize that you are on your own journey, on your own path and you are being the best version of your rather than a bad version of somebody else."

-- Barbara Oakley

Find A Way To Go Beyond

"Instead, the key idea, much like the central idea of this book, is that, whatever you think you are, you are actually bigger than that. You can find a way to go beyond. And you can often get started—or even complete an entire career transition—by reinventing yourself through the constantly updated world of online materials."

-- Barbara Oakley

Feel Better When You Are Alive

"Living a healthy lifestyle has become my hobby and my job. I live a healthy lifestyle, not because I want to live longer, but to feel better during the time I am alive."

-- Barbara Oakley

Stepping Back To Novice

"Many ordinary and extraordinary people have made fantastic changes in their lives by keeping themselves open to learning.  Learning something new sometimes means stepping back to novice level.  But it can be a thrilling adventure!"

-- Barbara Oakley

Switching Disciplines or Careers Brings Value

"It’s normal to feel inadequate when you might begin trying to understand a new subject or to broaden or change your career. Even though what you are doing is difficult, you are bringing fresh perspectives into your studies and work. This can not only be useful to your new colleagues—it can freshen your own personal outlook. Don’t discount this."

-- Barbara Oakley

The Value of Hobbies

"Hobbies often bring valuable mental flexibility and insight. If you’re lucky, these insights can spill over and enhance your job. But even if they don’t, your brain can be getting a workout."

-- Barbara Oakley

Learning How To Learn

"Cultures are changing, and new skillsets are becoming important. Learning how to learn is an important meta-skill that can help you keep up with rapidly evolving skillsets."

-- Barbara Oakley

The Past Is The Past

“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.”

-- Barbara Oakley

Knit Together Into Mastery

"Becoming an expert in something new, whatever the subject, means building small chunks of knowledge using day-by-day practice and repetition. Gradually, these small chunks can then be knit together into mastery."

-- Barbara Oakley