June 24, 2026
Here's THE study method that's helped me get a 4.0! Here's the BEST workout routine! If you're trying to get ahead and aren't doing THIS, you're leaving potential on the table!
People want to be capable. Skill takes work. And you can work hard or work smart, the latter is emphasized but how to approach being "smart" isn't as clear.
Since you're reading this, I'd bet that you're pretty smart, meaning you know how to figure stuff out, without knowing anything about a topic.
Whether it be sports or your job, there are intuitive ways of doing things and then there are better ways of doing it. Jumping straight to "the best way" after only just starting something is much like premature optimization. And if you know ball, you've heard
Premature optimization is the root of all evil
Instead of three strikes, you look to get rid of all mistakes before even the first.
Following the theoretical optimal plan won't necessarily produce the best result; same idea as Equilibrium is Optimal, but at the scale of personal growth instead of system-level.
You need to use this strategy to save time; only learn this; don't continue until you have a complete foundation
then you get overwhelmed. You no longer enjoy the process because the theoretically best route is already given - you don't find anything new by staying on the paved path.
If you already know everything you're doing, you won't have fun, and if you don't have fun, you'll quit. The sidequests keep things interesting.
When you stay engaged, you do your job better and faster, and you don't quit. That's more ideal than any optimal method. Be shortsighted and you'll always be excited about what comes next! What gets you started, what gets you making that sliver of progress, is practically the best way to progress.
Let's analyze fitness:
There are a variety of things you can do in the gym, so make sure to do your research and only do S-tier exercises. And stay in the sweet spot for number of reps and sets. Otherwise, you're wasting your time.
Nutrition also effects your progress. Don't want to stay small because you're not getting enough protein! Oh and make sure to to count your carbs so that your reps are the highest quality possible. Your mood and the time of day you workout also matter, so make sure to perfect those too!
This way of thinking has become a more common issue as we constantly see others emphasizing the best way to do things on social media. At the same time, the notion that you will get better as long as you put in the work already exists in the gym community.
Personally, I had fun playing pool (billiards) with friends but gave up on trying to take it seriously because my first step was looking online for tutorials. There are way too many things you need to master: angles, sidespin, backspin, rail shots, setting up future shots, and whatever the heck running english is...
It was facing a wall of made of up the hours of practice needed, and that stopped me from just going to the pool table and hitting the ball.
I might have ruined the fun for myself, but writing this blog post has convinced me that it really isn't that deep.
Actually rather than a wall, it's more like a tunnel. Except the tunnel feels infinitely long, even if I can see the light at the end (like my goal) (might be imagining it).
If I traverse straight through the tunnel with blinders on, I'm missing all the forks and crevices that might be filled with treasure.
Embrace the branches.
