Limitless - Summary

> Summary:  Limitless by Jim Kwik

Limitless! That’s an interesting title for a book. What is it? I have to read it, and it was just amazing. I was so mesmerised in it, like I just want to finish it as soon as possible and implement those things from book. I want to be limitless.

In his book ‘limitless’ Jim shows us the tremendous potential of our human brain which can be limitless by MOM (Motivation, Objective and Momentum).

This book has 5 section covering in 19 chapters about how to free your mind, what to do for limitless mindset, the why behind the motivation, and how to implement these methods with momentum.

Let's find it!

Part I: Free your mind

To solve any problem one has to dig deeper inside it to find the root cause: Your WHY? What obstacle you are facing? What is the root cause? What is stopping you from becoming limitless - Dig deeper to find your “Why”?

We are in the age of information overflow and this should be addressed accordingly.

• Data deluge: Too much data to process everyday, took our time and affects the quality of everyday tasks.

• Data distraction: Always connected to social media and be present online all the time.

• Digital dementia: Breakdown of cognitive ability due to overuse of digital technology.

• Digital deduction: Critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity is becoming automated.

Part II: Limitless mindset: What?

Reframing your limiting belief and learning myths.

Learning Myths

1. Intelligence is fixed: Intelligence is a combination of attitudes and actions which is dependent on context.

2. We only use 10% of our brain: Learn how to use your brain more efficiently.

3. Mistakes are failures : Mistakes are the proof that you are trying - it is learning.

4. Knowledge is power: Knowledge x Action = Power.

5. Learning a new thing is very difficult: Learning is a set of methods and process in continuous manner which can be enjoyable.

6. Criticism of other people matter: Do not allow other’s opinion to ruin your life.

7. Genius is born: It is made through deep practice.

Part III : The motivation -> WHY?

Finding your reasons

“People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it, so it follows that if you don’t know why you do what you do, how will anyone else?” - Simon Sinek

• If you’re struggling to find motivation to learn, or to accomplish anything else in your life, there is a good chance you haven’t uncovered the why of the task.

• Motivation is not something you have, it is something you do, it is a set of habits and routines, guided by your values and your identity, that you carry out every day.

Energy: make your brain healthy and energized

1. Good brain diet

2. Brain nutrients

3. Exercise

4. Killing ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts)

5. Clean ennvironment

6. Positive peer group

7. Brain protection

8. New learning

9. Stress management

10. Sleep

Small simple steps

• One of the most significant reasons that people fail to act is that we feel overwhelmed by what we need to do even though we have motivation.

• Take baby steps to get the fulfilment is achievement and success.

• One of the only things that is likely to change your behavior is to make incremental progress.

• Build habits (refer to the James Clear’s book Atomic Habit)

Flow state (how to):

• Eliminate the distractions

• Give yourself enough time

• Do what you love

• Have clear goal

• Challenge yourself a little

Part IV: Limitless Method: HOW?

• Meta learning in five areas: Focus, Study, Memory, Speed-reading, and Thinking

Clam busy mind

• Breath

• Manage what causing you stress

• Schedule time for distraction

Four level of competence

• Unconscious incompetence

  • you don’t know what you don’t know

• Conscious incompetence

  • you are aware of what you do not know

• Conscious competence

  • you’re aware of a skill and have the capacity to perform that skill, but only when you actively put your mind to it

• Unconscious competence

  • you know how to perform a skill, just naturally

How to study better

• Employ active recall

• Employ space repetition

• Manage the stat you are in

• Use your sense of smell

• Music for mind

• Listen with your whole brain

• Taking notes

Memory: trained and untrained memory

• The more you remember the more you can learn

• Creating associations for ourselves is likely to boost our memories dramatically

• Visualization: A picture is worth a thousand words

Reading is important

• Reading kicks your brain into gear

• Reading improves memory

• Improves focus

• Improves your vocabulary

• Improves your imagination

• Improves understanding

Challages to reading:

• Regression, Outdated skills, Subvocalisation

Speed reading

• If you don’t give your brain the stimulus it needs, it’ll seek entertainment elsewhere in the form of distraction.

• Using your finger to read actually increases your reading speed because your eye is attracted to motion.

• How to speed read

  • Use fingers while reading (your eyes follow motion)

  • Read a paragraph for 4 min and mark the finish line - reread in 3, 2, 1 min (try to reach finish line) - reread in 2 min again (reach finish line) - now read next section (do this everyday for certain period of time)

  • See group of words together - expand your vision

  • Count out loud - one, two, three … - this makes your brain bore over the time and it stops subvocalising

Thinking

“The De Bono approach to problem-solving is an ingenious and elegantly organized method for getting the most from your thinking. At its core, it is a neatly defined way of looking at an issue from all sides. First, you make sure you’re clear on what you need to address. Then, you determine that you have all the facts in front of you. Next, you make sure you’re dealing with the issue with a positive perspective. Then, you get real about the challenges you’re facing, and allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling about it. After this, you allow yourself to attack the problem from perspectives you might not have considered before, letting your imagination run free. And then you circle back to make sure you’ve addressed what you set out to address during this session.”

Mental Model

• Decision making: 40/70 rule

• Productivity: create a Not to do list

• Problem solving: study your error

• Strategy: second order thinking

Thinking exponentially

“The incremental mindset focuses on making something better, while the exponential mindset is focused on making something different, Incremental is satisfied with 10 percent. Exponential is out for 10X” - Mark Bonchek

• Get to the underlying problem

• Posit a new approach

• Read about it

• Extrapolate

Part V: Limitless momentum - When?

Emotinal intelligence

• Cultivate self awareness

• Practice empty

• Build emotional resilience

• Leverage positive emotion

• Manage negative emotion

• Communicate effectively

• Seek emotional support

• Reflect and adapt

Understanding your brain animal: CODE

• Agile Cheetas: Quick thinking, adaptability, strong instincts

• Wise Owl: Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, logical thinking

• Creative Dolphine: Innovation, out of box thinking, strong institution

• Empathic Elephant: Exceptional emotional intelligence, deep understanding of others, ability to forge strong connection

Artificial intelligence & Human intelligence

• AI is tool not solution, use it for assistance not for thinking

• Knowledge and reasoning not the same thing

  • Knowledge is the accrual of vast amounts of data. Reasoning is the application of that data to create, solve problems, consider perspectives, and otherwise perform at the higher levels of functionality that we equate with being part of the human community.

  • Knowing is committing facts to memory; thinking is applying reason to those facts.

• Brain training is not just about solving puzzles or playing memory games. It’s about maintaining our cognitive flexibility, our ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn—skills that will keep us afloat in an ocean of AI automation.

“Know yourself. Trust yourself. Love yourself. Be yourself. And remember, the life you live are the lessons you teach. Be limitless.” - Jim kwik

My thoughts on reading this book:

This book teaches us about the potential of our brain which is as per the book title is limitless. There's several methods and numerous facts backed by science are mention but what is truly matters is that the myths one has about learning, reading, memory, brain capacity, food nutrition, knowledge constrains, false beliefs, AI and wrong understanding of these things puts limits on us which was implemented by ourselves. Though this book these misunderstanding and myths can be breakdown with the formulas, methods and training mentioned here by taking small steps. Cultivate yourself, Be limitless.

Things I learned:

• We can cultivate our mind through practice

• Find your “Why?”

• Motivation is what we do everyday

• Speed reading is beneficial and effective

• Visualisation has more power

• Reading is essential for brain health and improvement

• Take notes of your learning and reading

• Take action with small step over the period of time

• Your Brain and Gut are connected

• AI is tool, use it wisely for assistance not for thinking