Here are our secrets: Learn smart, learn hard, and stay motivated.

Preparation =

(Learn Smart) * (Learn Hard) * (Stay Motivated)

In a series of 3 posts, I deconstruct and explain this formula:

 Part 1: Learn Smart helps you create a strategy and make learning more effective.

 Part 2: Study Hard helps you get quality concentration and better practice. It will also
answer how much practice is needed.

 Part 3: Stay Motivated helps you develop and maintain a burning desire to succeed.

Part 1: Learn Smart = (The 80/20 Rule) + (The Science

of Learning and Memory)
Effort in the proper direction will bring more results. I’ll explain how highly effective people
work smart before they work hard. I’ll also share the best practices about learning and memory,
proven to bring results. FOCUS YOUR EFFORTS: THE 80/20 RULE

Are you aware there is a powerful ‘rule of thumb’ present in our lives and only a few people
know of?

In 1905, the economist Vilfredo Pareto observed that 80% of the land of Italy was owned by only
20% of the population. What’s intriguing about Pareto’s finding was this distribution occurs
frequently. Examples are:

 In business, the 80% of profit comes from 20% of the customers

 80% of a country’s wealth is owned by only 20% of the people

 In technology, 80% of the crashes are caused by 20% of the bugs

 The Pareto principle, or the 80/20 rule, means
roughly 80% of outcomes are caused by only 20% of inputs.

Highly Productive People Prioritize the Vital Few

To illustrate using the 80/20 rule, let us consider the sport of fishing. Before a fisherman throws
his line and bait, he first picks a spot where there are lots of fishes. Identifying these areas will
greatly increase his chances of catching big fishes.

Highly productive people employ the same strategy. They focus on the activities with the highest
payoffs. They don’t scatter and exhaust their time and energies doing the trivial tasks. That’s how
they accomplish more than the average person.

In 1997, Steve Jobs returned to Apple after being kicked out. He noticed the company
focused on too many products but none of them were selling. To the surprise of his
employees, he cut production of nearly all Apple products, and maintained just 4 product
lines. Steve Jobs simply applied the 80/20 rule. As we can see today, Apple dwarfed every
major electronics company. [2]

Preparing for the Board Exam

In preparation for the board exam, the following are applications of the 80/20 rule:

Tip: Use Evernote or Google Keep to create your list (Both are FREE apps)
  Identify and Prioritize Vital Topics: There are at least 500 problems in an examiner’s
question bank, to be selected at random for the exam. It is a smart move to identify as
many topics in the recent exams. With this in mind, get the latest copy of Gillesania’s CE
Board Exam Reference (Volume 4) and make a detailed list of all topics present in the
board exams for the previous 2–5 years. This will be your checklist of vital topics.

 Simplify your Activities: Make a list of all your activities. Focus on the top 20%
activities that will help you in your goal. Eliminate, reduce, and delegate the remaining
80% that will not help. This process will further be discussed in Part 2: Learn Hard.

Related: 80/20 Rule on the Bar Exams. Prof. Abelardo Domondon — a well known bar reviewer 
— said that he topped the bar because he studied the previous bar exam questions and saw
a “pattern” in the questions being asked in the bar exams.

Related: Ms Helen Mary Labao (Top 2 — GE Board Exam) has written a post regarding picking
the right review center, where to sit in the classroom, and her other secrets to success. A
suggested 4-minute read, click here to view the post.

LEARN AND MEMORIZE BETTER: The Science of Learning

and Memory
A sharper saw cuts faster using the same amount of effort. Think of the following ideas and
techniques as the sharper saw. Knowing them enables you to learn faster and remember better.

Passive and Active Learning — Passive learning is to grasp ideas by watching others perform.
Examples are observing others do it actual, attending lectures, or watching how-to-videos. Active
learning is to apply these ideas on your own. It let’s you gain experience. [3]
 It only takes 0.25 seconds to process visuals. Fast!

 Use the Power of Visuals— Our brains are hard-wired to quickly process visuals. Text
paired with visuals improves information retention. [4]

 Distributed Practice — Spreading out study sessions over time is more effective than
cramming into one marathon session. Our brain needs the time in encoding new
information into our memory. [5]
  Interleaved Practice— Instead of focusing on a topic end to end, study related concepts
together. Establish relationships between the new information and previously existing
memories. [6]

 Sleeping after studying— Sleeping after learning something can help you learn faster
and remember better. [5]

 Forgetting isn’t bad — According to research, we need to forget a new piece of

information at some level before remembering it in order to reinforce that memory over
time. Just like in exercise, muscles won’t grow without rest. [5]

Case Study: How the Author applied the 80/20 Principle

and the Learning Techniques
I set it on my mind, to top the board. My older brother have done it, and so can I. There was
positive pressure.

Before review classes started, I used Gillesania’s Book: CE Board Exam Reference and made a
detailed list of the covered topics for the past 5 years. It took me about 2–3 hours to make this
list.
Next, I identified the activities that consumed my time and concentration. I was hooked with a
lot of series shows + animes + games. Studying is priority, so I limited watching and playing
during a 2-hour break time after dinner.

Luckily, there was a new branch of Review Innovations in Baguio City. It enabled me to study in
the comfort of our home. I concentrate better at home. I was also exempted from my household
chores like cooking, washing dishes, and doing laundry. These little things helped tip the odds.
Concentration is better if there are fewer things to think about.

I enrolled in the morning classes. During lectures, my focus is on passive learning. My attention
goes to absorbing the concepts and ideas explained by the instructors. When I return home, the
focus shifts to active learning — solving the discussed examples and capping it off with
additional problems. The Efficiency Curve (to be discussed in part 2) can guide you about how
much practice solving is required.

The following methods are also effective in getting ideas to sink in:

 Repeatedly writing the formulas and terms on paper. Write out everything you know
about the subject as if you were teaching it to someone else.

 Explaining concepts to one’s self. Recently confirmed this from a book, talking to one’s
self is totally normal and healthy. Just don’t do it aloud in public

 Teaching others and/or participating in discussions

Have you noticed all these are forms of active learning?

IMPORTANT: The ‘Notebook Summary’ Technique: How to

Memorize and Remember Concepts and Formulas
Two months into review, I had trouble preparing for a pre-board examination. With inches of
review materials, searching for a particular topic or formula resulted to wasted time and
concentration. This is when I realized a technique my older brother used, the Notebook
Summary.

After solving problems and getting a good grasp of a topic, I made a summary of the topic on a
notebook. The summary contains all important concepts and formulas, and if necessary with
sample problems. I had a notebook each for Math+Surveying, Hydraulics + Geotechnical, and
Structural Design + Construction.

The contents were written by hand, drawn with pencils, pens, and ruler (with exception to topics
with graphs and tables). I used combinations of texts, acronyms, symbols, diagrams, whichever I
saw fit for the topic.

Many thought I wasted time for doing it because there were hand-outs already given during the
review. There were also the ready-made engineering compilations by Gillesania and Padilla. It
might seem counter-intuitive but

Putting the effort to create the summary is the secret. The task of thinking, researching,
writing, and drawing are forms of active learning packed into one activity. And because the
summary is organized and concise, it aids in recalling the information rapidly. The handy
notebook also enables you to recall anywhere, anytime.

Ever wondered why we easily recall something we wrote instead of the photocopy of our
classmate’s notes?

Timing is the key

It is given that we will forget. It isn’t necessary that we remember information all the time. What
matters is we remember during the right time.

Several days before a big exam, I reviewed the summary and performed rapid information recall.
Timing is the key to remembering.

 Part 1: Learn Smart helps aim the direction of review and make learning more
effective.

 Part 2: Learn Hard helps you get quality concentration and better practice.

 Part 3: Staying Motivated, the driving force, helps you develop a burning desire to
succeed

CONCENTRATION & PRODUCTIVITY: 6 Lessons you Need to

Learn
I formerly worked for a major construction company here in the Philippines. A typical
workday includes managing people and checking progress, meetings, paper works, and
other small tasks. Everything must be finished fast and efficient. Delaying and working slow
only results to a longer list.

This never-ending barrage of tasks taught me lessons on how to be productive in an

environment full of distractions. In 6 key lessons, I’ll share with you how to concentrate
better, eliminate distractions, and get the job (or subject) done!

Lesson #1: Simplify. Focus on the Important Activities

To simplify is to make life less complex. To simplify is to apply the 80/20 principle to your
activities. The reason it’s effective? Less activities, less cognitive load, and more
concentration.

Simplify in 2 Steps

 First, identify the top 20% of your tasks that can account for 80–100% of your
results. Spend more time with them.

 Second, identify the bottom 80%, the time-consuming tasks that contribute little to
your results. Resolve to downsize, eliminate, and delegate as many of them as
possible, as quickly as you can.

Related: If you aren’t familiar with the 80/20 principle, visit Part 1: Learn Smart.

Other Simplification Tips

 Save your time and energy for the important stuff, like a boss.
  Leverage. Use other peoples’ time and energy: If something can be done 80% as well
by someone else, delegate.

 Say ‘NO’ — in a polite but assertive way — to demands not consistent with your goals.
Saying ‘no’ without giving further explanation is also effective.

 Do more key activities. Do less trivial activities. Start value creating habits. Stop
destructive habits.

Billionaires Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) and the late Steve Jobs (Apple, Inc.) simplify by wearing
the same kind of clothes everyday.

Lesson #2: Multitasking Destroys Productivity

Multitasking is the act of performing multiple tasks at the same time. It gets lots of things
done simultaneously… or does it?

In truth, multitasking only causes constant interruptions. Concentration and productivity are
similar to deep sleep. You don’t just go directly into dreaming, you go through stages. Any
interruption forces you to start over.

Multitasking not only prolongs tasks, but also increases the number of errors you make.

Key Lesson: Stop multitasking. Instead, focus on a single task.

Lesson #3: Deadlines and Positive Pressure Forces
Productivity
Have you ever experienced being given a difficult assignment with a correspondingly strict
deadline? Yet miraculously managing to finish and beat the deadline.

How about the project with a 2-week time limit? You started early, constantly made
revisions, and finished the project barely before the deadline.

How about the side project without a clear completion target? Gets started, but never
finished.

Have you noticed a pattern here?

Work expands to fill the time available for its completion. This is called the Parkinson’s Law.
Positive Pressure
A strict — yet achievable — deadline will trigger positive pressure, the panic feeling that
causes productivity miracles. An activity with no deadline will go on indefinitely.

Key Lesson: Work miraculously adjusts to time limits. Set a clear, strict deadline before
starting.
Lesson #4. Complete the Incomplete
Ever had the situation where you constantly think why your crush hasn’t replied to your text?
Or that unexplained urge to watch the latest episode of Game of Thrones? Or that time
when you misplaced your keys and not knowing where you left them?

This is the Zeigarnik effect: our mind’s tendency to finish off an incomplete task or thought.
We will experience recurring and intrusive thoughts until the task or thought is closed.
The Zeigarnik effect can either rob us of our ability to concentrate, or it can be leveraged as
a powerful tool. Here’s how:

Countering the Zeigarnik Effect

To close intrusive thoughts, you can:

 Write the thoughts down on paper. Writing it down can lessen the effects

 List the thoughts down on phone. Use apps like Evernote or Google Keep (both are
FREE note saving apps)

 Or finish the incomplete task, asap

Ways to Leverage the Zeigarnik Effect

Letting thoughts or ideas linger, especially during trivial tasks, may help in:

 Formulation of a solution to a problem

 Creative thinking — like an author thinking of ideas, an artist drawing inspiration, etc.

Lesson #5. Working and Resting should be Balanced

Staying productive is balancing focus and rest. Sustaining focused attention consumes
energy. Similar to our bodies, our minds also experience fatigue. The signs of a brain
running on empty are irritability and wandering thoughts.

The Pomodoro Technique

A proven way to prevent mental exhaustion and manage distractions is the Pomodoro
technique.

The Pomodoro Technique: Scheduling bursts of focused, uninterrupted effort (25 minutes)
followed by short bursts of rest (5 minutes). Repeat.

Note that the time limits are flexible and varies per person. I personally use 35–10 minutes.
Study what combination works best for you and adjust accordingly.

Tip: the timer app ClearFocus can help you in this technique. I personally use it. It’s simple to
use and it’s FREE.

On a Larger Scale — Rest Days

It is not sustainable to work our bodies and minds every single day. That’s why time for play
and rest are must haves.
Lesson #6: There are 3 Ways to Deal with any Distraction
The environment you’re in can make or break your productivity.

Whether it’s the sound of hammering from the neighbor’s house, the ‘group study’ where
there are more story telling than results, or the inconsiderate roommate — there are 3
options to solve any kind of distraction.

3 Ways to Deal with Distractions

 Remove the distraction (ex. turning the TV off)

 Isolate yourself (ex. moving to another room)

 Use protection (ex. wearing headsets and playing instrumental music)

More distractions eliminated = ↑ Concentration, ↑ Productivity

Tip: Create your own background noise using Noisli, a FREE web app that can emulate the
sounds of rain, ocean waves, and other background noises that can help you concentrate.
Related: 40 Inspiring Workspaces of the Famously Creative

LEARN BY HEART: The Efficiency Curve

During review, I overheard a conversation between my classmates. A student said, “Learn by
heart kasi ‘dre. Para maski bali-baliktarin ang tanong, kaya mo sagutin. Wag puro shortcut (or
CalTech!)”

Good point. But what does he mean by learn by heart?

The Efficiency Curve, a concept from ‘Focal Point’ by Brian Tracy, may help drive the point.

Learning a subject is like passing a thick forest. Inside this forest, it’s easy to stumble,
become confused, and get lost. Making progress takes time and effort. But the more you
become familiar with the path, the more the trail gets manageable.

In the Efficiency Curve, this thick forest represents the Learning Phase, where you learn a
topic’s fundamentals, its derivation, and where you gain familiarity with the solving
process. [Edit: this is also known as thinking based on First Principles; used by Aristotle,
Rene Descartes, and Elon Musk]

The Growth Phase is where you learn to efficiently apply these ideas. The growth phase is
also where you develop speed. The more you practice, you get the same results using less
time and effort.

Going back to my classmates’ conversation, to learn by heart is to start with the

fundamentals and go through the learning phase. It’s tempting to go directly to easy
shortcuts without learning the basics.
WHAT GETS MEASURED, GETS IMPROVED
To help you gauge if you are under-practicing or over-practicing, I’ll show you an approach I
call the 3-Star Approach.

The 3-Star Approach

0 Star = New Topic; Slim chance of solving the problem |Start Practicing

1 Star = You are in the Learning Phase; Slow Solving Speed | Keep Practicing

2 Stars = Growth Phase; Comfortable Solving Speed | The Sweet Spot — If you can solve a
problem just by imagining it step-by-step, with complete clarity, at a comfortable speed, then
you’re at this level buddy.

3 Stars = Expert Level; Fast Solving Speed | Optional — If you have the time and energy, why
not

Instruction: Every time you solve a problem, evaluate yourself. Are you in the Learning
Phase (1 Star)? Or were you able to progress to the Growth Phase (2–3 Stars)?

If you want to pass the board exams, I suggest a level of 2 Stars in all the recent board
exam topics (remember the vital topics in Part 1: Learn Smart?).

If you plan to top the board, I suggest maintaining 2-Stars in as many topics possible.

If you’re aiming for the top, every topic counts

Sharing my experience, I really intended to top the board. I aimed having fast solving speeds
(3-stars) in all vital topics and reviewed a few new topics. As it turned out, this is a flawed
strategy.
To our surprise, there was a new examiner. We had to take smart, lucky guesses to solve
unfamiliar topics. It’s also difficult to answer questions with typographical errors (examiners
are humans too, they err).

A realization: the board exam isn’t a speed contest; it’s about the number of correct
answers. To gain an advantage, once you have studied all vital topics, you should expand
learning as many new topics.

Making it to the top 10 is extremely competitive. One wrong answer could mean not making
the cut. Or taken the other way, one lucky guess could mean making your way in. There were
many students who ranked in our pre-boards but didn’t make the list (surprisingly including
our batch’s consistent champion in all quiz contests and the pre-board exams). I have to
admit, I may be lucky, but it isn’t an accident. Luck happens when preparation meets
opportunity.

Old trophies aren’t carried over to the next battle because every battle requires its own
preparation. The most prepared just before the exam will make it to the top.

My former boss shared his strategy. During his preparation, he didn’t limit himself to the
materials handed by the review center (Gillesania). Because he has friends who studied at a
competing review center (Besavilla), he was also able to get all their materials. A smart
move that landed him the 2nd Place! A secret move he kept from Mr DIT Gillesania.

THE TRUTH ABOUT TALENT: Deliberate Practice

The popular belief about talent: Either you have it or you don’t. Nature or nurture? What is
correct?… or are we asking the wrong question? To expound on this, I’ll share an excerpt
from Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell.

In the early 1990’s, a team of psychologists in Berlin, Germany conducted a study on violin
students. Specifically, their practice habits during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
All the violinists had begun playing at age 5 with similar practice times. However, at age 8,
practice times began to diverge. By age twenty, the elite performers averaged more than
10,000 hours of practice each; the good students totalled 8,000; while the less able
performers had only 4,000 hours of practice.

The fascinating points of the study: The researchers couldn’t find “naturally gifted” musicians
who were able to breeze effortlessly to the top with fewer practice hours. Nor could they find
“grinds” — the people who practiced harder — yet didn’t make the top ranks. Once an musician
has enough talent, what distinguishes accomplishment is how hard he or she practices. In
other words, the talented are the ones who practiced the most.
[EDIT: The 10,000 hour rule was debunked by in recent studies. The magic number isn’t
necessarily 10,000; it varies. Still, the relationship between deliberate practice and level of
skill holds true]

Champions aren’t born, they’re made. Talent and achievement could be acquired if you are willing
to put in the time.

Six months of hustle is a small price for the lifetime title of ‘Engineer.’ I encourage everyone
to aim and practice for the top. It’s a smart risk with nothing to lose for trying very hard.
Don’t count yourself out so easily because it can be done with persistence.

Graduating from a tough course like engineering is already proof of your ability. The only
limit to your achievement is how hard you are willing to practice. How badly do you want it?
Study hard and make your parents proud!