Welcome to the August issue of The Exponential Executive.

In this Issue

	Welcome to the Unlearning Edition
	Unlearn Your Mind-Set
	Study Carneades
	Unlearn Barriers
	Practice Your Unlearning Game

In Other News

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Welcome to the Unlearning Edition

As readers of my recent book, Jump the Curve, know; I devote an entire chapter to the concept of "unlearning." To understand why unlearning is such a critical skill for the Exponential Executive, I'd like to introduce you to what I call the "Iceberg Principle."

It is common knowledge that only about 20 percent of an iceberg floats above the waterline. Yet, if you are the captain of a ship, you need to concern yourself with the remaining 80 percent. If you don't, you could end up sharing a fate similar to that of Edward John Smith, the ill-fated skipper of the Titanic.

This "iceberg principle" does not, however, just apply to the shipping industry. In many scientific and technical fields, information is doubling at an astounding rate -- approximately every seven years. This means that by the year 2015 everything we know today about fields such as biology or physics will represent just half of our future knowledge; and in 14 years time, a mere 25 percent.

This vast assortment of new future knowledge will likely rip apart certain industries and businesses with the same effectiveness of the iceberg that sliced the Titanic and dropped it to the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. If you hope to survive, you will need to unlearn the habit of focusing on that portion of the "iceberg" which is above the waterline and start concerning yourself more with what is below the water (i.e. what you don't know today -- but will need to know in the future.)

What follows are four unlearning skill sets.

Unlearn Your Mind-Set

One of my favorite columnists, Janet Rae-Dupree, had an insightful article in the New York Times recently. In it, she explained the difference between people with a "fixed mind-set" and those with a "growth mind-set." The difference can be summed up in how a person views the issue of talent. People with a "fixed mind-set" view talent as innate. Those with a "growth" perspective see talent as something that can grow over time. To find out more about how unlearning can help you develop and nurture a "growth mind-set" read on.

Study Carneades

"I have what I call an iron prescription that helps me keep sane when I naturally drift toward preferring one ideology over another and that is: I say that I’m not entitled to have an opinion on this subject unless I can state the argument against my position better than the people who support it. I think only when I’ve reached that state am I qualified to speak.”

The above quote is from Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s right-hand man for more than 40 years, and it offers wonderful advice for anyone wishing to stay open to the importance of—as well as the need for—unlearning. If, however, you want to become a real master at unlearning, you should bone on an ancient Greek philosopher, Carneades.

Unlearn Barriers

On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first man to run a mile in under four minutes. Although it is a myth that physiologists considered the barrier physically impossible to break, what is interesting to consider is this: By 1957 16 other runners had also accomplished the feat.

In other words, the sub 4-minute mile threshold was nothing more a mental barrier to many runners.

The story is worth keeping in mind as you struggle against certain barriers. Are they real or just mental? If the latter, the only other question you need to ask yourself is whether you will be the one to unlearn the barrier or are you content to wait for someone else to do it first?

The choice, of course, is yours but know this: Few people remember the second person to break a barrier. (In case you're wondering, Australian John Landy was the second man to run a sub 4-minute mile.)

Practice Your Unlearning Game

On December 30, 1936, over 17,000 fans packed into the old Madison Square Garden to watch Long Island University, the country’s top-ranked basketball team, take on Stanford. It was slated to be a great game. Long Island was putting up its 43-game winning streak up against the reigning Pacific Coast Conference champions. If you're curious to learn what this game has to do with improving your unlearning skills, I invite you to click here to find out. (Hint: Practice makes perfect.)