My Learning System: Consume→Collect→Create 🎓
Issue #114: My 3-Step Learning System. 10 Minute Productivity. Later = Never.
Welcome to Learn + Grow, where you will learn tips and tools that will help you be 3% more peaceful + productive in just 3 minutes a week.
💡 Here are 3-ideas to help you learn, grow, and be inspired this week!
🎓 Learn
If you've been following my work on Learn + Grow, Peaceful Growth, or WP for Enterprises, you probably know two things about me:
I read and write—a lot.
I'm deeply obsessed with learning and growing.
So obsessed, in fact, that I’ve built a system to ensure I’m consistently learning things that truly matter to me—not just chasing shiny trends.
One of my most popular notes on Substack is about reading (a.k.a. learning) and the importance of taking action.
If you scroll through the comments, you’ll notice some recurring themes about my learning process:
The power of "Just in Time" and "Just in Case" reading.
A disciplined post-book reading process.
My 3-step system to transform learning into action.
So today, I want to share my 3-step learning system.
Step 1: Consume
Learning begins with curiosity or necessity. But instead of drowning in information overload, I focus on intentional learning.
Every year, I set learning goals during my annual planning exercise. I ask:
What skills will help me grow this year?
What topics inspire me the most?
Based on a few of these topics, I curate my book, podcasts, and course list.
Reading
I divide my reading into two categories:
Just in Case: Books or articles recommended to me that may not align with my immediate goals but could be useful someday.
Just in Time: Highly relevant reads aligned with my current learning priorities.
I have a 2-hour time block for reading from Thursday to Sunday.
(Sidenote: Here are my favorite reading rules and habits; you can also follow my reading list on Goodreads)
For blogs and email newsletters: I use Readwise (I’m kind of a superfan of this tool). I have a 90-minute scheduled block every Weekend to read all my saved articles on Readwise. I take notes, highlight, and explore key ideas during this time. Reading everything at a set time and place (Readwise) keeps me consistent, intentional, and distraction-free.
Listening
Audiobooks: Most of the books I read are on Audible as audiobooks. They fit perfectly into my routine during walks or mindless chores. Once I finish an audiobook, I like to go through the physical copy, highlight key parts, and review any graphs or visuals that stand out.
Podcasts: My go-to app for listening to podcasts is Pocket Casts, and I absolutely love how easy it makes managing my listening list.
Watching
YouTube is my favorite learning tool when I’m not in the mood to read. I save videos to a "Watch Later" list and binge them during lunch or downtime.
Step 2: Collect
Most high achievers are great at consuming information but terrible at organizing it.
Here’s my approach to capturing and organizing the gold:
Reading Highlights
When I’m reading on Readwise, I use the Highlight, Tag, and Note tools to save the best ideas. For physical books, I take photos of important pages or concepts and have my assistant organize them in Notion.
Quick Notes
This is my go-to page in Notion for taking quick notes. I write new ideas, any actions from the podcast/audiobook I’m listening to or book I’m reading, something I like on the website, and then screenshots. Basically, anything that’s worth noting goes first here. Then, my assistant and I organize and transfer things where they belong.
Learning Notes
This is my digital brain. Everything I learn goes here:
Books: Key ideas, action items, and book resources.
Courses: Live notes during events that I clean up and share afterward. (Pro Tip: Sharing your notes boosts accountability and adds value for others.)
Topics: A central hub for everything related to a specific interest.
Content Banks
I keep a "content bank" where I save interesting ideas, quotes, or snippets that inspire me. It’s my go-to resource for future projects, giving me a treasure trove of inspiration whenever I need it.
Quotes & One-Liners: Organized by tags for quick reference when writing.
Story Box: Parables, research, and personal stories for blogs and talks.
Best Writing Examples: Great email copy, landing pages, or headlines I admire.
Step 3: Create (and Share)
As Derek Sivers says:
"If information were the answer, we’d all be billionaires with perfect abs."
Learning without action is entertainment.
So creating and sharing what we have learned is the best way to learn.
Here are three ways I create and share:
Writing
I share insights through my newsletters: This newsletter, Peaceful Growth, and WP for Enterprises. Writing forces me to clarify my thinking and solidify new concepts.
Workshops
Over the past five years, I’ve hosted 50+ "Growth Workshops" with my team to share key learnings. It’s my favorite way to align learning with real-world applications.
Podcasts
I discuss what I’ve learned on my podcast or as a guest on others. Teaching is one of the best ways to deepen your learning.
Closing Thoughts
Here’s the truth: If you’re committed to growth and an intentional, extraordinary life, learning cannot be a low priority.
You CAN NOT treat learning as a once-a-year goal.
You CAN NOT rely on random bursts of curiosity and inspiration.
You CAN NOT thrive without a system.
As Tony Robbins puts it:
"Success leaves clues. People who succeed at the highest level all have strategies and systems."
That’s why I built a learning system—to make my growth inevitable.
Here’s an idea for you: If you are interested in my system and would like me to walk you through it in a video, let me know by replying or commenting. If there’s enough interest, I’ll consider recording and sharing it!
🚀 Growth Tip
Last year, I shared this list on social media and Learn + Grow, and it received an incredible response. So, for this week’s growth tip, I’m excited to share it with you again!
🤩 Inspiration
Later is an another word for never.
I'll spend more time with my kids later
I'll find time for my health later
I'll have more freedom later
I'll enjoy myself more later
Next time you say ‘later,’ just pause and reflect on this.
🪴 Missed Last Issue?
By the way, in the last issue of Learn + Grow, I shared “How We’re Being Played by Our Screens”
In this issue, you'll learn:
How social media quietly takes over your time, focus, and mental health.
Hard truths about how algorithms, fake news, and validation keep you hooked.
Key lessons to protect your attention, relationships, and peace of mind.
9 simple actions to take back your time and mental space.
👋 Until next time, Anil / CEO and Co-Founder of Multidots, Multicollab, and Dotstore.
May the Peaceful Growth be with you! 🪴
More Ways to Learn + Grow
#1: Are you a founder (or dreaming of becoming one)? If you want actionable strategies to scale your agency to $5M, give Peaceful Growth a read.
#2: Work with WordPress or build on it? Check out WP for Enterprises —your backstage pass to how BILLION-DOLLAR websites run.
#3: I’ve sat down with founders who’ve grown their businesses from $500K to $10M. Want their playbook? Listen to the Peaceful Growth Podcast for insider tips on scaling up.