Studying ≠ Learning
What happened to this idea for the past 10 months?
I have been away for 10 months. It’s not because I had something more important to focus on than this idea; rather, I have been working hard to bring it to life instead of just talking about it. Here’s what happened.
After my book, What Is School For? A Manifesto for Parents, published in December 2024, I began focusing on the differences between studying and learning. Although I could continue writing and posting here, something was missing.
If an idea exists only on paper, it’s a hypothesis. After experiencing Seth Godin’s Akimbo workshops and witnessing my child’s transformation at Summit Public Schools, I firmly believe in the benefits of this idea. However, I haven’t applied it systemically in real life. If it’s a good idea, it should work and the results will tell the story.
I envision by applying it in business, and what I write next will be useful for my readers— people like you who resonate with and seek to improve learning for both children and adults.
And that’s precisely what I did with my partner and our team for the past 10 months.
The feedback and results are overwhelming.
I have been talking about the differences between studying and learning everywhere I go. My conversations with friends, family members, business partners, and even strangers illuminated this idea and sparked hope for the large school systems and institutions that many of us often feel powerless against. Furthermore, these discussions helped me gain more confidence in my ability to continue learning and exploring.
And the outcome says it all.
Hundreds of people who have experienced our business have noticed the difference between studying and learning, keep coming back again and again, and remark about us to their friends.
People who learned about us have grown 20 times since we first launched the business in September 2024.
The outcome tells me:
The studying habit, though not helpful, is deeply rooted in ALL OF US. Change starts with the differentiation: studying is NOT THE SAME as learning.
Emotional enrollment (self-enrollment) is significant, but it accounts for only half of learning success. The real magic happens when we create a learning condition and help people think and act differently.
Once people shift from studying to learning habits, transformation follows.
Effective learning isn’t just about new skills; it changes what we say to ourselves and how we trust our own ability in creativity, shifting our beliefs and trajectory for the future (individual and collective).
In 2026, I’ll continue to share sharing my idea that studying isn’t the same as learning, and they should be treated differently in our schools, adult learning spaces, and beyond.
Thank you for being here!
There is no doubt about it: Learning is more important than studying. Studying without learning is like practicing democracy without holding free and fair elections that will decide who is going to lead.