Effective at Learning and Being Curious

I had a blast on the Think Like Amazon podcast, discussing the Amazon Leadership Principle Learn and Be Curious. We discussed many topics, but two that stood out were how stretch assignments fuel career growth (as I shared on LinkedIn) and how to build a discipline of continuous learning.

In a world of back-to-back meetings and endless emails, upskilling can feel impossible. But failing to learn today limits our options tomorrow. The truth is most companies won’t prioritize your growth, so if you don’t take ownership of it, no one else will. The key isn’t finding more hours; it’s making learning non-negotiable.

Your Effective Tip of the Week: Treat learning and self-development as a recurring weekly priority.

[Side note: Very relevant to this topic, I’m scaling The Effective Collective, a membership program to refine essential skills like communication, productivity, and EQ. It’s invite-only for now, so hit reply if you’d like to be part of the launch.]

THE THEORY

Small investments in learning compound into massive results. Darren Hardy’s The Compound Effect teaches us that small, consistent actions lead to exponential growth over time. This principle applies to learning as shown in "The 5-Hour Rule" (popular framework followed by Gates, Buffet, and Oprah) where we see how five hours per week of deliberate study adds up to over 250 hours a year. That’s the equivalent of mastering a new skill annually. Essentially, the problem isn’t lack of time, but how ; we choose to prioritize it.

The best learning is structured and hands-on. The 70-20-10 Learning Model which suggests that 70% of our development comes from hands-on work, 20% from mentorship, and only 10% from formal education. We need to focus on deliberate practice and stop waiting for training programs and take control of our own learning. We need to create experiences and structured time for learning and reflection.

As knowledge is expanding faster than ever, human skills matter even more. The Knowledge Doubling Curve shows that human knowledge used to double every 100 years. Today, it doubles in 12 hours. AI makes information more accessible than ever, yet automation cannot replace the uniquely human abilities like curiosity, critical thinking, and adaptability. Books like The Infinite Game and The Art of Learning emphasize that lifelong learners are the ones shaping the future. In this new reality, those who learn how to constantly learn will always have an edge.

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS

The most innovative companies actively create space for learning. Google’s famous 20% time led to groundbreaking products like Gmail and Google Maps. At 3M, employees are encouraged to spend 15% of their time exploring new ideas, a policy that led to the invention of Post-it Notes. Atlassian hosts "ShipIt Days," where employees dedicate time to solving problems outside of their daily roles. These companies understand that investing in learning leads to innovation, employee retention, and long-term growth.

I’ve always made time for learning and side projects, and it’s completely shaped my career. As I navigated shifts across functions and industries, I’ve followed the same approach: learning first. That means learning from people (the actual experts), studying the past (digging into documents from predecessors), and understanding the industry. As I mentioned on the podcast, this mindset also helped me grow Effective at Amazon from a small training session into a global program impacting 70,000 Amazonians, all while it remained a side project.

[Side note: Someone recently introduced me as a Learning & Development expert at Amazon. I have no formal credentials, but I do have plenty of hands-on experience... so I’ll take it!)

HOW TO PUT THIS INTO PRACTICE

Make learning a structured part of your week with these simple strategies:

1. Tie learning to existing habits. Dedicate 15 minutes daily—e.g., read an article or watch a short video over coffee.

2. Turn idle time into growth time. Use commutes, workouts, or chores to listen to audiobooks or podcasts.

3. Schedule it like a meeting. Block time on your calendar—e.g., reserve Friday lunch for a webinar or deep reading.

4. Join a learning community. Stay accountable by engaging with a book club, mastermind group, or online cohort. (P.S. Want an invite to The Effective Collective? Reply to this email!)

5. Dedicate one weekend hour to deep learning. Treat it like a workout—e.g., take a course, write a reflection, or practice a new skill.

6. Apply the 70-20-10 rule. Learn by doing—e.g., volunteer for a stretch project to gain real-world experience.

7. Take ownership of your career growth. Identify three skills for your next step and set monthly learning goals.

Learning doesn’t require more time, just smarter planning.

What’s one small way you’ll commit to learning this week? Let me know!

Always curious,

Jorge Luis Pando