Comments

1. Jody Whitesides (2009-09-05) #

   I'm amazed by how many times I'm asked for opinions and when I present as many angles as I can, people look at me funny.
   
   I love the idea of unlearning. Been using it a long time.

2. Kent Arnsbarger (2009-09-05) #

   John cage said it best.

3. Robbie Kaye (2009-09-05) #

   Aint nothing like the truth...

4. Janet Hansen (2009-09-05) #

   It's a fair question, but not a realistic one. It's like telling everyone to like their coffee exactly the same way. What works for the few doesn't work for the many and sometimes vice versa.
   
   There is one thing that never changes though, and that is live music. What would Beethoven think of this rhetoric Q &A?
   Janet Hansen
   Scout66.com

5. Erika Katrin (2009-09-05) #

   Learning/Unlearning is probably an important skill for people in a world changing as fast as ours is and has been... and as an artist (musician or writer) I think it's tough not to let the industry concerns, issues, and mentality destroy your love of the art. (PS: I understand your move, but I miss the way you ran CDbaby.)

6. JaVonne Armstrong (2009-09-05) #

   You're absolutely right. No one knows the future.

7. Russ Salton (2009-09-05) #

   Well said my friend. It's all "information" that you can process to your own conclusions and as you say, "consider the source".
   R

8. Joel D Canfield (2009-09-05) #

   My answer is always "Whatever you make it." There ain't one answer, fer cryin' out loud. And trying to guess it instead of going out and *creating* it is goofy.
   
   I couldn't care less what some pundit says is 'the future of the music business.' I know the future of *my* music business, and that's enough for me.

9. Nicole Renaud (2009-09-05) #

   refreshing honesty! I am always very enlighted by ur thoughts and comments. thumbs up derek!

10. Timothy Houston (2009-09-05) #

    I don't want to unlearn anything! I want to take what I have learned already and weigh out the variables and if modification is necessary then so be it. You can't chart the future without looking at the past. One can't tell the future but you can speculate based on the past and present. That speculation is the foundation of a plan and if you fail to plan you plan to fail. I want to look at everything I've learned to see how and why I made the decisions I have so I can see what needs to be changed and why!

11. Jeff Shattuck (2009-09-05) #

    If only more people would admit they don't know the future, we'd all be better off.
    
    Jeff

12. Jeff Hutner (2009-09-05) #

    I like the idea of living in he question...

13. Lafe Dutton (2009-09-05) #

    I love that: "I'm afraid of the old ones." (ideas)
    
    I know the future of the music business: live audiences will always buy your music.
    
    do 200 gigs per year at 300 per gig (pay and cd sales).
    
    end of future.

14. Eve (2009-09-05) #

    Just had that exact conversation last night? Who knows is so RIGHT! All we can do is do our music and stay focused on what is right in the moment. I trust my gut, but then again I haven't got rich on that either. I have a music mission here and I am finding that I have to be adaptable. CD's, DropCards, Download only...again who knows. The good thing is that there are alternatives to what music has been in the past. We have a forum and outlets that spring up every day. I think of it like being in the middle of the storm so don't burn out, just hold on and trust your talent. This is an exciting time in the music industry, and we have people like you Derek who have helped us achieve avenues that were not even imaginable! So thanks

15. Mark Gresham (2009-09-05) #

    "A mind that is full of ideas has no room for new ones." --John Cage

16. Eric Fontana (2009-09-05) #

    Derek -here's what i think oyu should give as an answer , every time ; "...robot monkeys. the future of the music business are robot monkeys. next question please!" xo e.f.

17. Seanrox (2009-09-05) #

    Amen, Derek. The "music industry" *became* due to technology, ie Radio, Mtv, Hit Parader Magazine, Cassette Dubbing, CDs, Tshirts, Internet, CDBaby, Napster etc.
    
    This distribution of music and info allowed the "touring industry" to draw large crowds.
    
    The "songwriting industry" remains the heart of it all. One creative person, one guitar finding soul within a song. Sometimes the song finds an audience.
    
    Before we get ahead of ourselves, look at today's Hip-Hop culture... the experience is much like the hot "Hit Parader" days of 80s rock and metal... 'tis circular.
    
    In my own self-interest... American music began with Gospel/Blues & Country... as we distribute to China, India and beyond, consider paying attention to own personal "your roots" and MASH-UP from there... it's the most individual sound you'll ever make.
    
    peace-
    seanrox

18. Amir Boyangiu (2009-09-05) #

    Funny Derek. The topic in most of my music is about the need for people to unlearn the lessons of their past in love, politics, and religion in order to be able to create a brighter future for themselves and those around them. But "unlearning" (in my opinion) applies to almost everything really. In music? Well, everyone wants to bring something unique, fresh, and new to the table. As a result, many artists scrap works that sound too similar to their influences. However, while they compare themselves they rarely see that what they feel is fresh and new is actually just a mesh of several influences. No one knows the future. Not for the music industry or anything else. The point is that an artist continues to create regardless of those that came before him. If its good. If its real. If its you. It WILL sell. If it doesn't sell, that won't stop an artist anyway. Afterall, we create because we love to, and not just because our rent is due. My two cents.

19. Mark Gresham (2009-09-05) #

    It's also topically interesting that John Cage and Buckminster Fuller were good friends.

20. Tim Dawson (2009-09-05) #

    It's like the old (Chinese?) proverb about "emptying your cup." If your cup (head) is full, you can't put anything else into it. You have to "empty your cup" first. Forget what you think you know and never be afraid to listen to new ideas.

21. Kathena (2009-09-05) #

    I hate to change the subject, but I want to know about this little toy soccer dude. What does he do? I enjoy your sense of humor and the illustrations you choose.

22. Rab Townsend (2009-09-05) #

    As far as I'm concerned, the future is now.
    
    I want ALL of those things. Something tangible, mp3 versions of those tangible things with no limitations, and... well, I don't want a subscription service, but what the heck?
    
    The way things are right now is great. It's just a matter of the digital money-makers (and pirates) coming to realize that there's still a market for physical music, even if they don't want it. It's a matter of the record companies producing physical music albums to realize that they aren't the only thing around, and they have to compete using the means available to them, and not by suing the pants off of everyone.
    
    ... what the heck is a subscription music service?

23. John Robles (2009-09-05) #

    Excellent article. I love your answer about people who pretend to know the future being full of shit and not to be trusted. Very apt. And as for people who ask that inane question, they should be shot.

24. Mala Sookdeo (2009-09-05) #

    I reckon that's what happens with most anything that you let yourself get inundated with e.g. music, literature, a sport, a particular relationship etc. Your minds' eye gets blurry. It's nice to be able to pull back a bit and know that as much as you know about your own craft, there is so much more that you don't know about everything else that breathes life into the world. And that maybe a change of pace ain't so bad ...even for a little while :)

25. Bettie Ross (2009-09-05) #

    Well, you've got a good case in point to simply Live In The Present.
    
    That means to really take a "look", without bias and emotion, at what is actually going on Right Now, really look it over, and then Act accordingly.
    
    Are the stats going up or down on CD sales? Does YOUR public still want CDs? Does YOUR public prefer vinyl? Does YOUR public prefer digital downloads from your site or iTunes or any other site? Or does YOUR public prefer a subscription service?
    
    It really doesn't matter, today, what's going to happen in the future. What matters is what's happening today.
    
    Carpe Diem!

26. J.J. Vicars (2009-09-05) #

    The future is what we make it, starting now.

27. Mark Gresham (2009-09-05) #

    Flying robot monkeys.
    
    Actually, most of what the "Futurists" of the 50s/60s promised us have never happened. (I still want my flying car.)
    
    "FUTURISM: Building a fake future in hope that the real future will show up and mate with it!" --David Malki

28. Paul Thomas (2009-09-05) #

    The more you "don't know", the more clear you become. That's the primary thrust of Zen Master Seung Sahn in his book "Dropping Ashes On The Buddha."

29. Fred Scott (2009-09-05) #

    Why do you waist your time and energy, with these people thay are in music for the money, This whole country is full of shit,Don t get me wrong I love my country, but as an Improvisational artist, I can t believe kids can learn three chords or rhyme some words ,and become millionares, any way, what was the question?, Your right, nobody knows.

30. Mark Cornell (2009-09-05) #

    I'm not sure about this one. At some point you make a choice based on what you personally believe will happen. Then you inevitably risk something. And of course, if you believe you are right and you now have risked something, you will want to convince others.
    
    So I'm not sure that those peoples views are "tainted" by their own self interest, as much as their self interest was determined by their views...
    
    It only becomes a problem when you are so attached to your views you are unwilling to admit when they are no longer applicable. At that point unlearning is quite a valid point.

31. Heiskell (2009-09-05) #

    Great observation. Point well delivered and well taken.

32. Tom Malafarina (2009-09-05) #

    I have no idea what the future will be for music. I do know that the home recording equipment I have in my basement which is a PC a few mics and some inexpensive software is about a million times better than what cost a fortune and could only be found in a high priced studio in the 1950's.
    
    My kids have no idea what 45 or an eight track was. At their age I could not have imagined computers, mp3's, online download or any of this.
    
    But whatever the media of delivering music in the future and no mater what my age, I and my fellow musicians will be there to embrace the technology and deliver our music.

33. Mark Gresham (2009-09-05) #

    [Derek:] "I love musicians. I love the creative process. I love the art and craft of learning, writing and playing music."
    
    Ok, then, what's the future of the creative process? :-)
    
    A little over a decade ago, someone asked, "What will new music of the 21st century be like?"
    
    One wit offered: "Pretty much like the 20th, only worse."

34. Mark Cornell (2009-09-05) #

    P.S. To Kathena regarding the soccer player, I think the idea is that his head is empty.

35. Yosi (2009-09-05) #

    I KNOW the future. And I can reveal it to you in three easy payments of $59.95.

36. Greg Parke (2009-09-05) #

    Yeah, I learn/unlearn things all the time. I learn what works, and use it, learn what doesn't work, then "unlearn" it (but don't forget it!)
    As far as the future of the music biz? That answer is easy! I'm going to keep doing it! Been doing it for most of my life....why stop just because things change? Adjust to the changes, use what works for you, and don't worry about the rest! It is a great life...

37. David S. Hall (2009-09-05) #

    I think choices are the key. We are all different, and we all should have the choice of how we want to collect, share and enjoy music. Some people want a shrine of the artist that matters most in life. Posters, inserts on the wall, pics to study while listening, reading along with the lyrics to get the feel and understanding of the songs. Others couldn't care less about any of it, and only want to carry a small device that contains all of the music they enjoy, and might not even know or care who the artist is. Formats are also key. Who can afford the latest, who has that huge collection of outdated media? They said vinyl was dead, yet they are a huge collectors demand, and some prefer the analog sound on the quality system, not to mention the mastering that was done with pure analog. I dislike the mastering volume wars in digital, and the distortion that comes along with it. Cymbal sound is one of the things that is sometimes lost in digital. Choices are key. A higher bit rate product is sure to come soon to kill 16 bit cd's, yet think of the decades of purchased cd's, like vinyl that exists. Beta vs. VHS, Blue Ray vs. HD DVD. The giants kill products to avoid costly format wars, and we are left with fewer choices. I myself wish they had never killed the Quadraphonic lp's in the 70's. Have you ever heard "Money" by Pink Floyd in Quadraphonic? Incredible!
    I would love a system with 10 or so channels up front with a few on the sides and behind to recreate the live experience. Each channel up front would be a voice or instrument. Sides and back for reverb etc. for depth, and even audience. Center front for lead vocals. The 2 on each side of center for stereo drums. With video, the vocals and instruments can be panned according to how the musicians are moving on the stage...
    The giants would never do this, because of the price of the production vs. how many could afford the system...but it would be nice to have the choice...

38. Gen Berthault (2009-09-05) #

    That applies to everything in life and I think it's a really interesting point in that it strengthens our position if we want to change things. We can predict but we can't know for certain. Even in physics they said that the fact that the sun has risen every morning for so long does not guarantee that it will tomorrow. The probability is there, but not 100% certainty.We should see it as a positive thing. A fascinating, challenging idea, Derek Sivers!

39. Laura Fay (2009-09-05) #

    Derek, keep rockin the boat! Its the only way people can understand sometimes and only if they're really listening....Peace, Harmony and ONELOVE, Laura Fay Lewis http://www.myspace.com/laurafay http://www.myspace.com/theblisstones http://www.myspace.com/consciousarts http://www.reverbnation.com/mgca (also on http: //www. facebook.com/laurafaylewis) and http://www.twitter.com/laurafaylewis

40. Parris Walton (2009-09-05) #

    Derek,
    My best reply about the future of the Music Industry is there are some trailblazers out their plugging away and you can bet they have a clue on the direction the business will be heading?My message to my fellow artist is to just stay deligently consistant and true to yourself and your music.
    And be on the lookout for the Creator movement!The website is currently under development for a big launch soon.Smile and be well!
    Paytc
    http://www.paythecreator.com
    http://www.cdbaby.com/paytc2

41. lorri hafer (2009-09-05) #

    You are so right...
    It seems like everything has changed in the music biz...I think it is very difficult for creative people to handle the biz part.
    
    I think unlearning is a good idea....I once had a fabulous jazz musician tell me he had to unlearn alot of what he learned in music school in order to really let go and improvise.
    
    I also think reinvention is word we have to think about, too..

42. Greg Parke (2009-09-05) #

    Hey David! Cool idea about the 10 channel music playback system. Isn't it cool that as musicians we can do just that? I love listening to good music, but nothing beats being right in the middle of it, creating it, being completely surrounded by it. As I said in my earlier post, it's a great life!

43. TinGle The Singer (2009-09-05) #

    Yes....getting out of the matrix is a good thing....Now that the table is wiped clean...you can create! And I may not know the future, but I do know God who does.

44. Patricia Britton (2009-09-05) #

    I recently heard that "forgetting" is making room for the now...seems to fit nicely with "unlearning"...as always thanks for the insight...p

45. mike leach (2009-09-05) #

    "Self-interest" and "passion" often appear to be the same.
    
    Industry trends are driven by those with passion.

46. Randy Feuers (2009-09-05) #

    If something is still working for you why change it!

47. Rhonda Niden (2009-09-05) #

    Having the ability to predict the future! ... being blunt... nothing new here...M A R K E T I N G... the vehicle? "Experts Panel".
    
    That said, best to look at the facts that back up (or don't) the thoughts being presented. In other words listen to the folks in each sector presenting their OPINION on whatever the topic--look at the history and current--rather than being led-- make your own intelligent decision! Novel concept. Then roll the dice!!! ha!

48. Ed Lagace (2009-09-05) #

    agree!

49. Kelly Pardekooper (2009-09-05) #

    derek...i think you may need more than two years to unlearn and see with fresh eyes...it could be more like the cocktail to water ratio to avoid hangovers. maybe 11 years.

50. dwight l. quinn (2009-09-05) #

    Music is Magic. I heard a sound 40 years ago coming from ole clubs, bars and taverns in my hometown of East St.Louis, Illinois that made me do for a living what I do today. Keeping that sound alive, how it is distributed today thanks to technology/change, opened cracks in once closed doors. Now that sound from new and fresh musicians, that heard that same sound,has forced those cracks in those once closed doors, to open and now that sound is alive again....

51. Bill Thurman (2009-09-05) #

    for musicians and artists with open minds the future is bright and the sky's the limit. it doesn't matter if you do or don't sell a million copies of your music. the music industry means nothing. each musician, singer, etc. needs to be their own "music industry." as far as ideas are concerned, it's hard to top Einstein's statement. "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

52. Barry ( Skully) Waddell (2009-09-05) #

    You got that right brother. Falls under the old saying "It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks" or "I'ts hard to argue with a confident man". :-)
    I'm 49 now and have been doing music since age 12. Had my first band at age 14. Each and every couple of years that goes by it is always something different in this business. Everyone always ranting those words about the future of music biz. bla bla woof woof...AND THEN something totally unpredicted would happen. A new trend out of nowhere. A new instrument or unique style of playing or different sound or recording approach. Some new tech thing or a new unique wat to package it.
    Clown pants and corpse paint! Whatever.
    It seems to me that anyone can make a decent dent in the music business if they have just a little tad of "unique" and a ton of determination. Anyone willing to spend the time, make some sacrafices, invest the same amount of money that it would cost for a new car, and think out of the box.
    Then - if you stick around - those seeds tend to grow on their own. BUT- those seeds tend to grow however they damn well please. It's "Out of control"
    Just do it man! Just run it up the flag pole and see who saluted it!

53. Dave Feder (2009-09-05) #

    "Everything comes and goes marked by lovers and styles of clothes"
    Joni Mitchell

54. Mark Roberts (2009-09-05) #

    MP3, CDs, streams, etc... who cares what the future of the medium is.
    
    There is only one thing that matters, and that is the content which populates the medium.
    
    Some people like to buy CDs. Sell them to those people.
    
    Some people like to buy mp3s. Sell them to those people.
    
    Some people don't want to spend money on mp3s. Give them to them for free.
    
    Some people like to stream. Stream your music to them.
    
    Whatever people want, the goal for every musician has to be the same. You want every intelligent, kind hearted, sensitive and perceptive person to own and adore your music.
    
    Make your music plentiful. Let it populate the world. Prove to people that you are here to stay, that you mean it, that you are passionate about what you do, and if are really creating something of enduring value, then you will convert people to your music. Even if it only happens one person at a time.

55. Boris Berlin (2009-09-05) #

    That's very honest of you, humble and to the ground. One would wish more public speakers knew when to just admit, with self-confidence, that they don't know, instead of giving ego-fueled anti-informative answers.
    
    The music business is going through necessary changes, as it should, and will be around in one form or another... we all may agree on that.

56. Baba Zoom (2009-09-05) #

    It's crazy that you would title this article Unlearn..beacause that's what I'm on right now..a week ago I was talkin to a good friend of mind about this concept that we are born perfect into this world but along the way pick up bad habits and other peoples superstitions on how life should be..spending 34 years (that i know of) i have come to the realization that a huge chunk of my life has been guided by other peoples perceptions of reality..I am now in the process of unlearning in gettin back to my true essence..BZ

57. Christine Drescher-Jones (2009-09-05) #

    So it's agreed: there is a future and it has music in it, right? =:^}

58. Gary McCallister (2009-09-05) #

    Well, yes and no. Which future are we talking about? I don't gamble, but I'd out money on the sun coming up tomorrow. I'd put money on the fact that music will be a part of peoples lives. I'm pretty confident that some will be passionate about it and others won't. What future can't be predicted is how to make money. And that is because for most musicians there is a huge element of luck involved.

59. Gary McCallister (2009-09-05) #

    Oh yea, and about unlearning. It's a cute phrase, but I think a better approach is to development judgement. That's the ability to know when to apply one concept or method and when to try something else. I think unlearning implies forgetting, and forgetting something learned is very hazardous.

60. thomas grogan (2009-09-05) #

    'unlearning' sounds like something colonel bruce hampton would say.

61. Guy Gorman (2009-09-05) #

    Unlearning is often harder than learning.

62. Alex (2009-09-05) #

    I'm pretty burnt out on the current music scene, too. The demise of CD Baby really nailed the coffin shut on that one for me. I'm taking an hiatus from the slide guitar and vocal thing to concentrate on lap steel instrumentals, which'll let me 'unlearn' the past and move on to the next thing. Yahoo!

63. Katie Bull (2009-09-05) #

    How about just forging the future. That's what you have been doing.

64. Alan Nu (2009-09-05) #

    I was taught how to unlearn by a university professor when studying music in college. I'd developed some bad habits in my piano technique early on, and he did what no else had been able to do (fix them), by first teaching me how to unlearn all of it. It was an amazing experience, and it's been a valuable skill ever since.
    
    I completely agree with the 'no one knows' statement. Not just in the music circles, but even if you're an expert at something, it's completely okay (although strangely unpopular) to simply admit 'I don't know'.
    
    It's also much healthier to say "I don't know". Imagine being one of those top record execs right now, after all those years of crystal gazing, having to admit you haven't a clue. Who needs that kind of pressure and humiliation?

65. Katie Bull (2009-09-05) #

    How about just forging the future. That's what you have been doing.

66. Alex Shalman (2009-09-05) #

    “The illiterates of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”- Alvin Toffler
    
    This quote reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend at dinner last night. He couldn't understand why I seek out and surround myself with successful people, such as you for example.
    
    He thinks everything he needs to learn about success he will learn on his own.
    
    My opinion was that a) you learn from experiences, the books you read, AND the people you speak with b) you learn faster, and avoid more mistakes, when you model not necessarily the steps that successful people took, but the philosophy by which they run their own lives.
    
    I'd love it if every time I sat down for dinner with a friend, I became aware of a philosophy such as HELL YEA ;)

67. Darryl Hill (2009-09-05) #

    Technology moves at a very fast rate and often even what will be the chosen standard becomes distorted rapidly depending on outside OEM support, customer needs, etc. Being a session musician forces me to throw everything else out and focus on the project at hand. Look for the composers inner feeling of the music and their sense of how they want it. If I grab that I get a nice thumbs up and warm smile. On & On. Follow the music!

68. EL aka Eleanor (2009-09-05) #

    I'm more interested in the question,
    How do we reshape the music industry so it works for US in the future?

69. Clark Sorley (2009-09-05) #

    The future is fashioned out of the present. Being opinionated and self-interested is part of the fashioning process. There's nothing drives like self-interest. Be opinionated if you feel strongly enough and be a part of that process. Make the future happen.

70. Al Masters (2009-09-05) #

    Perhaps the important thing to remember is people will always like
    music and have need for this in their lives.
    
    Your honesty in this matter Derek should be commended.

71. Willie Ali II (2009-09-05) #

    Love the article, it's the truest way of looking at the future of the music business.

72. Jose (2009-09-05) #

    I agree about relearning, that's the scientific method, you have a theory, you look at the world, if they don't match, change your theory.
    
    I disagree Bernanke, Greespan... didn't knew about the future, they did, if only in a short span of time(4-5 years), a different story is that they tell you(make it public),the can't and they say they didn't know. And that indebting a nation is bad don't need a genius to know.
    
    Former spanish economic minister Pedro Solves made a public statement: "we didn't knew anything about the crysis coming", then he thought the mic was off(speaker were off, but it was recording) and said "If I had to tell want I know...".

73. Raylene Kemp (2009-09-05) #

    Music will be around forever.... How one profits from it?, who knows?. One thing I've learned in business, capitalists ("love em") will always figure out the maze...

74. Roy Donaldson (2009-09-05) #

    I wish I knew the future, it would make me a wealthy man!
    
    As a child I loved LPs. I could never have forseen CDs but I love a well-recorded CD. I am not a big fan of the MP3 format because of what we must give up in sound quality to get so much in so little space...but I understand why others like it. Call me anal...my children do. I prefer the term audiophile!

75. Kevin Cullis (2009-09-05) #

    Take a look at what the future holds for us: http://www.macgetit.com/2009/04/25/what-does-it-all-mean-the-future-of-education/ The future, where's it going? Invent it yourself!

76. Melanie Marie Shifflett Ridner (2009-09-05) #

    The truth will set you free and if its out there they ain't gonna let anyone in on it.

77. Richard Green (2009-09-05) #

    Reinventing yourself is crucial to succeeding in the music business over time. Continued success requires an ongoing process of unlearning old paradigms and responding creatively to changing market conditions. This holds true across all facets of the music business, from the character of the music being created, to the sound design of the music, to the image being projected, to the methods of marketing. If you are a recording artist, all facets of your business need to be in a continual process of reinvention.
    
    An example of reinvention is the career of The Beatles. Over time, the sound changed, the image changed, the marketing changed, and the types of underlying harmony changed as well. In my opinion, reinvention was the reason the Beatles career was able to sustain over time.
    
    You can tell when a famous group has stopped reinventing their music, their image, and their marketing. They lose their record deal. They become caricatures of themselves. And they spend the last part of their careers playing county fairs, casinos and corporate parties.

78. Steve Redig (2009-09-05) #

    It seems to me that the beginning of wisdom is humility. It seems like we have a hard time admitting that we are probably wrong about a ton of things. Think of the history of things like medicine (using leeches, sharing pus, etc.) and other sciences. How many times do we hear someone say "we used to think blah, blah, blah, but now we "know" blah, blah, blah."
    I have tried to develope the habit of avoiding the phrase "I know (this or that)" and instead saying "At this point I am convinced of blah" This seems to apply to everything. Politics, religion, etc. Realizing that I am probably going to find out I was wrong about a lot of things makes it a little easier to learn. Expect surprizes.

79. Dale (2009-09-05) #

    Unlearning is learning.

80. Luko Adjaffi (2009-09-05) #

    why changing what's working ..why not chaging thing just to learn new
    staff..i do miss cdbay when you where the chef..but good move ...
    how their will call you on larry king or the maim media...you deserve it..all thecopy cats trying to copy cdbay ..feel sade for tham ..get the message you save the art and souls of many musicians by creating cdbaby...

81. Kat Falcey (2009-09-05) #

    As a promotional booking agent, who works with musicians worldwide...
    I say, Do what you Like and Like what you Do!
    What works for one person may not work for another...stay honest and true to your craft and never stress over the CONS it only promotes negative energy...
    If (in anything you are involved in) one direction proves to not work then change direction of your sails and keep sailing towards YOUR dream...the only way to get there is the road less traveled or the road you choose to travel!

82. Jeff Wyatt (2009-09-05) #

    I'm all for unlearning anything that isn't working. It does take some effort to create fresh new avenues of thinking in our brains so we don't end up detouring into the same old pathways. But working on my thinking is a healthy thing to clear out some of the old cobwebs. A little mental work hasn't killed anyone yet. Thanks for the posting, Derek.

83. Solitoode (2009-09-05) #

    That is a wise thing to do. It would appear to me that you are ready to take a new direction in your life. But it is always good to keep an ear to the wall for whatever unknown reason that may crop up. Whichever path you choose, I wish you nothing but the best! In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy reading your insights for however long you decide to share them.

84. Jim Pipkin (2009-09-05) #

    Great column, Derek! I stopped going to music conferences in part because I got tired of everyone telling me what the future was gonna be - because they were selling a piece of it.
    
    The bottom line is the bottom line - music that can find investors and audiences will thrive, music that cannot find investors and audiences will die.

85. Mick Flores (2009-09-05) #

    I think learning to keep an open mind at all times is the way to go. A continual state of learning sounds better to me than unlearning all the things I have learned in the music biz. Maybe it's the musician who feels burned by the music biz side of things that feels it's hard to keep an open mind to unlearning old ways and learning something new. In any case, I feel the combination of all things learned and unlearned in the music biz will culminate in success. There is no absolute right or wrong way to obtain success - the future of music is yet to be written. The power is in taking your own path in your music career and letting your instincts, intuition and openness guide the music biz side of your career. Thanks Derek for this blog.

86. Carlos de Nicaragua (2009-09-05) #

    Yes I Derek
    
    Fi I & I only Jah know the future, seen.
    
    RASTAFARI

87. Bobby Evans (2009-09-05) #

    Bobby L.Evans 9-5-09
    
    yes so true
    Thats why I think you have to surround yourself with a team you can learn,unlearn,and relearn with!
    keeping in mind a BATTERY---there is a positive & negitive thang going on,it takes both to make a charge!I'm a creative person,It is one thang to do music and to write tracks.But it's another thang to be inspired to do something Great.---Bobby L.Evans

88. Andrew Hand (2009-09-05) #

    Derek,
    
    Very honest words and spoken with truth. Indeed the future is never known and all we can trust is this moment, this existence that connects us to our fellow beings.
    
    It seems that everything of importance comes down to fostering good will and relations to each other and the worrying and fretting over changes can never lead to new growth.
    
    Thanks for your words and openness.
    
    
    -Andrew

89. Daniel Dunphy (2009-09-05) #

    Well the facts are the facts. If music isn't in some way profitable it'll fall into the underground world where it will sit in it's own juices till some profitable breakout happens. Then the vultures will swoop down and use that idea till it's good and dead. The music industry is full of people who know how to take 1 good idea or vibe and milk it dry. So the future will be a sad one unless some value other then the music itself is afforded to the musician cause if there isnt, we'll just make music for ourselves and say "f**k you all".

90. Mark Stewart (2009-09-05) #

    Hard to say about the future, but I know that I have be versatile and flexible in my approach to every aspect of my career... I know one thing for sure...I'm glad the corporate record companies are losing their grip on the industry that they've had a stranglehold on for so many years!! Indie music LIVES!!

91. Peter Ncanywa (2009-09-05) #

    Clear the clutter for fresh knowledge! Great post.
    
    Ngqibs

92. Kim Kalesti (2009-09-05) #

    My experience even with successful musicians that "made it" sort of speak. If you ask them for advice, they don't even know how they got where they are. LOL It better to just admit, hey "I dont know". From a question comes our instincts to create something new. Another though provoking article, THanks Derek

93. Frank Tuma (2009-09-05) #

    I like what Einstein said when scientists asked him how he came up with his Relativity theories.He came up with these things that no one else had provided any foundations for him to spring board off of. He explained it thusly. "A rational mind,based on the impressions that it receives from it's limited perspectives, forms structures which thereafter determine what it further will and will not accept freely.From that point on, regardless of how the real world actually operates, this rational mind, following its self imposed rules, tries to superimpose on the real world its own version of what must be. However at long last when one forces themselve to be a beginer again the beginners mind cries out THIS IS NOT RIGHT my mind is lieing to me, and now I can see what must be done". Untill we can force ourselves to this point we are doomed to the recesses of our mind and not undestand the real world.
    
    Island Frank

94. Cindy Lange (2009-09-05) #

    Hey Derek, I remember last February at Folk Alliance, right after I met you following a panel discussion of the future of the music business; you asked me " Do you think I was too harsh with the other panelists, do you think I offended anyone?" To which I replied "Hell, no" (or something to that effect) :)
    
    I'm not sure if this was the panel that you were referring to, or if this has happened many times now. I found it so refreshing to find someone on a panel who was willing to be humble and admit that he didn't have all the answers. What I liked even more, was that YOU, the founder of CD Baby, was a little worried that you may have offended someone. It made me like you right away. Showed me your humility and humanity. I didn't know anything about you before that panel, but that conversation outside in the lobby, along with the little guitar pic business card, led my straight to your awesome blog.
    
    Continue on soldier!

95. Gen Berthault (2009-09-05) #

    Yosi is very funny! Nice to laugh about something.

96. Jud Sherwood (2009-09-05) #

    We don't ask philosophers to perform great feats of athleticism, yet, we often ask athletes for their opinions.

97. Rob Raynor (2009-09-05) #

    I think people usually ask "what's the future hold" because they want to take advantage of it and somehow catch some tsunami and be rich and wildly successfull,..who really cares what the future holds? besides i have a pretty good idea it will be the same as the past ie things will change, there will be some great new ideas, some new clever businesses,some needs filled, some needs created.. etc etc etc..but one thing is for sure music, that is writing and performing music will always BE. there will always be artists expressing themselves and touching people's hearts..in my opinion thats all that really matters...all the other business ideas are all fun to talk about over coffee and get horny over the next big thing..but i hope people in general get back in touch with heart and soul, lets get back to the basics:the way music makes you feel.
    
    “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” Einstein

98. Betsy Grant (2009-09-05) #

    Thank you for your honesty, and bless you for saying what everyone needs to hear. Unlearning is the easy part, retraining is the part that takes tremendous love, commitment, and patience. To be honest, and maintain a positive attitude throughout life - through whatever it throws at us - is not an easy thing to do, and requires constant cultivation.

99. Linda Sadowy (2009-09-05) #

    A big part of the problem is technology has changed so rapidly that yesterdays answers aren't sufficient to answer today's questions

100. Greg Keller (2009-09-05) #

     good call

101. Oona McOuat (2009-09-05) #

     I'm thinking that maybe at this juncture in human civilization it would be wise to ask not "What does the future hold?" but to ponder - "What do I want the future to be like?" and then to do our damnedest to help this come to pass. My hope is we would all want a future with old growth forests, with living oceans, with people who are kind to one another.
     
     Marshall McLuhan said "the medium is the message." We are flipping through mediums (new technologies) faster than a sacred hoop dancer jumps through her hoops and still, the question remains - can we hold and commit to a vision that is large enough to mend that which is broken?
     
     As for unlearning - perhaps we need to forget in order to remember...

102. Tuti (2009-09-05) #

     I saw once an interview with Bill Gates, giving pretty much the same answer when someone asked him what in his opinion would be the next IT hit. For sure, nobody really knows the future, but there are people out there that may inspire us to see a little bit clearer throughout the fog of time and space.

103. Bob Clifford (2009-09-05) #

     "... But the “industry” around it? Eh. No interest. Sorry. I'm burnt-out on that subject. I need to spend a couple years unlearning before I can think about it again. ..."
     
     I once had an employer who wanted to kill the status quo (too expensive for that quality) and go cheap. His rationale, in letting me and my department go, was "you're a prisoner of your experience and skills...".
     
     OK..
     
     I agree, though, in the sense that, while music makes the business, the business kills the music. But that's true of virtually any business, or industry, that is driven by art and creativity.
     
     The business model is dying, and, someday in the next ten years (forgive the oxymoron), a new model will emerge. The music will always be around, and the quality will go up and down.

104. Darrell Looney (2009-09-05) #

     I am willing to say that I DO know the future of music. It'll break down into a about 4 specific variables like this:
     
     1) There will be creators of music.
     
     2) There will be consumers of music.
     
     Too simple? True, because the people involved will fall either into one category or the other, as well as myriad combinations of the two. In addition, 3) the available media on which music is spread will continue to change based on their individual profitability as determined by all persons involved. Finally, one element that will remain consistent, no matter what, is 4) the struggle of the creators of music to obtain access to conduits for "putting the word out" about their songs. It doesn't matter that your music is available world wide via iTunes or CDBaby if no one knows you exist to listen to or purchase it. These variables have always been in place in the music industry. They're here now, and they will remain in place in the future. What we as musicians do when navigating the choppy waters of their interactions is what is unpredictable!

105. Don Robinson (2009-09-05) #

     I'm surprised he didn't just say "Ask Steve Jobs"

106. Greg "Olskool Ice-Gre" Lewis (2009-09-05) #

     Wow I love your answer on that question...lol. I agree every who has a business connected to their answer feels it's going in the direction that works best for their business. It's phony and I don't care what the "so called" pro's think they know because there is no way to determine the future in regards to art. The people who love music decide the true fate and that is ever changing.

107. Joe Romeo (2009-09-05) #

     on a tangent...
     CD's never really fully satisfied the vinyl enthusiasts. MP3s don't satisfy the digital/audio purists. But the choices are getting less. We basically have to make do with what is available. My brother loves music, he even does some radio work, but try as I may, I cannot get him to invest in a reasonable audio system, he is quite happy to listen on his computer, or his portable CD/cassette player.
     I notice that when pitching songs, the publisher again uses a portable low quality CD player.
     I love listening to music through great speakers. But is this important? probably not.
     On another irrelevant note, live music has a dimension that cannot be captured, though a DVD comes closer to that experience. I say this from the experience of putting on an original musical, with a bunch of amateurs, including myself. I found the response amazing. One person honestly said they found the experience on a par with "The Lion King" though clearly our performance/ presentation was definitely amateur in comparison.
     Another couldn't get over the "band" which was notable only in the use of a wider range of instruments than you would normally see live. I think what was communicated was the togetherness that resulted from committed rehearsal and a good storyline.
     In summary, my prediction is that live, amateur music will live on, whatever else goes by the wayside. And I also admit to a lack of objectivity.

108. Ron Tipping (2009-09-05) #

     There are no stupid questions I guess. I hope one of these experts were right and, that I just happen to pick that one. Try not to judge too harshly, we set people up as experts because of their success and they become a source advice about such things because of that success. Of course we only have our self interest in mind when we take their advice. You are one of them and it is good to see that you understand that we can only speculate on the future. You seem to be a little cynical these days though and if you think you can gain an advantage of some kind by saying these people are full of it, I don't agree. I don't think it is wrong to do so but we all have to live with the results of our speculation.

109. Josh Haden (2009-09-05) #

     i'm with you, derek.
     
     as a musician who's been through the ringer with both major & minor labels i try not to lose my perspective on the simple yet complicated act of songwriting itself. the music biz does that to me.
     
     for some reason i gravitate towards 7" vinyl as a way for an artist to wipe the slate clean and start again from square one. i'm not sure why that is.

110. Christopher (2009-09-05) #

     What if it's not unlearning at all?
     
     What if it's just that you need to spend a few years processing? All that information we absorb over time can't all be taken in completely. So maybe it's a bit of unlearning and forgetting about stuff, but maybe it's a bit of letting all of those things become a part of your worldview.

111. Jon MacKinder (2009-09-05) #

     The answer to the question is a question:
     
     "What do you need and want?"
     
     Or else you could just wait for Apple to release a new album format using the Beatles remasters as demo content. Just sayin'...

112. Matthew To Mccourt (2009-09-05) #

     well.. unlearning or a better way to say it may be BEING OPEN to the new might be a way to state that...
     in 1996 or so...there was a site called mp3.com i saw a good way to save money and cut the loss ortion of a business with 'burning cds as needed for sales...i sent them an email and they started doing just that...( now, i dont take credit for that cuz all good ideas have at least been thought of like derek and cd baby whic i also envisioned(being the credit card processor and mail out service for my friends but without any budget it was just a good idea)
     the future of the music business is also geogrpahically determined and genre dependednt... in europe where my bands are "legendary" so they say...
     the retailers will NOT stock cd-rs
     they call them bootlegs... even if done professionally. and mp3? out of the question.....period end of story. at least in the classic metal arena.
     in other countries mp3 is the way especially for younger people who may have NEVER had a cd let alone a nice big vinyl record with a cool tour program size book inside full of photos(see KISS alive the first one) or KISS the orginals a repacking of the original 3 albums with a huge year by year photo book(Kiss was teh best value for the money by the way.,,
     who knows.. maybe in the future LIVE music willbe the most tangible way we hear music...sounds crazy, BUT it is the one thing you cant reproduce on any type of media...nor the adrenalin you feel when teh house lights go down and all you see is the glow of indicator lights on a wall of marshalls. if there is one thing i remember about music it will be the first concert i saw at portland's paramount 1971 canned heat was teh band and when the house lights went down and the crowd roared and people ran to their seats or the front(not to mention the aroma of things i knew nothing about yet...(i was 11 years old) it was the biggest rush
     ive ever felt and even today after working a zillion shows and performing the same thing happens.
     there IS a better quality audio compression format already which is taking over the old mp3 or mp3 pro that audiophiles are using to convert their music.. (im at a loss of the name of it but my video guy is always on top o chain with this stuff..
     ive been throughmany change sin music- begnning with the Beatles on ed sullivan (i was 4-blame my mom for the lifelong curse of wanting to do same)BUT the first"music video" hey jude"(i was sorely dissapointed when ed promised the beatles and showed a film -let me down but i saw teh band....so.. i have a long list of things to unlearn on...for those about to rock who never went through those changes a good history of music is a greatplace to unlearn some things and maybe bring some back- alot of people in germany only sell vinyl.my pile of records were my refrence books i say pile becuase none of them made it back into the covers once i got them they were in piles like pancakes and i would go through teh entire stack standing infront of my record player with guitar strapped on learning riffs(when i got hendrix remastered versions i realised al th eparts id missed(and being in cover bands was neve ran option too many arguments abuot parts i was sure were not tehre(but had been skipped out due to my constant "learning"experiece- the best thing to do is NOT try and second guess what the future will be but focus on the now.. and make the best songs you can because when it comes down to it that is the most important.. the delivery will find YOU... and if you are too far forward .. youll get dissapointed
     trying to "convert" everyone to the new way just as i did with mp3's....learn to unlearn good point ..we forget that sony in the early 80's(about the time walter yetnikoff merged sony japan with CBS sony came out with a DAT machine..which was short lived//
     and also started making tape to tape consumer units(which uncle walt was really against...and remember the beta video machine..
     learn those stories and you may learn patience ok enuff of my yakkin lets boogie*****

113. Matthew To Mccourt (2009-09-05) #

     this is in response to joe romeo
     actually the only thing I have to listen to ,music is the stock cd player and radio in my car..~ i use headphones to mix my recordings and no real stereo i use my mom's bose radio/cd player to check the mixes
     or my car- im not a big listener of music i buy the fred meyer cheapo cd packages of repacks of my favorite old bands andthe quality is neve rof any concern to me its all about the song iv ebeen given many live board recoridngs of bands form the 70's and its pretty crpapy soundwise bUT the playing is great...i see pics of my myspace friends and fans with walls of nice tidy cd's and vinyl all sorted in order.. and wonder wow... i could never be like that.
     and radio is just not good here in portland i hate it(teh classical station is ok and teh kmhd jazz is cool but local rock radio has turned me into a rush limbaugh and lars larson and glenn beck fan(i also drive for a living while these shows are on... ya know mono is ok but going to fm once in a while makes me realise how great stereo sounds... thats an unlearned experience for ya..not to mention the great info i get about our future from el rushbo and beck. it ,aes me remeber that history does repeat itself i just wish the powers that be would pick a different time period to recreate
     cuz its feelin very 1930's about now.....(germany holland and britain have national healthcare and also some of the worst teeth ive seen on the most unhelathy peopel ive ever met...and quite uninformed when it comes to the workings of their own body..which has alos been noticed by a few of my german friends...
     .

114. Suzie Grey (2009-09-05) #

     Derek, you are a blessing, especially to musicians "Unlearning" is a clever way to describe "flexibility", a primary quality for life in general. Life on this planet is a school for us to be constantly learning, adjusting and "unlearning." I was born 93 years ago of musicians, sang before I talked, first public performance at two years, and music is still where I live.
     
     Music marketing has continuously changed, but music will always be with us. It has been here since humans came to earth. The birds and animals have their own music. Wild birds have sung with me. Music is a universal language. It brings people together, heals, calms, inspires and happifies people. Musicians need to be able to make a living from their talent but many changes in the industry itself need to occur.
     
     Thank you Derek, you have been and are today a key element in helping musicians make it on their own. You are a gift to us all. Onward and upward.
     
     - Suzie Grey

115. Cliff Coates Sr. (2009-09-05) #

     I think its interesting this thing called learning. In order for you to unlearn, you first would have had to learn. The standards by which learning takes place and the things that are learned, then and only then, sets the stage for us to learn. But one has to ask him/herself if what he/she has learned is the true thing to be learned.

116. David Hatfield Make checks to David Bingley (2009-09-05) #

     If anything I just love how much common sense there is in stating that no one knows the future. It's such a perfect response, even if it irritates the other panelists. I also think it helps to battle (yes 'battle') the pretentious nature of people who think they know everything. I wish there were more people with the kind of common sense displayed here, because there seems to be an extreme lack of it among most business people and especially in the music industry. Very cool.

117. Julie Blake (2009-09-05) #

     Hi Derek: I love that you wrote this post. It's so very true that we cannot predict the future of the music industry. However; you inspired me to write a blog post because I believe that every musician has the power to create their own present and future success based on their actions and commitment to their own music business. What if the future of the music industry is created by individual musicians ignoring the music industry and creating their own fate instead?
     
     I see music success everywhere I go and I give an example in my blog post of Eric Stone who did just that – and he has sold 100,000 copies of just one his CDs since 1999. A new music industry is being created right now and it’s being created by musicians that are owning their power and not wasting time wishing things had not changed or worrying about an uncertain future. They do not give their power away to anything outside of themselves. They are instead focused on creating their own music industry within and putting their focus on what they have control to change. This is an amazing time to be a musician.

118. Mark Whitty (2009-09-05) #

     I think there are a lot of cheap-skates out there who always want everything for nothing.
     I have found a lot of friends out there who I share similar interests with. Some even buy my music too. Since that 911 fiasco, insurance sharks have screwed us musos to be covered against some idiot falling into our gear and getting hurt. Don't ask me how to make money playing music. I don't think many do.

119. don hardy (2009-09-05) #

     It's not the unlearning that is crucial except if the concept has been completely swept away in the cosmos of change or the theory behind it refuted; rather it is constant learning and re-shaping; taking the viable parts of the past and building on those to a new (hate to say it) paradigm. The total clinging to the past - for Luddites and Neandrethals.

120. Joe Pickering Jr. (2009-09-05) #

     Why waste two years "unlearning" before you can think again...because one can't "unlearn" anything. What one has learned is part of the fabric of one's being. Learn from it and move on. Rest your mind too by trying something new.....why even go to your first baseball game. A whole new world could open up!

121. Imbi Rehling (2009-09-05) #

     Yes I can fully undestand your point
     of view, as to bein burnt out and
     knowing what thr future holds for
     music, one says this the other says that, im with you on this one, who
     really knows and has the right answer for the music industry

122. Kiril Savino (2009-09-05) #

     I'm not sure this is just indicative of pure bias. When I hear those anecdotes, my instinct is simply that your samples are self-selecting: the guy with the MP3 business is *in* that business because he believes it's the future, etc.
     
     Everyone with an interest in an industry has a thesis that's driving their efforts, naturally, and CEOs in particular cleave to them strongly.

123. Kate Dillingham (2009-09-05) #

     Asking Derek Sivers what is the future of the music business is akin to asking Benjamin Franklin what is the future of the printing press.

124. Jonathan Byrd (2009-09-05) #

     We create the future. You certainly did. You still are. Contemplating the future is great for fiction writing, but not an effective use of time for a business leader.

125. Dave Van Dyke (2009-09-05) #

     Eventually higher quality download will happen, shame so much time and effort for the musicians and engineer to prefect the sound and it gets converted into mid-range/mid high sizzle. Much like my grandma's victrolla....

126. Guy Leroux (2009-09-05) #

     Re: "I still get asked to talk about the future of the music industry, but I just can't. My answer to everything is, “I don't know."
     
     My son is trying to get a band together, commented, that he thought music as we know it is dead, or gone. I mentioned that it was going through a faze,that I agree with my father who passed away 2 years ago. Dad mentioned that like anything, music changes with the times. Elvis changed things, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison.
     Now times are different, sounds have changed, better sound equipment, and maybe things will go back to the big band sounds of Dean Martin,Frank Sinatra. Did Colin James try that sound? He sounded awesome, but maybe he did it just too soon.
     But, keep writing those lyrics, and songs, if the songs/lyrics are good, they can be adapted. Keep up the great work, and you may be the one that changes the future of music.

127. Arlon Bennett (2009-09-05) #

     "Past performance is no guarantee of future results."
     
     Thank goodness I saw that before springing for Kiplinger's "top ten stocks to buy NOW..."

128. chuck cannon (2009-09-05) #

     the future of music is the creators.

129. Jeffrey (2009-09-05) #

     How very Socratic of you, Derek. I think a somewhat measured approach may be more accurate. I mean, there are certain things you can say without being completely obtuse. I would expect a more intelligent response from you than "I don't know." For example, it's obvious to see some of the direction in the music industry, such as moving away from the older, CD based model (durr) and moving into the realm of experimental online releases. No one knows the future, but I think you could give a little insight from your position.

130. Darryl (2009-09-05) #

     You're a Buddhist... There's only the NOW... why even try to explain it?

131. Greg Lyons (2009-09-05) #

     Thank you Derek for yet another great thought to start the day.
     
     I've borrowed the John Cage quote on a few of my profiles - hope you don't mind :)
     
     Don't ever give up on us - your presence in our lives is a great beacon of encouragement.

132. Ken Tribolini (2009-09-05) #

     Wow! What I'm totally blown away by is all the intelligent, thoughful,inspiring and even hearfelt comments by all the above people. It would be great to meet you all at some big party. I've got the place 40 acres secluded with natural amphitheather! Anyone game? checkout my website for pics.
     "He who tells it knows it not, He who knows tells it not" Wonder why that is! peace, health, music, ken

133. Rhan Wilson (2009-09-05) #

     One of the most amazing things I have learned is how to say "I don't know." For so long I tried to be the one who knew everything and could get everything done, but it wore me out. Now, if I don't know something, I just shrug and say I don't. Whew.

134. Ken Tribolini (2009-09-05) #

     come on! I know I spelled heartfelt and thoughtful right! Or maybe I didn't! I don't know anything! LOL

135. Jimmy Gough (2009-09-05) #

     You can't receive anything new if your glass is full.
     Don't recject what is to come,we didn't and look how far we have travled.Record Deals to Indie Artist,Big Studios to Our own Studios.No one knows where this music business will go but we will adapt.
     Jimmy

136. lamont anthony (2009-09-05) #

     I totally agree that none of us know. My gut feeling is that it will be a mixture of things. MP3s, CDs, Subcriptions, Live Perfomances, Film and TV, Interactive Websites. It's going to take us to be more versitle with many different approaches. The one thing that will remain is the art, the making of it and the people who appreciate it.

137. Jennifer Youngs (2009-09-05) #

     You'd be better off to ask a young music fan or musician, unencumbered by too much knowledge of the past.
     boy aint that the truth! i loved your "hell yea!" article it stuck with me for a few days ;-)

138. Susan (2009-09-06) #

     The future? Which future? The one where we figure out whether CDs, MP3s, or subscription services get more market share, or the one where they beam the music directly into our heads?
     
     Until the day I think of a cool innovation myself, I'll stick with "I don't know."

139. Blackhawk Walters (2009-09-06) #

     Thanks Derek for keeping it REAL!
     I LOVE TO HEAR SOMEBODY WHO IS HONEST AND NOT FULL OF SHIT.
     Thanks for LOVING the MUSIC!
     And telling it like it is!!!

140. Lammy (2009-09-06) #

     ''In my old age, I have become frighteningly
     unsure of all that I was once so sure of.
     (the more I know . . . . the less I knew!)''
     by:
     ~~ just another unsigned, unheard of, unappreciated, underdog ''artist'',
     L A M M Y aka Mr. True???

141. Mike Laatz (2009-09-06) #

     WITHOUT GETTING TOO ESOTERIC, ITS QUITE SIMPLE. THE FUTURE, FOR EACH OF US, IS EXACTLY WHAT WE BELIEVE IT TO BE. AS SOMEBODY ONCE SAID:"THOUGHTS ARE THINGS. CHOOSE GOOD ONES"

142. Wendy Conrad (2009-09-06) #

     Derek, if I was lucky enough to be in the audience of a panel you were speaking at, where you spoke this gem, “Nobody knows the future. Anyone who pretends to is full of shit and not to be trusted.” I, for one (and not the only), would be on my feet applauding you. And what a spectacular ride the remaining portion of that panel would be. That's a ride I wouldn't wanna miss.

143. Siobhan O'Brien (2009-09-06) #

     Ah Derek, brilliant, so refreshing to hear that your fellow panelists look at you in a queer way.. Pity they couldn't unlearn their programmed and conditioned answers. Keep flying the flag Derek. We love you. :0)

144. Marty McGill (2009-09-06) #

     Nothing to fear but fear itself... Give it the lash... M

145. Caren Hammock (2009-09-06) #

     Never unlearn!!!!
     
     Maybe just look at the big picture in all different directions. Portray your views in different ways. All things keep evolving, especially clothes and music. Sing an old song in a totally different way and see what it does. The biggest lesson in life is "Put your heart and soul into it and "It" will touch someone, maybe not everyone, but does it really have to? There are still some poeple in this world who love things the old way, just revampt it!!!!!
     
     I really enjoyed waking up this morning and reading this article. It gets my blood pumping and creative juices flowing!!!

146. Jose' (2009-09-06) #

     The only thing that seems to determine the future of the music biz these days is the quality that the end listener is willing to put up with. mp3 may be enjoying a rage today but as soon as there is an easier way to get better sounding tunes it will skydive away to obscurity. Heck, CD may well return in a better form and push everything else out. Who knows? Not Me either.

147. will woodrow (2009-09-06) #

     Musicians, artists, creatives... Ahh, the quarkiest bunch. We all have extremely open minds yet somehow always blogging self-biased opinions. Mine is... Shut up and make music. If you're good, someone will buy it in whatever format it's available in.

148. Robert Lazaneo (2009-09-06) #

     Its only natural that people that have a product to sell will say that theirs, is the future. Thats part of the process, you must have this, its essential, blah,blah, blah. In the end, the people who attempt to create in the arts do so for themselves, then they share it with others and that leads to questions about price, how can I sell more of these things that I have made? As far as unlearning goes, we always look at what was done in the past and say,"Did that really work?" Then you try to come up with a new plan. Predicting the future is an amusement like checking your horoscope in the local paper.

149. David Griffith (2009-09-06) #

     Timely for me.... this ‘post’ The creative process is what I love and honour with awe. It doesn’t happen often.
     
     I’ve been pondering this for weeks as I sieve the soil for weeds within my garden and I have nothing much to say to myself but I delight in the weeding anyway. It’s part of a journey and my fingers now hurt!
     
     I can’t see any difference in the way that the creative process manifests within the garden or within a song especially when my internal voice is telling me - right now - to leave the music business alone, to go work on my garden and go put my own house in order - in every sense.
     
     I’ve done what I can to ‘put it out there’ as a songwriter and it no longer matters whether I make it. Not sure I want to.....what?.... stop being, essentially, an ordinary bloke living a quiet and extraordinary meaningful life in a very ordinary way. Well .. no ... I like that ...it’s constructive ..... and if that’s what the time dictates ......
     
     I love the way that ‘The Universe’ allows for such ‘holy fools’ as those who would follow that inner voice and that’s got to include some of you as well as me.
     
     I know my songs aren’t of world beating standards but they serve within the hearts of a few within my community and they mean something to me and while this does give me pause for thought, the creative process still bubbles up and manifests within every aspect of all the work that needs to be done in preparation for the Season - whether that be in the garden or the heart.
     
     I don’t have a mobile phone. I reluctantly dip into facebook, myspace and twitter and will cease..... because the creative process tells me that solitude and ‘work on myself’ is what is needed - for me - at this point.
     
     I got to ‘this’ - whatever ‘this’ is - because I wrote a few songs, decades ago, while I did ‘other things’ and then I just kept writing ‘a few songs’ - as the creative process allows. ‘Good’ songs or not is another matter.
     
     It’s very liberating to be able - at this moment - to shrug my shoulders at the business side of things and go back to just ‘being’ - and being ‘honourable’ - and allowing for, perhaps, a few more songs to percolate over the next ‘whatever many’ years........ and THAT ... ‘a few songs’ - I need remember - was the starting point and THAT had no regard for success or failure ... it just bubbled up as creative expression in one form or another.... and there was no ‘business’.... if that makes sense.......
     .
     What am I unlearning? My concepts of success for a start.
     
     Bravo Derek and all who carry a torch.

150. Tina Jackson (2009-09-06) #

     The one thing that's certain about the future of music is 'there is a future for music.' Music is here to stay and boundless. Ahhh! It's so exciting and refreshing.

151. Duane Eby (2009-09-06) #

     so...if the healing, emotional spirit of the creative act takes a back seat to those who would use it as a "format" to make money...then hasn't the music industry thrown out the content for a penny? I'm sure the fans who remember every word of something the music industry thought would be obscure (i.e. wouldn't sell) would love to know how to connect with more music that moved them...how do we get people in the music industry to be affected by content instead of by recreating mimics for money?

152. Fire-dean (2009-09-06) #

     Thinking 'I know' something is my own recipe for failure.
     Q: How many times have i done a gig i thought would be a waste of time and it went fabulously well?
     A: Lots!
     Q:How many times did i think something great was about to happen only to be severely dissappointed when it didnt?
     A: Lots more!
     More important, thinking 'I know.' assuages the egoic mind, that part of the brain that wants to be 'Right.' more than anything in order to preserve its identity. Echart Tolle discusses at length how the egoic mind is fear based and controls 95% of our actions. In order to build a case for being 'Right' my egoic centered mind can do many strange things, ie. cut off ideas that dissagree with 'my story' for why things are the way they are. My egoic brain is afraid of anything that disregards its usefullness, such as spirit-led, and intuitive ideas. Ideas like 'Everything is as it should be' are a threat to my the 'Thinking part.' of my brain which needs to explain things. It dismissises things like 'Doing nothing is the best course of action.'
     Most important i think is that my insatiable desire to explain the future through the past cuts me off from THE PRESENT.

153. sandy famiglietti (2009-09-06) #

     Man was not made to have the knowledge of things to come.
     Through the stages of life we learn from the past, modify the present, and redefine the future.

154. Robert Van Horne (2009-09-06) #

     The future is not for us to know. I do my best and then decide with my "gut" feelings!
     
     Thanks,
     
     Robert Van Horne

155. Mel Green (2009-09-06) #

     The little "soccer dude" with the empty head(?) is a nice visual metaphor for this "unlearning" topic, I'd also comment that having an open mind to the constantly changing world and it's ways of marketing/promotion/merchandising is also a good approach.

156. Michael Mucklow (2009-09-06) #

     Well, first I'd like to say that David Griffith's comment is very excellent. I seem to be in this same 'place' of letting things be.
     
     Whatever I've learned over the years in all it takes to be a 'successful' indie musician is all being set aside for returning to the simplicity of what it all started with...me and a guitar. Right now it seems this is all that *really* matters.
     
     Forget all the stuff learned, or rather 'unlearn' it. Listen to the inner instinct. I think out of this will come true 'success', on whatever level that is to be for me. And from this place I can happily and graciously accept the gift of music as it is to be expressed in/through my own life.
     
     Michael

157. Charles Nwabueze (2009-09-06) #

     Hi Derek,
     Thanks again for the posting.
     
     Every human being learns, because he is created in the image of God (Gen.1v27).
     
     As a person, you've got the ability, potentially to learn. What you learn, how you learn, when you learn are all subject to different factors. But how long you learn is an ongoing process only subject to the fact one is created in the image of God.
     
     So whether you like it or not, you are learning something daily-good or bad, foolish or sensible.
     
     The Bible gives us something to ponder when considering this learning factor, and from which this truth that: "The best way to learn is to unlearn and relearn" is being deducted.
     
     It says that "If you hold to the truth....You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free" (John 8v31-32).
     
     Holding on to the truth is learning, an ongoing process. Knowing the truth is also learning. Then it is also learning when the truth you have learned unlearns the knowledge that once held you captive, there by setting you free.
     
     Your freedom is as a result of having unleraned what you have learned by what you have relearned.
     
     With the view above, I strong agree with Alvin Toffler that:
     
     “The illiterates of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”- Alvin Toffler
     
     God bless you & family

158. Alan McCabe (2009-09-06) #

     i'm thinking that the next technological development in musicmaking is that sound waves will be able to affect and alter people's moods to an alarming degree... to remain competitive, more artists and producers will need to understand how to merge mood altering sonic techniques into their mixes... listening to music will be more and more like 20th century drug experiences. but as far as what form of music distro will eventually "win out" -- i totally agree with you. lust like religion: give me happy spuculative conversation, and i'll participate for years. but if someone tells me they know the ultimate answer, i'm out the door with my hands over my ears.

159. Everett Adams (2009-09-06) #

     There is nothing new under the sun.
     
     The bible

160. Richard Cummins (2009-09-06) #

     I guess the unlearning would go hand in hand with how much of that stuff you allowed yourself to soak in the first place - I'm not one of those artists who can also play businessman. I write songs. Every one has told me that what I'm releasing wont sell anyway, so I just make my music and get it 'out there' sort of, like through cd baby and through it's extensions..
     
     The future is ONE person hearing your stuff - liking it - and telling a friend, who goes and does likewise (ad infinitum) if your material is good enough. THAT is the past, present, and future.
     
     In my humble opinion.. wink, nudge, and all that stuff.
     
     Sir Richard

161. Jeff Charroux (2009-09-06) #

     Always consider the source.

162. Emilie M (EYR) (2009-09-06) #

     I used to spend my time trying to "teach" people how to unlearn their views anchored since childhood by the system they grew up in.
     Thus, I'm always considered as pretentious, naive, vicious, but never they notice I want to help them (and myself) to be always relearning even the little silly things in life. The fact is "im too young, and i talk too much"
     
     But as I wrote in my last song "exhausted"
     "They think it's pretentious,
     naive and vicious, to wish to save the world again"

163. Deborah Davis (2009-09-06) #

     Makes sense to me!!! Thanks!!!

164. Greg Pagel (2009-09-06) #

     I don't know much about anything, and I let people know it as often as possible. I must be your kind of person, Derek!

165. Joe Palen (2009-09-06) #

     Amen, Derek. Unlearning is _so_ important. When we get back to "old" thoughts and feelings we had when we were kids, new doors open up.

166. Lee Cutelle (2009-09-06) #

     It's true....No one can really predict the future of the music business but one thing I do know is that the Internet has changed everything.

167. Eileen Cowie (2009-09-06) #

     1 thing that I've learned from you over the years was that you always keep it real, thats the future keeping it real..

168. Kevin Lee (2009-09-06) #

     I think your doing the right thing. Walk away and them come back fresh with a new lease of life when the time is right.

169. Pilar (2009-09-06) #

     Yes!UNLEARN IT, mo fo! I LOVE IT!

170. George Finizio (2009-09-07) #

     Well I've avoided that problem all together...having never learned anything to begin with...I don't have the problem of "unlearning." :-)...

171. Googie (2009-09-07) #

     I have a simple answer which I apply to most things.
     "Progress means change but not all change is progress." So is it better than before, you have to decide.
     But of course with human nature anything new or different is a challenge that not everyone embraces.
     And where is music going. "All music is sound, but not all sound is music."I've stated this before, what we call music today would not have been called music a 100 years ago, its all about our brains learning and excepting new things like it or not.

172. Cyril Darensbourg (2009-09-07) #

     I agree with you, no one knows the future of the music business.

173. Corey Koehler (2009-09-07) #

     You are right on with your post and both of those quotes. Thank you for the mental massage!

174. Poor and Angry (2009-09-07) #

     Yeah, me and my friends have this conversation all the time. I always wonder about how the music game is going to change, and how to prepare for it. It always feels like someone's just going to change everything out of nowhere, and then it will be super difficult to get on! And that's generally what this question is about - how much money will we have the potential to make in the future? It hurts the music, but isn't it necessary?

175. Wichampi (2009-09-07) #

     In a nut shell...a failing economy creates material poverty. People lose their homes and many have to make huge cutbacks on expenses. The first thing eliminated is entertainment . No more cable tv. No more Internet and even no more phone;let alone no more going out to see films and shows. There are
     industries shutting down every day of the week right now.
     
     Whatever happens, musicians will
     live on with or without the "biz".
     
     Nobody knows the future but if ya want to have a pretty good idea,
     figure if the world can't come together and create a balance so that everyone eats,child slavery in Africa and India is abolished
     totally,disgusting abuse of drugs
     stops feeding a war oriented economy....just who gives a dam
     about the industries who pay lip service to all this evil ?
     Good, decent people like you, Derek still exist. Taking a step back is taking a big step forward.
     
     I love musicians,music and creating music too and completely
     identify with your honest way of expressing your needs.

176. Andrei SoulsilenS (2009-09-07) #

     Yes, fear of old cliches, fear of old ideas...
     This frightens many musicians I believe.

177. Roger Adler (2009-09-08) #

     hey guys-I know the future- it is filled with change-the status quo doesn't even exist-its just something people do to trick themselves into thinking they know whats going on-embrace change-you really might as well-its the only thing certain to happen....
     i believe steve winwood said-"roll with it"

178. Robb Cairns (2009-09-08) #

     Derek-
     First of all, it never ceases to amaze me at the large reader response you get to your thought-provoking blogs... no National Newspaper (when people read newspapers!) ever received such a large individual response for the brief conversation-starting paragraphs you create!
     What also amazes me is that so many people miss your "big picture" point- that of UNLEARNING and dive deep into the "future of the music industry" that was only used as an example of why we should "Unlearn".
     So, to that subject, here's my bit: There's an old saying, "Originality is just a pair of fresh eyes". A person who is not an expert and not buried in their own conclusions can sometimes make a better observation of what is happening or future direction. It's a new, open perspective and that, I think is the point you were trying to make. (and in my opinion, made it quite effectively). And maybe all the responses regarding the Future of the Music Industry proves your point. That is OUR perspective and just like the Man with a Hammer sees every problem as a Nail, we're all responding with our baggage and predilictions. Instead, you're saying that we've got to free ourselves sometimes from our subjective opinions and experience and look at a situation with open eyes and a fresh perspective. We don't want "I don't care about the facts, my mind is made up" syndrome, that is all too prevelent in so-called expert panels and industry observers.
     Thanks again for your brain-jarring/thought stimulating articles.
     Robb

179. David Shaw-Parker (2009-09-08) #

     I'm an actor of some 33 years experience and on of my favourite maxims for rehearsals is: treat every classic like a new play, treat every new play like a classic.

180. Jack Grassel (2009-09-08) #

     I asked one of my teachers: "How can I get gigs?" he replied: "Jack, go home and practice."
     It worked.

181. Omoleye Gomez (2009-09-08) #

     Derek, quote me "show me he who can have a a VERY VERY brief flicker of the future and i will show a success in the making" may the Lord open the my inner eyes.

182. Jimi (2009-09-08) #

     Great thought!
     Now that I've had time to look at the humor guy you highlighted a couple blogs back, I discovered he's not the slacker he portrays. He's very proactive, defining both himself & his market.
     He doesn't need to worry about the future because he is creating his own world.
     I should know better. You would not highlight an artist unless there was much more to what you mentioned.
     I am humbled & encouraged that the future is the future, & the road there is either a stumbling stone or a stepping stone, depending on if you're running blindly or walking forward with vision.
     :)

183. Don Blevins (2009-09-08) #

     On the subject of changes and how they are perceived, changes are generally realative to the values and wisdom of the individual. For example, there might be present changes accepted or taking place among the older generation that the younger generation would in no way accept or have any interest in.
     Also thst could be true regarding gender, nationality, enviornment, etc. What about the public health care plan? What change would you like?

184. Chris Huff (2009-09-08) #

     Toffler's great. Every musician should read "Revolutionary Wealth".

185. Mykel (2009-09-08) #

     I guess I am in a pretty damn good position as I re-enter this industry having unlearned some old beat up habits that have not provided me a constant income. I am getting the reinvention of self and the business are keys to my financial and artist successes.

186. Brian Theoret (2009-09-08) #

     I love the John Cage quote at the end. I'm a big fan of his work. No one can say what will happen tomorrow. What you do today may have an influence on what happens tomorrow, but until you try something new you'll never know what tomorrow brings.

187. Jerry Herrera (2009-09-08) #

     Hi Derek,
     U R right, as 4 me I neither know what the future holds 4 music or anything else, I only know who holds the future.
     Reff:
     http://bible.cc/jeremiah/1-5.htm

188. Colie Brice (2009-09-08) #

     "I don't know why, why is all I know.." - Colie

189. Tom N. Tierney (2009-09-08) #

     Derek, you continually amaze me with your forthright and honest attitude. Self-obsession is one of the most singularly dominant traits I see in people today, and I suppose it spills over into the music industry (and every other one) as a whole. You seem to be un-self-obsessed, which is one of the things I admire most about you. I guess it all boils down to the money trail... 'why ain't my stuff (music) makin' it, man?' People like that have a harder time 'unlearning' than others, I think. Perhaps if they were less self-absorbed they might be more open to the constructive thoughts and ideas of others, less prone to have their egos ruffled, and 'unlearning' wouldn't be such a foreign and unattainable thing.

190. Aleee (2009-09-08) #

     It's consitant with socio illistrations "people" enjpy celebrating thier mouths ..A thing is or is not

191. glory reinstein (2009-09-08) #

     Thanks, Derek. You continue to enlighten and give us reason to think, monitor, and adjust. Indeed change and shift are happening. I agree that no one knows what the future will bring. But right now is an exciting time--a time for the DIY's to be creative and try new, innovative methods of promotion, distribution, and connecting to fans. The things that will remain constant are talent, creativity, and perseverance.

192. Dave Medlicott (2009-09-08) #

     To me time is a human concept, maybe if we focused and visualize in the "Now" and not worry about the future or past we might not get bored with regurgitated ideas. If you can hear music in your mind, why couldn't we transmitt it to play with our thoughts to a devise that is sensitive to thought waves? Now that's something I like to learn how to do!

193. Jim Becker (2009-09-08) #

     Just follow the money trail...

194. Nita Hope (2009-09-08) #

     Right! So, in a nutshell, quit asking derek about the industry already. :)

195. Sean (2009-09-09) #

     Lol.. I love the picture of the Play Mobil missing his hair. All too appropriate for the topic. It would be nice if we could just open up our heads and let the bad mojo evaporate and 'unlearn'.

196. Sean (2009-09-09) #

     Reading some of the comments above: I was listening to NPR last night, and sadly I can't remember the two gentlemen discussing the topic, however, they were talking about the future state of the music industry. I think one of the assumptions that some people have (like myself) is that the industry is moving towards commercial mechanics that act as equalizers and that we will see less and less uber money making artists.
     
     I don't claim to know that the future will be this way, but I certainly hope that we will see the playing field leveled. I hope to see less and less 'mega star' millionaires and more of us musicians who are able to make a good living doing what we do best. The non-pop star types I meet just want to be able to support their family and future as a full time artist.

197. Ted Sousares (2009-09-09) #

     To Dave Medicott ( see above ) who wants a process to think his song into something to get it on paper or play from some process: He needs to know that neurosurgeons and others use magnets to change brain waves ( think: to treat seizures, depression, etc. ) It might be around the corner that just picking up the brain waves will convert into music in 3 to 5 years down the road.
     Ted S

198. Barrie Glover (2009-09-09) #

     Without focus there is no effective
     result.Your statement is true.

199. Paula Benson (2009-09-09) #

     I am from the era of instruments and great harmonies on a cd.I never would have thought that computers would change the sound of music. I still prefer cds over mps. I purchased a Diane Reeves cd and wondered why I purchased that cd. About three years later I found out why. That cd is great with all those instruments. I can not say music will change, because I am to busy learning how to play and listen to great sounds from musicians and singers.

200. Mario Fiore (2009-09-09) #

     HOW SWEET IT IZ!!!

201. Rachel Walker (2009-09-10) #

     There is a way...we just have to find it....
     
     Rachel

202. inflewence (2009-09-10) #

     Love the honesty in all your post. I would be more inclined to ride with you due to it. Good read!

203. Edwin (2009-09-11) #

     Just work. Your work now will decide your future.

204. Glowing Face Man (2009-09-11) #

     If we knew what the future would be like, that would be like watching a movie where you already know the ending...

205. Tyler Prete (2009-09-11) #

     That quote by John Cage is entertaining. No doubt this is true though... all our glasses start to get a little rose colored as time goes on. Taking them off to see things as they are can be quite the endeavor, especially if you don't know you're wearing them.

206. Rae Taylor (2009-09-15) #

     so good, Derek. thanks for the refreshing frankness! such a break from all the hype.
     R

207. Carl Decuir (2009-09-15) #

     i guess u could focus so much on the moment or one day at a time that you are not planning well but savoring all moments is so delicous and works best tasted one at a time if possible... rc pirate.... the future should always be a surprise and thankfully alludes us and the greedy kings.... amen

208. Alessandro Buonpensiero (2009-09-16) #

     Nessuno può conoscere il futuro,nessuno può dire cosa succederà,questo lo si può solo scoprire '' vivendo ''

209. Shalah Nobles (2009-09-21) #

     Well said...well said.

210. India (2009-09-23) #

     We are very used to asking others for the answers, and that's fine. It's also very powerful to turn to our own inner wisdom and to cultivate that relationship with ourselves.

211. Spoon (2009-12-31) #

     hahah...
     
     Yo Derek,
     
     Aftr reading your blogs, checking out your talks and industry ideas
     
     feels like that bit in Forest Gump where he just stops running and all the people following are stumped going
     
     'ok so what do we do now..'
     
     I hear you though..
     
     Gotta be some enjoyment in it all somewhere, not a machine afterall..

212. shane (2010-04-26) #

     Hi Derek
     Yes, know one knows the future, that's the way we live in the NOW.
     We find that everything that happens,happens NOW to we,me, and my 50 trillion CELLS. we do not know anything,that way we can and will learn something new every moment of so called time.
     The website eamega is new so it is not up and running,tomorrow it maybe.Thanks 50trillionCELL&shane

213. pandora (2010-09-10) #

     The best things in life are free, but you can give them to the birds and bees, I need money!" Motown founder Berry Gordy co-wrote it, Barrett Strong sang it, and John Lennon's vocal in the Beatles cover offered a fervent affirmation. By the time Wu-Tang Clan recorded "C.R.E.A.M.," however, chasing bucks in pop found kinship more with gundowns and teens behind bars. For this year's Pop Conference, the tenth annual meeting and first outside of Seattle, we invite presentations on a matter Los Angeles knows well: the relationship between song and paycheck" or, to invoke the O'Jays hit "For the Love of Money," bass line and bottom line.

214. James Moore (2011-09-05) #

     Alvin Toffler's words remind me the importance of willingness to be teachable (learning) and being open to corrections (unlearning).

215. Chris (2012-02-28) #

     I absolutely love the lack of ego involved. Honesty is such a beautiful thing.
     
     We're all flying blind through this world and doing the best with the knowledge we have and while we do our damnedest to daily grow that knowledge we will never know the complete story to anything. Coincidentally this is what makes life exciting and rewarding if we are to think long enough about the subject.

216. Michael Kowalczyk (2013-01-23) #

     Love the Toffler's and Cage quotes. We can't learn everything. We must choose. Sometimes we face contradictory views on the same matter. Again, we must choose. Sometimes, we will find information that is contrary to our knowledge. We must choose and unlearn the things we know to be smarter or more effective in something...
     
     Thanks,
     M.

217. Jon Landers (2014-01-23) #

     I think this is just another way of being outside the box!

218. Sean Crawford (2017-10-06) #

     One of my joys when going to college was being able to hold two contradictory beliefs, ideas and theories with feeling any need to have to choose between them.
     
     I feel sorry for people who can't feel joy and exultation from Christmas carols because they think they have to choose between atheism and faith.

219. Dave Kaspersin (2018-02-18) #

     Derek,
     
     Time to relearn ???
     
     Dave
     
     Alvin Toffler said: “The illiterates of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

220. J.J. Vicars (2018-06-06) #

     Zen mind, beginner's mind. White belt becomes dirtied with use and turns to black belt. Black belt is frayed from further use and turns to white belt.

221. Düfner (2018-06-06) #

     So true. I'm a teacher and I "listen" to my students that know more about a subject than me because website design is ever evolving, and I may not know how a new app works or a new software might be better than another.

222. Tom (2018-06-06) #

     Unlearning and relearning is perhaps another form of refining the knowledge you already have.
     
     Schools must make students aware of this dynamic and I don't think they are doing that.

223. Karim Virjee (2018-06-06) #

     The challenge for people is one of being stuck. - they know they have to change - and they don’t have the touchdown la, the vision, the mindset not a map by which to take the first step and are stuck. Question is how to unstick oneself?

224. April Bell (2018-06-06) #

     I have a love-hate relationship with all this. How technology has sped everything up. I seem to say, "I don't know" all the time these days, because I know I don't know - and when I do know, it's for a short period, and it is just one angle that I know... And well, it allows me to mine others for info...which creates conversations, with can lead to connections, which technology has done a good job of destroying. So in the end, it's all good. Maybe this is part of what will bring us back to humanity. Who knows.

225. Elaine Stirling (2018-06-06) #

     I always enjoy your fresh perspective on things, Derek, and have shared them often with my corporate learners. (I teach business writing from a creative perspective.)
     
     In the last few years, I hit plateaus in almost all areas of my life. At 64, a published writer, I'm watching my contemporaries label themselves as "retired" and they seem to take it so literally. I don't want to go down that road.
     
     In 2015, I began studying Improv at Second City. Six months ago, I began studying Clown. This summer, I will attend a musical improv festival in Boston and perform to paying audiences. These art forms with no net are my way of unlearning, so that when I approach writing and teaching, I feel 30 years younger--or newer. What you write about is definitely working for me.
     
     Warmest regards from Toronto,
     
     Elaine Stirling

226. Jay Spears (2018-06-06) #

     Hola, DS. Long time no see.
     When I sold my first two CDs on CD Baby, they were chock-full of "homo-pop" tunes like "I Like Mike", "Cryin' Over Brian", and "Playin' on My Team". It was my two cents' worth of subversive gay activism in the early years of the new millennium.
     My third album had no homo-pop on it at all. I think I had run out of things to say about it, or the times were no longer compelling me to say anything, or maybe I had grown out of it.
     Anyway life is still good. I have a new mail-order live-in boyfriend and a quartet with whom I webcast regularly. What's not to like?
     Cheers, and all the best.
     Jay in L.A.

227. Timothy Scannell (2018-06-06) #

     Nicely done. I couldn’t agree more!

228. Marc (2018-06-06) #

     Learning. Unlearning. Learning. Unlearning. Learning.
     
     Life, in 5 words.
     
     Thanks, Derek

229. Zohreh (2018-06-06) #

     Can you unlearn?
     
     Or are you talking about being/staying conscious of the ever-changing nature of life. That to stay attached to our perspective on a particular subject denies us the richness of experience that comes with an open-minded approach to life.
     
     Of course I've never been an expert at anything so it has always been relatively easy for me to allow that someone else knows more than I do. Except when it comes to knowing me. And when it comes to that, I wouldn't want to "unlearn" anything because it has all added up to the me that I am today.

230. Samuel Smith (2018-06-06) #

     Very well put, and personally something important for me to hear. Being in IT can lead to arrogance with having so many "technophobe" users who refuse to learn email and are proud of it, but talking with others about AI or neural networking really puts it in perspective that this concept of unlearning may not apply to everything (my cat's three years strong in loving when I set a new cardboard box down), but definitely everyone.

231. Sue M (2018-06-06) #

     So very true and kind of a "rude awakening" as we get older; everything we were so confident and cocky about, is now obsolete. And as someone in her 50s, I'm finding, like a lot of our ancestors before us, that I'm fighting those changes and being a little obstinate about how it 'should' be done instead of unlearning and relearning the new ways of just about everything. Good read, Derek! Thanks for the reminder!

232. Carmen Carbone (2018-06-06) #

     Glad you asked. It’s important to realize that the thinking that got you to where you are won’t get you to where your mind wants you to be.
     
     Evolution is in our DNA, remember....., you must die to yourself before you can evolve.

233. Dennyq (2018-06-06) #

     My life took an enormous change when my husband of 48 years succumbed to cancer. I met Tom when I was 17, I now have to find out WHO I AM, because life is so different now. This is taking me to unlearn many things and to stand on my own, decisions I make only affect me, which I never have before.
     
     The exciting time now is to find out who I am now.
     So to unlearn is not to throw it away, to relearn will show new pathways open to me.

234. Sonny (2018-06-06) #

     LOVE it. Thank you! Probably the most important thing for anyone to hear, and it packs just that much more of a punch, when coming from your personal experience.

235. John Steen (2018-06-06) #

     This ties right into the sunk cost fallacy. Just because we learned it, doesn't mean it's valuable now. And another branch to this is sometimes I feel like once we unlearn, we don't even need to relearn—we need to learn something completely different, like when we decide to switch careers. Great article Derek.

236. Harish (2018-06-06) #

     Hi Derek,
     
     Great piece. Your ideas resonate with what is happening in the world today. I don’t know about tomorrow. It is interesting to note how everyone knows the truth yet refuses to change. One reason as we all know or seem to believe is that people resist change. It’s hard to get comfortable getting uncomfortable. We all love our comfort zones so much that we place our head in the sand and refuse to read the writing on the wall. Just today I read the sad news about a popular fashion luxury bag designer—Kate Spade— who committed suicide. The world considered her to be a super successful business person. What caused her to end her life when she had it going for her? We don’t know.
     
     Like you said: we should all be saying “I don’t know” more often than behaving like experts. The average life span of any new firm in the 20 century was 100 years. Today that has reduced to 15 years. Tomorrow it may we’ll be just 5 years. This is evidence enough that the rate of change is super fast.

237. David Griffith (2018-06-06) #

     That quote from John Cage made me laugh, probably because it's 'true' and there are plenty of old ideas that I'm still not familiar with.
     As for unlearning - gee whiz - when it comes to ancient history and only talking a few thousand years, how much history is left out entirely or written with little regard for facts but with great regard for whoever it was who commissioned the history, it's mind boggling.
     Still - nothing wrong with mind boggling,particularly so if it impels me to dig deeper.
     Thanks for your thoughts.

238. Jason DeFillippo (2018-06-06) #

     I spent 21 years building websites. 5 years ago I abondoned all those skills and started in podcasting. Best thing I’ve ever done.

239. Sean Crawford (2018-06-06) #

     Perhaps, as regards my feeling the pain of feeling like an idiot, it helps to be like a dancer or bodybuilder who is accustomed to pain. In other words, to manage my ego through an ongoing learning from an ongoing humbleness. As the T-shirt says, Be Humble or be Humbled.
     
     If the obstacle is ego—as it is for so many things in my life—then the stile for that fence is to embrace the pain.
     
     These days I am thinking over the potential ego-remedy of using something Alain De Boton said (in my own words, as I forget how he put it): If you are not embarrassed by how you were a year ago, then you are not learning (changing) fast enough.... Wow, change that fast? Somehow, that consoles me in my embarrassment, and gives my ego permission to say I was wrong... on a faster yearly basis.
     
     My own on-going moot? I wonder how short to make my blog essays. My favorite writers go long, but I realize everybody else goes short. My latest trick is to cut my essays in two, and simply post two pieces in a row. But that only works in certain cases.
     
     If anyone else wants to share a moot learning, I would be interested.

240. Casey (2018-06-06) #

     Ever read "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind"? I did once but now I can't remember any of it... I feel like the title says it all though. lol

241. Morgan Howard (2018-06-06) #

     Be certain you will always pursue the truth, be uncertain you will ever find it.

242. Jeannie McPherson (2018-06-06) #

     Love it--Thanks for talking about this, where it becomes conscious thought, which enables the opening of new doors of learning, growing, and being!

243. Martin (2018-06-06) #

     “The illiterates of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” — Alvin Toffler
     
     Brilliant, and concise. Many thanks, Martin

244. Mark Friedman (2018-06-06) #

     It really struck home for me. I have the same problem. I was an expert and the world has passed and what I know or knew if still true but not of value anymore. New people have new ideas and I have not become an expert in that.
     
     Maybe it is just part of the aging process but I hate it.

245. devin (2018-06-06) #

     i’ve always thought of this as “checking in”. i never unlearn things.. i just recalibrate my reality every once in a while.

246. Sean Crawford (2018-06-06) #

     As a remedy to sounding as if unlearning is stressful, or too exciting, I like the serenity of reading David Griffith at 151 and Michael Mucklow at 159

247. Chris (2018-06-06) #

     Always interesting Derek! On & on big hug

248. Paresh Rawal (2018-06-06) #

     Hi Derek, nicely written (as always- short and crisp).
     Few observations-
     When you say you need to unlearn it gives an impression that you do away with whatever you have learned until now and venture in a new domain and start afresh.
     Well but whatever you have learned so far becomes a part of you and your on knowledge. What you mean about adaptation and begining afresh is true. But if you can somehow mention that the experiences that you had in your previous field become an unalienable part of you. Then I guess it would give a proper perspective to the article in the final book.
     Starting afresh and as a beginner is a quality which can take us to big heights and yet keep as down to earth.
     Thanks,
     Paresh

249. Paul Scott (2018-06-06) #

     Modernity as a philosophy assumes constant improvement. You seem to like re inventing the wheel, (which is a wonderful failing I also share) so welcome to the dark side! We have cookies!
     
     This may be helpful. I’m wading through it (this is dense, serious shit!), and I feel better about the artistic crisis I am currently enjoying, more than any artistic crisis I have been through. My last check from your Baby was for $8 + for 20,000 + downloads. Yippee! I can’t screw up anymore! I’m free! (Well, almost....). Welcome to the new world of the amateur. It rocks, dude. Or should I say mate?
     
     https://www.amazon.com/Bachs-Dialogue-Modernity-Perspectives-Passions/dp/1107404606
     
     Go sailing!
     
     Cheers,
     
     Paul

250. Howard Stein (2018-06-06) #

     This scares me. As a graphic designer and artist I have a high degree of skill in one specialty and I'm making beautiful stuff and nobody is buying it. I'm nearing Seth Godin's Category of One. I could drop it, go through the pain of becoming a UX/UI designer and try not to throw up. There are millions of people fishing that sea. I'll never be the go-to person in that arena. I don't care for it.
     
     So — as this topic resonates so deeply with my 65-year old soul, my only suggestion is your piece is too short. There is more flesh on the bones of your article. Dig deeper and then wider maybe. These are Cliff Notes — you hinted as much. Write more. It's a great vast topic!
     
     Cheers,
     
     Howard | NYC

251. Pat (2018-06-06) #

     Fascinating

252. LARISSA (2018-06-06) #

     Unlearning and relearning are all about humility. Being humble is hard.

253. Mark Esparza (2018-06-06) #

     The humility needed to relearn is probably the hardest part. Since that old learning built up a self-preserving mechanism called pride...lol Thanks for the eloquent reminder.

254. Peter Williams (2018-06-06) #

     Excellent as usual Derek. Love your process (“everything is a draft until it’s published”)! I try to take that idea one step further — the first edition of my self-published books iwill always be Version 0.0. Then, when people interact with the content and generate new ideas, each additional chapter that is added becomes Version 0.2, Version 0.2 etc. By the time it reaches Version 1.0 it should be a polished piece of work. And a lot more nuanced than Version 0.0.

255. Heidi Kolman (2018-06-06) #

     Wow. As a therapist, between 08 and now so much has changed and I have had to unlearn the old and learn new techniques. Suddenly not being an expert is humbling to say the least but it does get you to the next level. Funny thing, what is old usually comes back again in my experience. Maybe in a different way, but everything is a spiral rather than linear.

256. Mackenzie Belcastro (2018-06-06) #

     Quite possibly my favourite article of yours yet. Lesson on top of language. Read like poetry 😊🙏

257. Cat (2018-06-06) #

     Perpetual student.
     "...forget the last arrow; only the next one counts."

258. Andrew Quesenberry (2018-06-06) #

     Thanks Derek, I’ve in business ren years and I realize this is what I need to do. It’s like a new version of Who Moved My Cheese.

259. Lale Nenadovic (2018-06-06) #

     Scary New World...yet the quicker we accept it being ever changing, the better, and hopefully encouraging enough to survive & keep up.

260. @jasminepowers (2018-06-06) #

     Its true. In 09 I was one of the few social media marketers. Now everyone is an expert. It's like chasing a carrot and you have to be an early adopter of every new thing to stay ahead of the curve.

261. Cisco (2018-06-06) #

     Derek it was a great article. But the real question is if you’ve read the Siddhartha book yet! Tie the ending of your book to the main theme you discover in Siddhartha and you will have the best book ever written! I know you can do it!! -Cisco

262. Edward Panas (2018-06-06) #

     Great update on the article! Can't wait for your new book. I send the Hell Yeah article link regularly to friends who find themselves at a crossroads stuck in the decision making death spiral. Your article always helps them find their way out. Thanks Derek!

263. Miguel (2018-06-06) #

     Unlearning/relearning hit so close in my academic world where I work. Machine Learning and AI are creating a tremendous revolution that makes many skills obsolete. What a timely topic.

264. Joel Laviolette (2018-06-06) #

     This reminds me of the great book "What Got You Here Won't Get You There".

265. Jack Perricone (2018-06-06) #

     Your premise is so true, and is especially obvious in the music and the fashion business (interesting how many well known popular musician/personalities go into fashion). But I also believe there are underlying truths that we must seek out like the one in my book concerning what all successful popular songs have in common: the element of simplicity combined with the element (often hidden) of interest.
     
     When I got into popular music after obtaining a couple of degrees in music, I had to unlearn a tremendous amount of music theory that I had completely absorbed; it took years. But that early music theory is still with me and is very useful for a lot of music, so I didn't totally unlearn it; I simply found the right time and place for it.
     
     By the way, you hit on the main trait of poor teaching: teaching out of context. e.g.," Do not use parallel fifths" without referring to what kind of music that applies to. Although this is a good rule for 18th-century music, we would have no heavy metal music and Debussy would not have found his place in music history as the great composer he was if he adhered to that rule.

266. David Enzel (2018-06-06) #

     Good piece.

267. Bob (2018-06-06) #

     Terrific, you've nailed it. I'm often relearning and unlearning and sometimes I convince "myself" that I really am an expert--then am "disrupted" as they say. Will read this again, hopefully I'll re-member to re-read it several times. Thanks, Bob T.

268. Jim Zachar (2018-06-06) #

     I love it! All my ideas are so out dated. I will try to relearn but I know it will be frightening. Did you know there are things called DAW’s that can record to something called a computer? Time to get rid of my cassette deck I guess.

269. Camellia (2018-06-06) #

     As Richard Feynman once said, the first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool. When people become the experts in their fields it's very easy for them to stop growing and learning. Failure sometimes serves a good purpose than success because once you fail you will restart and keep going but once you success, you will stop and appreciate your works and stop your evolution.

270. Kenneth Clark (2018-06-06) #

     Wow!
     Never thought about that perspective.
     There are less experts than we think out there.
     Very view people take the time to relearn.
     Thanks for the great words of wisdom, I
     always look forward to reading your articles !

271. Avil Beckford (2018-06-06) #

     Well said! That's why lifelong learning is so important. We have to find ways to expose ourselves to new ideas and ways of thinking. This will let us know when it's time to unlearn old ways that no longer work.
     
     Another point is to spend time with people who are different from us - different generation, gender, culture and so on. And pay attention to what's going on beyond our borders.
     
     Derek, I am not sure if you have read any of the editions of Non-Obvious, but the author teaches readers how to curate ideas, and then he presents what he thinks are the upcoming trends. There is a new edition every year. He doesn't believe in spotting trends. This is the name of this year's edition, Non-Obvious 2018 Edition: How To Predict Trends and Win The Future. So once you unlearn, what do you relearn? Perhaps if we learned how to curate ideas around us, it would be simpler.

272. Marilyn Ellis-Mileham (2018-06-06) #

     Holy cow! Exactly! Alan Sharp was a Scottish novelist and screenwriter. I am still impressed that he used only a pencil and paper. My Luddite ways has left me with an an accumulation various recording devices with analogue and digital, humongous and miniature.The invisible world of storage and hide and seek drives me crazy. My iPhone dictation is full of ideas but I have gone back to cassettes as I like to see where my work is. I bought several recorders Incase they stop making them. I like CDs and DVDs. Again the streaming is invisible. I can listen to any music as we pay a monthly fee, but I want it in my hand with photos and jacket.
     Still have my vinyl fromghe 60’s and added to it.
     People call me asking for advice and connections. Being Hollywood expats, I have to say the Same as you. I don’t know. Google it! My books are old as soon as I buy them. Film distribution drives me nuts. Happy to see those who succeed! I have about 20 classes in my cue on licensing, distribution, writing, promotion, social media, recording techniques etc that are forever classes yet I feel I may never get to them. Overwhelm. Priorities ! Good things! Had eye surgeries and I can see 20/20 for the first time in my life. Bought two kayaks as I can see other boats now! Had to catch up on that technology as ten years ago I was not a candidate! Eating lectin Free withDr Steven Gundry’s Plant Paradox! Last year I didn’t know the word lectin!

273. Coli (2018-06-06) #

     Hell Yeah! Or no. That was the best piece of advice from the first book and really deserves to get more play, so I'm glad this is happening. Looking forward. As far as unlearning and relearning, I've spent 39 years in various aspects of IT, so I've been forced to basically start over every ten years! I definitely get it.

274. David Enzel (2018-06-06) #

     As I age I agree with this more and more: "I finally realized that the world had changed so what I was saying wasn’t true anymore."

275. Jesse Lambert (2018-06-06) #

     Being prudent to figure out what to do when sound difficult when you're working with a castle of sand like the internet. I think it's great that people seem to be getting more and predictable the more I learn about them, while technology only gets even more vast. The day a computer can think for me, and better than I can, is the day I take a permanent vacation.
     What if the real future is retirement homes for everyone? If that day comes, then I think we'll be asking what's the point of learning at all beyond a hobby.

276. Fred (2018-06-06) #

     Wow. Pretty much sums up my life now. I am obselete expert in my life’s mission and how I made money. I feel like a 45 year former champ trying to make a comeback, yet I keep getting knocked out.
     
     Great article Derek. Really great.
     p.s. I know you once mentioned you didn’t know where “Hell yeah or No” came from… I think it may have came from Jack Canfield? There is a video of him on YouTube with people from the Secret and he actually explains this to Oprah. Good luck! Excited for the book.
     You never waste a word. Keep it tight!

277. Derek (2018-06-06) #

     Thanks Derek. It’s great confirmation of a principle I pick up off your friend Tim Ferriss, of trying new things. Each year for the last 5 years I have tried to learn a new ‘thing’. Starting from scratch as a total beginner again is a great way to free your mind. It also removes the idea that you are so awesome at ‘fill in the blank’ because you clearly are not when you start something new compared to your new peers. At the end of the year you can look back at how far you have come along and continue as a new passion or simple let it go, as you will have to one day when your time is up. Thanks again for your insights. Derek

278. Charlie (2018-06-06) #

     Brilliant perspective thanks

279. Don Brown (2018-06-06) #

     Derek,
     
     So true, every time I look back at all my files from years ago of a product I was working that seemed so important. When I see it today I wonder why I wasted so much time on such a dumb idea.
     
     Just launched my book on AMAZON kindle- Invent Wow-Create Wealth- Amazing going back 20 years to tell my story of how I invented the AB Roller, Ab Coaster. My story goes from 1996 TV infomercial to Crowdfunding the STEALTH CORE TRAINER today. Your article is spot on. I had to UNLEARN the TV infomercial business to Learn the Digital marketing world.
     Cheers
     Don

280. Steve Anderson (2018-06-06) #

     I love the idea of unlearning and relearning, but it feels like you could go a little deeper with this. Can we hear the rest of the story about how you emerged with new opinions and insights about the music business? Any other examples you could include? What’s the story about the guy in the picture? At first glance, it doesn’t appear to be a good example of unlearning, because unlearning was forced upon him. It would be better to reference someone who chose to unlearn, because that’s what you want us to do right. We should evaluate, what do I need to unlearn so that I can continue to grow? Or what are beliefs that are holding me back that could benefit me long term if I let go of them now?

281. Kristin Lems (2018-06-06) #

     I wrote this parody of Turn Turn Turn on the same topic! Thank you Derek.
     
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOedOP5JXSo

282. Paul (2018-06-06) #

     The art is what to hold too and when to let go. The pace of change is exhilarating. Enjoy your thoughts.

283. Yossi (2018-06-06) #

     I think that this is excellent advice for all things technical. If you knew how to run an IBM tabulator, that doesn't qualify you to write complex python scripts.
     That being said, history should never be ignored. It's the story of how we got here, and (hopefully) a blueprint of what to do, and what NOT to try again.

284. Steve (2018-06-06) #

     Great read. Love the Toffler quote.
     
     Beginner’s Mind is so essential.
     
     Nice to see you back, DS.

285. Connie (2018-06-06) #

     After working in computer mapping and database management (GIS) for over 20 years, where I basically had to learn new software and commands every six months I became very adept at unlearning and relearning. In the early days I would slip up and use an old command, and not have it work. GIS is not for the faint of heart.
     
     Living in the Pacific northwest I have always been amazed that when the logging jobs were greatly reduced, that many of the loggers thought they were entitled to the same high wages without any new skills.
     
     The ability to adapt is necessary for survival. Unlearning and relearning is a path to the desired results.

286. Steve Mann (2018-06-06) #

     wow.................As usual, you've caught one on the fat part of the bat....I went down this road, recently, myself. I'm at an age now where I can't really keep up with the technology. For one thing, I recently learned that no one really buys albums anymore. They download a song here and a song there. And the film industry has changed so much, since I retired, that I wouldn't even know where to BEGIN editing sound effects. Operational changes happen almost overnight.... But I have no regrets.... I was an expert when it counted.... Now, the new guys are the experts and it's time for me to make way for their expertise. It's the way of the world, my friend.

287. Barbara Silberg (2018-06-06) #

     I think the ideas in this article are valid and should have meaning for those reading it. HOWEVER.....I question some of the grammar. It needs a good re-read with concentration on tense and clarity.
     
     Barbara

288. Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey (2018-06-06) #

     I recall reading those words from Toffler many years ago and remarking to myself what an odd concept. Obviously not so weird.
     
     Love it Derek. Especially this:
     
     > You still consider yourself an expert, but that expertise has expired.
     
     Ouch. Been there, am there, but working to rectify. {grin}
     
     Having learned of your "Hell Yeah or No" approach a couple of years ago, I have preached it on many occasions. Can't wait for the book.
     
     ~ski

289. choose simple (2018-06-06) #

     This is just what I need. You're on point, Derek.

290. Jason T (2018-06-06) #

     One of your best articles yet. But I disagree with this part:
     
     "This is a modern situation that’s here to stay. Technology will keep changing the world and faster, so we’ll have to keep unlearning what we knew, and relearning anew."
     
     My biggest unlearning moments:
     
     Thought I knew what love was, until I got divorced. Thought I knew what it took to be a successful entrepreneur, until my high-flying start-up crashed and burned. Thought I knew what it took to he a good father, until I had kids. Thought I was smarter than most people, until I realized that being "really smart" doesn't matter. I thought I wanted to make lots of money, until I realized what it meant to be successful.
     
     None of these are "modern situations" and none have anything to do with technology. They're all very personal. They've been around forever.
     
     They're mostly about growing up and growing wiser and learning some humility.

291. Laurel Jean (2018-06-06) #

     Very thought-provoking article. My first album was a cassette production recorded in a completely analog studio. I released my first cd before I had a cd player of my own. Back then, I managed my administrative work with a manual typewriter, Brailed everything by hand for my personal files, and made calculations with an abacus. Got my first computer in 2001 and finally stepped into the world of iOS thanks to a kid whom I was mentoring at the time. In actuality, she mentored me. Through all of the changes, I still carry my faith and my determination. I've learned to stand back and reassess my priorities pertaining to unlearning and learning differently.

292. Diane (2018-06-06) #

     There are certain things that need to be relearned when realized they were taught as a lie in the first place. But there has been so much history revishioning and forgery of past facts going on now that I am quite confident in hanging on to truths of the past. Technology is the only thing changing, everything else is getting more narcissistic and self centered and greyed out some completely obliterated and we would be wise to keep our eyes wide opened and not fall for dillusional brain washing. Diane

293. Olliesblog (2018-06-06) #

     Great insights! Ego is the enemy by Ryan Holiday is a good reference to this advice, or it was for me. It helped me to learn to "unlearn" and let go. Learning to get over what you once knew, and accept change, let go, unlearn and learn.

294. Frank Tuma (2018-06-06) #

     Wow am I glad that you have said "ALL" those Items. Every thing you said seems like I have to say daily in all my Tai Chi and Martial arts classes which I have eight a week all year. For some reason folks have become hard over in one direction or the other instead of in the middle where there can be constant learning. Technology and changes in the Earths warmer weather are rapidly going up in less and less time and that's not going to go away for a long time. I have had to subscribe to 5 different Science magazines a few are weekly but most are monthly so that I can keep up with the continuous changes. The things I learned in college in physics and engineering 60 years ago is almost useless. Most folks just don't want to hear about changes lately, just like back in the Fourteenth to Eighteenth centuries when they killed scientists because they didn't want to hear new things, but of course religion was behind most of that back then.

295. Alec Wills (2018-06-06) #

     Hi Derek, nice succinct article, I shall attempt to comment likewise. I think it would be useful to differentiate between skills and knowledge or beliefs (anything that person holds to be true). E.g. knowing how to ride a bicycle vs. believing the best way to ride is in an upright position. You will struggle to unlearn how to ride a bike at any point after learning, but you can unlearn the "fact" that upright is best. A number of comments about loss of identity or continual growth may be explained by this confusion. Neural plasticity suggests that both can be unlearned, but unlearning facts is mostly a decision and unlearning skills requires a great deal of effort for little reward as you can just learn a new skill and use that one, e.g. you don't need to unlearn riding a bike to learn to ride a recumbent.
     Do keep them coming.

296. Joey Joyful (2018-06-06) #

     I resonate so much with this article Derek.
     
     I feel like I have norm ore clue how to be in the world and have been in the process of unlearning so much. Mostly who I am.
     
     Thank you for sharing that

297. Skinny (2018-06-06) #

     Hey Deriek. I have found myself in the same boat. The jungle lodge I built in Belize was a dream I had for 25 years. Now having done it, I painfully realized the the 25 year old model just wasn't viable any longer. The days of Eco friendly camp ready student groups evolved into needing full time wifi, fans and venues closer to town centers. So I gave it my all only to have a failed bit.
     
     So now I am relearning not how to be a great jungle lodge but to be the Eco-activist I had suppressed throughout my music career. So here I go learning everything I can about Industrial Hemp to transform the landscape once again. This has required a lot of unlearning and relearning too.
     
     Now things are coming together rapidly as we unveil a new project that 5 founders and myself are implementing. I get where you are coming from because we are pioneering uncharted decentralized territory. Relearning all over again.
     
     Do me a flavour and check out our basic website with my teams new vision @ earthangel.vision. Feel free to share if you find it interesting.
     
     I always love getting news from you. Keep it up Brother!
     One Love

298. Jim Brunjes (2018-06-06) #

     Derek, thank you for sharing. I'm excited about Hell Yeah or No. Regarding unlearning - hell yeah! - it is such a valuable tool. How do we know when it's time to unlearn? How to we speed up the process of recognizing it and unlearning and relearning? As painful as unlearning might be, it's more painful to carry on with ways that are outmoded, and not even realize it. What are some useful tips for staying alert to the signs that what we learned isn't working any more?

299. Karen Drucker (2018-06-06) #

     I LOVE this article. To the point and so right on. I am at that crossroads of how I have been making my living
     ( writing songs, selling my CDs, making good money from selling cds at gigs) is changing and I am realizing exactly what you said: I mastered that old way but now there's a whole new game and I better get on the bus and figure out what is mine to do now. So as much as I was comfortable with the way it was - now it's time to unlearn and relearn and your article helps me to see it in a new way and actually get excited about it...so thanks you for that!

300. Rachel Walker (2018-06-06) #

     Hi Derek!
     Right...my Grandpa said once, "Life is a series of adjustments" I am learning that flexibility and creativity are very needed for an artist to be able to do what we love to do most. I could never leave the music alone so it forces me to find ways to do so.I feel there are many valuable things to learn from the way things have been done but yes there is room to grow for sure. Better management in protecting artists by providing a reasonable income. A successful buisness model would be to do just that. Applying a Universal law where everyone would benefit. Just some thoughts!
     So great to hear from you Derek!
     Rachel🎸🎤🎧🎵🎼🎬🍒

301. Fred scott (2018-06-06) #

     So true,.i have never knew any thing about the business so I don't have much to unllearn.But I 'll
     Like the concept Derek.

302. Mohamad (2018-06-06) #

     I like #comment-67555. I second that point.

303. Ernest Perone (2018-06-06) #

     Great article, Derek...and as they say "spot on"...as an 80 year old, I can attest to the conclusions drawn in your article. Stated simply, the old ways are no longer popular or in vogue! We must ALL relearn if we are to remain effective in today's environment. Thank you for an enlightening piece of work!

304. Denis Joseph Jestadt (2018-06-06) #

     There is always the perfect moment to be in the now. I have received your posts since the beginning, and yes I was one of your first customers at CD Baby. And yes it was perfect and revolutionary at the time. And like you I feel a whole new chapter in the lives of us all is now, and for that matter has always been, changing to the inspiration we bring to our lives now. Thanks Derek. You made 22 million $ and decided to inspire others as well as yourself. Hell Yeah!

305. Delphine (2018-06-06) #

     I think about this same observation quite a lot. Oftentimes, the enjoyment of being good at something is often a result of too much focus on enjoying the results and not enough on enjoying the process. The idea of 'unlearning' is akin to that of Beginner's Mind. It always takes a reminder to get me back into that mindset and away from enjoying the results of whatever I'm already good at.

306. Menon (2018-06-06) #

     Very true, Derek. In todays world the technology is rapidly advancing and with it we need to be able to keep reinventing ourselves or risk being obsolete.

307. Carole A Spiller (2018-06-06) #

     I learn something new everyday, and find new ideas from many of my young friends. We shouldn't be afraid to learn new ways to move our businesses
     forward. I thought I knew it all at one point, and then realized I didn't
     know nearly as much as I needed to, so threw out what clearly wasn't working,
     and tried new ideas which actually worked better than I thought they would.
     You can teach old dogs new tricks!! I am 78 now Derek, and still excited to
     wake up each morning! Learn, unlearn, and relearn. Toffler was right!
     God bless you! I miss seeing your smiling face!!!
     Carole ☺

308. Henrik (2018-06-06) #

     Awesome new version. Continue with the concise articles. They are very helpful with no digression.

309. Lakshmi Pratury (2018-06-06) #

     You always say the most profound things in the least complicated way. I guess just like any machine, our minds also need an overhaul and replacement of dusty old ideas.

310. Jean-Paul (2018-06-06) #

     I would call this adaptation. This happened all over the history of mankind...
     Agree that nowadays everything is going incredibly fast that adaptation needs to happen sometimes drastically before being out of this virtual/technological society. I recognize having some troubles with this being to much conservative lol ... Unlearn yes, but if the new stuff is not coming in my old brain anymore, what will be the result ? ☺

311. km (2018-06-06) #

     I've been thinking about this exact subject for the past year. I spent a few years in the last city I lived in immersed in what I was doing and the landscape of my field has warped.
     
     Some soul searching led me to a quick quip that a creator I admire postulated - "There are no rules." It's such a simple concept, but hearing this relieves me of notions and heuristics that were so embedded in the past. It DEFINITELY HURTS to go through the process of hammering this through.
     
     Thanks for the insight, Derek. <3

312. Roshan (2018-06-06) #

     I love that quote! My dad still loves Elvis. I feel like he's not that keen on new music. But he still likes Big Sean. I can apply this same criticism for myself. I have to keep tuning my ear and listening to new music or else I feel left behind.
     
     I recently got offered to do a job for $400. I told him I'd do it for $1000 and then they asked me if I'd do it for $600. I told him $800 and I've yet to hear back. That's a number that screams Hell yeah to me! I just wanted to share that with you.
     
     When it comes to pricing, I know you asked a local retailer when it came to how much you should charge for uploading the CD. But when it comes to other things, giving a talk for example, how do you estimate your worth?

313. WIll Huntley (2018-06-06) #

     Hey Derek,
     Great article! As an Aikido practitioner, we tell our students this all the time. But we do it in the form of "Empty your cup".
     If your cup is full...you cannot add anymore.
     We get many people from different martial arts backgrounds. And if they cannot 'unlearn' as you say, what has come before, they will not be able to take on board what is needed to learn a new martial art.
     It is repeated over and over in every style.
     https://www.google.com.au/search?q=martial+arts+empty+the+cup&oq=martial+arts+empty+the+cup&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i65l2j0l3.5538j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
     
     Love your work and thanks again!
     W.

314. Hillbillyflamenco (2018-06-06) #

     First there is a mountain....
     50+ years of performing and these words are so true.
     Learning how and when to unlearn is so much more useful than holding on to the false security of past. Self evaluation and honesty... brutal but you have to beat the trees for fruit sometimes.
     Glad to hear from you
     D

315. Jeffrey Fry (2018-06-06) #

     Great stuff Derek.. and yes, we sometimes hold on to "old truths" too long.. and with that, I too have some quotes for you:
     
     “The difficulty does not lie in finding new ideas, but in escaping the long outdated belief in old ones.”
     --Jeffrey Fry
     
     “Just because you believe something was true in the past does not mean it will be true in the future.”
     --Jeffrey Fry
     
     “I have come face to face with many truths from the past that had to be revised with present knowledge.”
     --Jeffrey Fry

316. Lis (2018-06-06) #

     It's defs a smack to the guts when you finally realize "what you thought you were an expert at" isn't actually true anymore lol ... but WOW at all the energy that comes from unlearning, then relearning from people who ARE immersed, well-versed and hella vibing on THEIR tangents.
     
     Feeding the fire ... I STILL refer to your whole "if it's not a hell yeah" then what's the point vibe from a while back. Holds true now I reckon.

317. Fahad (2018-06-06) #

     Thanks for sharing this idea in such a clean and concise way!

318. Christopher Claunch (2018-06-06) #

     Derek.
     
     Thank you for sharing.
     
     To Toffler's quote. Profound and apostolic!
     
     As for Cage, true fact.
     
     Excitedly awaiting your new book.
     
     Christopher

319. Dom (2018-06-06) #

     ? experts ? oh does this also apply to car insurance
     experts who decide to write off your very viable van
     because they don't like the bodywork?
     sorry, not being ... oh what's the new trendy word
     for the illiterate that is used now? 'disingenuous'...
     i've now forgotten the REAL word for that, but by
     coincidence i'm having my life screwed by a so-called
     expert right this minute, so i thought i'd post.
     
     hey lets talk about trendy words people use because
     they don't know the real word, and it makes them
     sound erudite.. (sorry: well-read ...)

320. Dr.Mani (2018-06-06) #

     I say the best skill for youngsters to learn today is that of being flexible, adapt fast, and keep unlearning to relearn.

321. Dom (2018-06-06) #

     back again..
     actually finished reading the article properly
     this time. Derek: this is an old old tenet about
     education itself: "culture is what remains once
     you've forgotten everything you were taught".
     so you're cultured, bro'.
     
     it's also linked to zen. you've got the zen of
     something. you have musicBiz-Fu. :o)

322. Frank Dias (2018-06-06) #

     Doesn't seem like you need to unlearn anything. If you are open enough, the layers of new information will cover the old. That experience is a base. The millennials have plenty of knowledge but little wisdom and depth. Technology has brought on a disrespect of experience. Thanks for listening Derek

323. Mary (2018-06-06) #

     Profound!

324. Toks Ilorin (2018-06-06) #

     Yeh..you are right about that. .Things are constantly being changed, updated or discarded due to new technology or the latest trends, that we can get left isolated.
     Sometimes you just have to take a new window to look through. .
     Toks

325. Richard (2018-06-06) #

     People often ask me questions about the UK because I’m British. The only problem is that I’ve been living in Switzerland for the last thirty years, so my opinion is worth next to nothing.
     
     I’m a great believer in unlearning. The process of tapping, for example, is all about unlearning.
     
     “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”
     
     When people talk about themselves as experts in a given field, get ready for the BS.

326. Sharon (2018-06-06) #

     Very true, I get what you’re saying but I find ‘old’ knowledge/experience so so valuable for modifying and using in current situations. Is it perhaps less about ‘unlearning’ and more about being flexible/humble with the ‘old’ knowledge/experience and knowing how to adapt/transfer it to the new. Is ‘unlearning’ too strong? Is there a danger in losing the significance of what has been by going too far the other way?

327. Peter Whelan (2018-06-06) #

     I enjoy the process of discovery, understanding something new.
     Having worked over 40 years with computers has ben an endless stream of learning and unlearning technical details.
     However, principles and mental model rarely change. Getting clear on the fundamentals I return to them repeatedly as I learn topics, most recently agile methodologies and blockchain.

328. Frank Dias (2018-06-06) #

     It doesn't seem like you need to unlearn anything. That knowledge is a base for new layers of information to settle into. Technology has little respect for the experience that created it. Millennials have new knowledge but little wisdom so they lack depth. They have skipped the journey and went straight to the destination.

329. Kyle DeSomber (2018-06-06) #

     Really like the concept. It seems like there’s a moment of realization, where we know it’s time to unlearn. Are there any signals that a person is getting close to this moment? Or is it something that we must simply live through, using pain or frustration as our barometer?

330. Gong Qian Yang (2018-06-06) #

     Hello Derek,
     
     Thanks for your sparkling ideas. Totally agree with you. It's so true! Even we don't unlearn things all the time, we are constantly fine tuning our knowledge, learning new things.
     
     Best,
     Gong Qian

331. Crystal Pay (2018-06-06) #

     Maybe I am still young and inexperienced, and never really had a situation where my knowledge of a matter is wrong and I had to unlearn. Maybe because of that, I do not believe in "unlearning".
     
     Even if our knowledge is obsolete, I believe we just have to keep updating ourselves with the ever-changing knowledge - and constantly build on what we already know. Whatever knowledge we have is precious and can add an insightful/unique perspective to the new knowledge we acquire - and thus, no need for unlearning?

332. Abhishek (2018-06-06) #

     Well thought out :) reminds me of this article I read recently
     https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/02/this-image-keeps-walmart-up-at-night-so-heres-what-theyre-doing.html

333. geisa dutra (2018-06-06) #

     Very good point Derek!
     Best always,
     Geisa Dutra

334. Sung (2018-06-06) #

     Hi Derek,
     
     Your writing reminded me of my running journey.
     
     I used to run like a madman, thinking only way to get better at it was to run more and harder, obsessed with time and distance. After 2 years of that, I realized I was not getting better. I wanted to go and see how worlds best runners do it, so I went to Iten, Kenya and lived and ran with therir top runners. There I was shocked how slow&relaxed these top runners run in the morning and evening. Theyd even start their runs slower than my walking speed!
     
     Im stupid though, I never leanrt the lesson after coming back from Kenya until I went theogh a serious burnout, and not running at all for six months. There I realized I needed to relearn the joy of running. I started focusing on myself, how I feel during the run, how my feet touch the ground, relaxation of my bosy, etc. I stopped caring about time and distance. Now I love running as I used to in the beginning of my running journey, and teach other people to approach the running as an art of relaxation, not exertion.
     
     It is funny. Now Im focused on running slow and relaxed, I find running fast a lot more enjoyable and easy. Im sure I will ‘relearn’ this part of running in the future as well, but thats my story as of now.
     
     As always, Thank you for sharing your thoughts with the world!
     
     *ps. Im curiois how music business changed from when you ran cd baby and now. My brother produces music in Korea so id like to share your thoughts with him, if it is not much of a trouble for you. Thanks!

335. Brian (2018-06-06) #

     Good point. Is unlearning a conscious act or maybe hind sight? Anyways like anything has a shelf life until we no longer want it or need it. We outgrow things and move on to whatever inspires us for now. The rest is just conversation. Like a molting of sorts.

336. Steve Kusaba (2018-06-06) #

     That sentiment is extremely true in many things. The stock market has changed radically. It surprised me when some experts said 85-95% of the players were bots or algos. That means that at any one time there are only about 15-10% of human participants. There are other new things. Now one has to throw out the old technical analysis books and adjust to the new strategies which take into account these things as well as others.
     
     Chess is always undergoing styles and methodologies which are new and dynamic.
     
     Music? I have no idea about the business of it. There appears to be a stagnation to a degree on the craft of the recognizable money music, though I like a lot of it anyway. I'm trying to do new things to help get more awareness about what I'm doing musically but that seems to be taking a long time so who knows if it works. I know the music is pretty exciting! When Nancy and Maiche comes out, it will shake other solar systems!! Or maybe a few people will have fun!
     
     I notice that what works in sports is changing as the level of athleticism increases.
     
     Probably in many fields you might be unaware of similar metamorphosis in the various games and practices might be occurring.
     
     Yes, change seems to always be happening in many things but it sometimes only matters in competitive matters. In some things, you have to figure out how to make some kind of opportunity to just appear. To just be able to speak and present ideas.
     
     If Mr. Sivers doesn't know, maybe no one does!

337. Doug Won (2018-06-06) #

     When you say you decided to stay out of music until you can come back to it with a new perspective it seems to indicate there will be a time when everything will be true again. However, if everything is in a constant state of change, there will always be some things that will be true (for a time) while other things become untrue so I agree with your statement "we’ll have to keep unlearning what we knew, and relearning anew". In the meantime, I think that everything you have learned still makes you a valuable authority on the music industry even if some things have changed.

338. Bill Bodell (2018-06-06) #

     I'm past the age of relearning now Derek so recon I'll just have to continue with that- that has worked for me for so many years in the past..I too miss the way you used to run CDBaby..it was a good company with a good heart back in those days..Stay warm and dry Derek.

339. Maryann Strossner (2018-06-06) #

     so true...........thank you

340. Barrett Unger (2018-06-06) #

     Hey Derek,
     
     Dig this musing on learning. It reminded me of a WaitButWhy article I read called The Cook and The Chef. https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/11/the-cook-and-the-chef-musks-secret-sauce.html
     
     I met a guy recently out of the blue. He was an old timer, mid 70s, with the most childlike wonderment. He was sharp and honest. To sum it up in a cliche, he had his wits about him. He said his friend and him get together regularly on Friday's to lie to each other about the old days when they were young and how good it was then. He said he thought he knew a thing or two and his friend told him to go home, look in a mirror, and say "I don't know" until he truly laughed. He took his friend up on it and said it was one of the most amazing things he could have done.
     
     Thanks for reinforcing that wisdom.

341. CJ (2018-06-06) #

     True talk. Evolution is constant, and as they say in the neighborhood I'm from... ”You don't want to get left ”stainkin”.
     Besides that, I would love hear your thoughts / perspective on the current music industry, specifically indie success, social media etc.
     
     Thanks for sharing Derek,
     
     
     PS CDBaby has never been the same.

342. KANUPRIYA AGARWAL (2018-06-06) #

     Derek sir,
     
     I see how important unlearning can be. I once read a quote which said, "You cannot step in the same river twice" and hence the old strategies...
     
     I await the release for 'Hell Yeah or No'
     
     Thanks!

343. Phillip Ansell (2018-06-06) #

     I want to read more. I love the way you have distilled the thought and reason of 'unlearning' into a tasty morsel - like the best starter in a meal - that gets the juices flowing and stimulates the appetite for more. Excellent, thoughtful and well delivered. Well done chef!

344. Phil Barton (2018-06-06) #

     Good article. However in business it can also pay to bring in expertise. I’ve been a record store worker / owner for 30 years.
     It is impossible to be on top of every trend, genre and change in music. I’m still an expert but not across all of it. I don’t want to unlearn what I know but there’s not much room left for the new so I employ people who do. Maybe I need the equivalent of a computer defrag!

345. Shari Tallon (2018-06-06) #

     Great article, I Completely agree that’s why I love being creative and why music is so wonderful to explore because you’re always learning and relearning and growing and changing

346. Marc Andreu (2018-06-06) #

     I completely agree and I would add that in the IT and new AI world, this is not a matter of years. We need to learn, unlearn and relearn every few months. However, we need to balance this forces with properly sensible judgments to discard quick trends that are not helpful for the long term.
     
     I would say that the process of learning and unlearning is an important expression of the old Chinese philosophy Yin & Yang.
     
     Thanks for sharing,

347. Rebecca Rush (2018-06-06) #

     Thank you I like the unlearn/relearn also the quotes describe me where iam at this point in life great hearing from you

348. David Rigby (2018-06-06) #

     I loved you output on CD Baby - and I had forgotten how we got connected so good to be reminded.
     I moved out of IT and into People because People change more slowly especially at our age. And I forgot the technology but am gratified when the principles get recycled. As a coach I tend not to have opinions, but as with the age am, I am have become much more opinionated about personal/political matters. I challenged others about their values and beliefs - "are they the same as your mother's or what your mother taught you decades ago" So remembering why you believe what you do.
     
     Your beliefs about the music industry may no longer be true, but the fundamentals behind what you believe probably are true - so dont unlearn them

349. Elja (2018-06-07) #

     I love this, Derek. It's hard, though, like you say. I worry about it. Since I make my money as a trainer and a speaker, I know I'll lose touch one day if I keep doing the same thing.
     I have to keep learning, keep up with my field. I never considered UNlearning somehow but now I wonder. I wonder what I have to unlearn!

350. Jill M (2018-06-07) #

     Once again, your post speaks directly to me. Especially with the whole music industry bit. Perhaps it's time to walk away from it for a bit and start unlearning. Thank you!

351. Anu (2018-06-07) #

     Inspiring article.
     I’m right-handed. I brush my teeth with my left hand for a quarter of the time every morning.

352. Naman Pant (2018-06-07) #

     In my opinion Unlearning is a state of mind not an activity that one can do. It is hard to realize that one needs to unlearn because our mind resist change. In Zen, True followers improve by having a beginners mind. Similar goes with Vipassana in India.

353. Al Blatter (2018-06-07) #

     It's a necessary, but difficult, process--especially as one gets older. I'm of the mindset, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". For example, regarding computers/software/internet, my old computer(s) eventually become obsolete, despite the fact that they still work fine. But because the World changes, I'm required to buy a new computer to "keep-up" with new technology. Ultimately, this opens new doors & keeps one "current", despite the initial "inconvenience". Still, whether one likes it or not, this is the challenge/obligation to "unlearn/re-learn". So, LEARN-ON!

354. Darrell Looney (2018-06-07) #

     Who, once viewed as iconoclast for their profession, wants to be viewed as irrelevant?
     
     We all have to "unlearn" stuff. Even things taken for granted like Jesus wasn't born on December 25th or that Jesus isn't how to pronounce his name because there is no "J" sound in the Hebrew language.
     
     The real point is not to "unlearn" but rather to learn what is more "true" and "accurate" as we grow because when we no longer grow, we basically die and are left behind. Even if we're in charge of something, the inability to grow can kill our entire organization because of changes in the soil of our own paradigm in which we live.
     
     This soil changes quickly sometimes and the "unlearning" process is where the roots of how one believed things should operate are cut, and survival is determined by the ability to transplant into the new paradigm and develop fresh roots.
     
     Success in a rapidly changing world like today's will be defined by those who are best able to read trends in their profession and judiciously repeat this process at just the right time, every time.

355. Val (2018-06-07) #

     You are very right. The only rule of this world that doesn’t change is that “Everything keep on changing” so the more humble and “idiot” we are, the more open to opportunities to learn we will be. :)

356. Jane (2018-06-07) #

     On the flip side, I'm often surprised how much has stayed the same. Even in today's hype around AI, robotics, big data and other tech mega trends, when you drill down into implementation, most of the new evaporates and we're left with age-old people challenges. There's a lot of smoke and mirrors when people talk about the new. So I guess theories and rhetoric change a lot faster than reality, in most situations (but not all, e.g. medicine). In that sense sounding like you know what you're talking about requires a fair bit of unlearning and relearning, as the same concepts from a decade ago are repurposed and reframed. I suppose learning / unlearning is a continuous process of growing and pruning, during which it helps to remember you're not as behind as you think and the knowledge you've accumulated so far is valid and substantial - with relatively little that needs actually chucking out. So don't feel too daft.

357. Dmitri Pisarenko (2018-06-07) #

     I agree and disagree with this article. I agree that unlearning is important.
     
     However, from reading this article I got the impression that unlearning is triggered by rare, big events (like selling CDBaby). Something dramatic happens and then you realize that some of your beliefs is wrong and/or outdated. It certainly is possible and things like this occurred in my life as well (e. g. death of my mother, emigration to another country etc.).
     
     The problem with big events triggering the unlearning is that you have no control over them. Also, it's not enough -- there are plenty of people battered by life's catastrophes who do not seem smarter than average (i. e. they may have unlearned something, but they didn't became wiser as a result of big events).
     
     I think that intentional unlearning happens like this:
     
     1. Regularly (e. g. every day) you revisit and check some of your beliefs. If you do it regularly, you will unlearn and relearn things continuously, in small steps. Some meditation techniques allow you to do just that.
     2. Once the small changes reach a critical mass, a big event happens. This big event may be external (e. g. you meet an important person, a new kind of job finds you etc.) or internal (a crucial part of your psyche changes and you start acting differently).
     3. You adapt your life to the knowledge gained in step 2.
     4. Once the big change (crisis) is over, you go to step 1 (begin to unlearn in small steps).
     
     I think this is a more viable way to live rather than waiting for big events. The reason is that at least one big change in life happens gradually -- aging. Every minute we get older, which means every minute we get more conservative, stupider, and unhealthier. Incremental unlearning allows to adapt and compensate for these changes (e. g. learning better work processes that allow to stay productive despite the fact that the brain gets slower).

358. Lex (2018-06-07) #

     I like the way you write it down more clearly than it is rushing in my head.
     It feels like I need to do less, to be more in FLOW!

359. Paul Claireaux (2018-06-07) #

     Nice one Derek,
     
     And research shows that certain types of (black and white) thinking can be the cause of depression too.
     
     So, understanding the fact that most issues and challenges are grey (or rather all the colours of the rainbow) is KEY.
     
     More from me on that one here https://paulclaireaux.com/finding-happiness-shades-grey/
     
     That said, I think it's worth distinguishing between the skills (like how to run a music business) that do change, big time, over time (as new processes and technology are developed) versus - those that don't.
     
     And, in the latter case, it's the overuse and abuse of technology that risks us losing some vital life skills.
     
     An example?
     
     How about listening?
     
     Try this from the very excellent Julian Treasure https://youtu.be/cSohjlYQI2A

360. Christina Jäckel (2018-06-07) #

     Hi Derek
     thanks for sharing your article! I can totally relate to it...
     i bought my first smartphone one year ago and since thenI learned a lot.
     I felt like a dinosaur since I totally lost contact with the digital world and all its possibilities. I’m 44 and no digital native but I stopped seeing the internet as a threat ( what I feel many older musicians do) but more like a place to try things out.
     I’m looking forward to read your book!
     Best wishes from Berlin
     Tina

361. James (2018-06-07) #

     Derek,
     This is a great article! And your writing is really getting the point across.
     Very insightful and pertinent to me at the moment. Things do change and relying on past reference points hampers my ability to get up to speed in the new circumstance.
     Looking forward to the new book

362. Ben Gilbert (2018-06-07) #

     This is the best advice for all those born in a world without digital technology. Well done!

363. Audio-Rarities (2018-06-07) #

     Thanks Derek,
     
     I post this on facebook on my timeline
     
     Best Regards
     Jan

364. Mike Still (2018-06-07) #

     Succinct, true and relevant. The world has never been changing so rapidly and we must learn to adapt. A quote from Casey Neistat comes to mind: ‘life is like walking on a travelator in the wrong direction - if you don’t keep running you go backwards’ - or something like that. Thanks Derek.

365. Athanasios Lazarou (2018-06-07) #

     Where do you draw the line between unlearning and simply learning more? Take computers, for example. Our understanding of computers changes incredibly rapidly, and someone who may have been a tech genius 40 years ago would be completely lost today.
     
     It seems to me if you stay current and always keep yourself in a state of learning, you can "ride the wave", so to speak, and stay abreast of what's going on in your field. The moment relearning comes into play is the moment you've stopped looking ahead, the moment you say "yes, I know all there is to know," and consider yourself an expert. You stop being in a constant state of learning and the world simply leaves you behind.
     
     Is, therefore, unlearning/relearning the most important thing, or simply humbly understanding that the world is in constant flux, continuous change and development, and it is necessary to constantly seek new information to keep up?

366. Manuel (2018-06-07) #

     Really enjoyed reading it.
     
     I don‘t understand why so many people wand to become an expert anymore. Time flies quicker then ever before. To gain these last 2 percent to really become an expert takes ages. That‘s where most people loose interest.
     
     Isn‘t it more fun to learn something new when you‘re still hungry? When you get excited almost everyday because you see how your thouhghts slowly begin to organize themselves?
     
     I don‘t want to become an expert. I want to become an almost expert in as many fields that excite me.

367. Luke (2018-06-07) #

     I don't believe in unlearning. Our brains aren't wired to do it well.
     
     The world changes. We need to change too. Unlike the view in this article, I see it as a primarily additive process - and one that sometimes overwrites the old, but the overwriting is more like a palimpsest than a hard drive, and more like updating references while the old data is kept around than an in-place replacement.
     
     In short, I agree with your examples. I agree with relearning, and saying "I don't know", and realizing that expertise has become stale/obsolete/wrong. But I think "unlearning" is the wrong thing to call it, and the wrong mindset to have about it. It's subtly off.
     
     It may still be the best title, though. I can't say "refreshing", "updating", "reworking", "relearning", etc are better, and there's value in being pithy.

368. Jordan (2018-06-07) #

     Superb piece of writing.
     
     Can really save us a lot of time in life if we are willing to use unlearning and learning.

369. Lawrence Neal (2018-06-07) #

     I love this article Derek. Gives me a lot of comfort to realise this challenge is unavoidable. I see it a lot in my industry (nutrition / training). Keep up the great work. Love your blog too. Did you design it? WordPress?

370. LOUIE B HILAL (2018-06-07) #

     Derek
     Thanks for reading the article. Love the title of the book.
     Hell YEAH or no. I use this when I can in my personal life. It has been helpful.
     A good example of this is currently taking place in diet and nutrition.
     I was always taught to eat small meals and when you first wake up to eat something for breakfast and "Break the Fast" however now many experts in this field are preaching the benefits of Intermittent Fasting and not eating for between 14-18 hrs. ? Go figure...? I've been doing it wrong for so many years.
     Hope the APP is coming along. Good to hear from you. Stay well.

371. Michael Krozer (2018-06-07) #

     Derek, when I was in Quality Management, I had the privilege of working with many long time experts in their field, construction of mega projects in this case. While the process of building hasn’t changed in concept much since the Greeks and Roman’s over 2500 years ago, there has been explosive growth in the tools, from physical equipment to software.
     
     So, the old guys would say, “I’ve been doing it this way for for 40 years. I don’t have confidence in the new approach.” That’s was always a tough argument to overcome overcome and one I did with the utmost respect. It would be wrong to completely reject the “old ways” and the vast experience that formed those ways.
     
     One should embrace the new as long as it isn’t just a fresh coat of paint on an old idea. Many people carry an arrogance about their knowledge that supports their self-asteem. Shattering that arrogance is terrifying but necessary for growth. I penned this quote for a character in one of my books that I truly believe in : “Anyone who says they’re not profoundly ignorant of virtually everything only proves they are.”

372. Liam Golder (2018-06-07) #

     Hi,
     
     Excellent article all very true!

373. Ian kendrick (2018-06-07) #

     Hi Derek
     
     As a carpenter & joiner I find it’s the variables that change more than the fundamentals. I am 47 years old and find it you don’t constantly strive to notice new variables, as you say, you’re old ways can trip you up. Thanks .... Ian 😃
     
     Yes .... still a carpenter ... but have just taken 2 months off to experiment.... massive move for me . Take care

374. Bill Spann (2018-06-07) #

     You’re very insightful about world changing technologies happening so fast
     That you have to shed what you think you know to relearn to understand your relationships just to keep up.

375. V Narayanan (2018-06-07) #

     The most difficult job is to unlearn
     
     Self Image
     Perception of others & our situation
     These prevents us from unlearning
     
     Discovery Based Approach
     Humbleness & Open Mind
     Help us to unlearn & relearn

376. Tom (2018-06-07) #

     Emotionally, too.
     
     Leaving the boat that got me here behind because it will hinder, rather than help, me climb this mountain.
     
     'I don't have an opinion', makes people furious. Easy signalling removed, the assumption is often that you are hiding a ghastly position.
     
     A demonstration of the power of not knowing, perhaps, your thoughts on which prompted great inner strides in me.

377. olivia (2018-06-07) #

     So love this post Derek - you are a very wise owl! And so is John Cage - now I must be too!
     Olivia

378. Sunny (2018-06-07) #

     Love it. This fits well with the paul samuelson quote, “when the events change, i change my mind. What do you do?”
     
     Keep it up D!

379. Selim Oezkan (2018-06-07) #

     One can tell from John Cage's music, that he doesn't like old ones. But how about not forgetting tradition?

380. Mark (2018-06-07) #

     That makes perfect sense. That’s a great post. I don’t know anything and it’s humbling, but that is the world we live in, yeah.

381. don (2018-06-07) #

     so true, And things are changing so fast, if you don’t grasp this concept you’ll be left in the dust

382. Dan (2018-06-07) #

     Being frightened of old ideas, that is a very strange idea. I find that very idea, itself, frightening.
     
     Sure, that is what is needed from the workers of the world, in order to survive. But our need to forever adapt and change is not a favourable situation.
     
     Technology has brought humanity some very cool things, and will continue to do so, but has it brought us happiness?

383. Neil MacKinnon (2018-06-07) #

     Must agree Derek.
     Unlearning and relearning can feel like hard work, especially when you thought all the effort you made earlier in life would be enough to see you through.
     Spent most of my youth in entertainment, and quite a bit of my middle years selling things on TV.
     Now I'm 61 and have no idea how to promote my own podcast!
     Time to do some relearning.
     Reading this post was like reading about my own life.
     Seriously wise observations sir!

384. Jeremy Schaller (2018-06-07) #

     I think this topic is one that is fantastically relevant as you say with the modern pace of change in technology.
     
     If you're making a case to never assume that old knowledge is necessarily relevant, and that you need to stay on top of what knowledge is outdated and should be replaced, then I think this article is great.
     
     For me I immediately want to know about its application.
     
     Two tangential areas that interest me(and might be relevant to branch off with for actionable insights) are:
     
     affecting neuroplasticity and fluid intellect through meditation. Fluid intellect allows you to approach, tackle,
     Understand the principles of something on a root level, so perhaps you will be less likely to rely on bulk memorization to approach problems.
     
     And
     
     the subtle art of eliminating habits a la the power of habit. Do you always approach new insights with the same paradigms and mental framework that used to be relevant? How do you replace that habit?
     
     
     Anyways, thank you for giving me something to think about Derek
     
     Cheers

385. Bill Thurman (2018-06-07) #

     Hi Derek!
     
     That was a great quote by John Cage! I've seen it in the past, but it's still great as ever. I know about great music. What I don't really know is "the music business". All I know is that it changes every year. Sometimes every month. The only thing I really know is that you have to talk thoroughly with real live human beings, that is, if you ever really want to get anything done. All the best to you, Derek. I've always enjoyed reading your thoughts and ideas.

386. Mikel (2018-06-07) #

     One of the best quotes I received from one of my school teacher at the end of High School was to NEVER STOP LEARNING !!!!
     
     Thanks for your post and I look forward to read your new book soon.
     
     Kind regards

387. Mike Leatherwood (2018-06-07) #

     I spent 41 years in the used vehicle business my business grew most every year The primary reason was that I identified necessary change and always acted upon it until the very end of my career the final change I needed to make was one I did not desire to make, so I retired I did not view my past, in moving forward, as something i needed to unlearn, but something i needed to draw from and expand on!!

388. caleb osborne (2018-06-07) #

     This is so true.
     
     I've had a number of instances in my life where I realized that I had to completely re-assess old things I "knew" to be true, because the world is changing so quickly.
     
     Spot on!
     
     - Caleb

389. Shaz Jones (2018-06-07) #

     Is that called wisdom?

390. Jeremy Stocks (2018-06-07) #

     Fascinating. I'm at Chapter Three (Ch1 was a career, Ch2 was raising kids) and I am at this stage of learning new stuff and loving all of it.
     
     My old career was digital mapping. However they kept moving the goalposts such that I said learning the tech was like year 1 mending a bike year 2 mending a family car year 3 mending an formula one car. I almost cracked up with the strain.
     
     I bet there's a load of middle agers now wondering what the hell to do now this new era is with us?

391. Benedict Westenra (2018-06-07) #

     It would be interesting if you linked to an archived version of the original article as well, even if you no longer agree with it - we'd get insight into how your thinking has changed over time, which would actually prove your point!
     If my thinking had changed, I'd make a new article. But if I just want to make the same point using clearer words, I keep the same URL and update the words. — Derek

392. John E Grund (2018-06-07) #

     This is excellent and I can not wait to hear more. This is such an important topic that impacts so much of our lives. As a mindfulness based therapist and meditation teacher, my work is helping people identify past beliefs and behaviors that hinder their growth. I hope that you put some information about the brain and how our emotions especially fear to keep us holding on to the known. Truly looking forward to reading more and thanks for addressing this area.

393. Simon (2018-06-07) #

     I guess unlearning is one my highest priorities since a couple of weeks. Not just for me as an Interaction Designer but especially because I am trying to rewire my brain to deal with my panic attacks and anxiety disorder. It is fundamental to unlearn and relearn if you want to change your behaviour and establish new and healthy habits. Thank you very much Derek for this raw post and very inspiring thoughts.
     
     If you could recommend any further readings in this direction, it would be very appreciated.
     
     All the best from Berlin!

394. Martha Ramus (2018-06-07) #

     Hi Derek,
     
     Thanks for sharing this article with me. It's always incredible (really) and nice to hear from a person you admire so much. And yes, I'm talking about you.
     
     One of the things I admire about you is the space you open up for feedback, your humbleness to recognize we all have things to learn from each other.
     
     Very nice thoughts on this article. As I mentioned earlier, I am also passing through a similar phase of unlearning. So it speaks to me a lot.
     
     I got relatively successful at what I did (not as much as you). Coming from an undeveloped country, I became a bad-ass professional in luxury for 7 highly developed countries in Europe, until I realized that it was not only useless but harmful to the world. That instead of promoting and creating social differences, we should promote inclusiveness, equality. It seems obvious but for most people it still isin't. So that required some unlearning (and still does) as well.
     
     Recently I read a nice article about being useful to the world and I'd like to share it with you:
     https://www.brandingmag.com/2017/05/29/brands-need-to-know-that-good-is-the-new-cool/
     
     Hope my thoughts are of some use to you.
     Keep in touch.
     Martha

395. Brian A (2018-06-07) #

     That's one remarkable - and personally, spookily relevant - article!
     
     Thanks for sharing!
     
     Perhaps in a similar way, I too have engineered a situations that are helping and allowing me to unlearn, relearn, and "up-learn" (a new word to share).
     
     We live in two realities: one is exciting and stimulating; the other is, or can be, fractious and threatening.
     
     So we ... navigate, learn to "walk again", explore ... see what's out there.

396. Law (2018-06-07) #

     Change is the only constant right? Good point about unlearning, makes it all the more relevant to ensure we remove barriers to learning and challenge judgement and the inner or outer authority that always knows best :)

397. JILL WOODWORTH (2018-06-07) #

     Story of my life, "the more I know, the less I understand"! Keeping this at the forefront as we navigate this brave new world is not always easy. Thanks for reminder of the importance of this concept.

398. Celeste Henriquez (2018-06-07) #

     Description is simple elegance, so true. We all are trying to make these adjustments if we’re conscious of it or not. Small or huge unlearning to relearn helps us pivot to our next step in learning. I’m in a huge pivot, at this moment, so reading your straight forward words that aren’t attached to the strain and pain of my unlearning/relearning sinks in me well-heard it! Thank you.

399. Tina Jackson (2018-06-07) #

     Thank you for your wisdom and inspiration as always.

400. Dan (2018-06-07) #

     As usual, succinct and full if gems. Love your work mate. I especially love the concept of 'Hell Yeah or No'. I look forward to it's publication

401. Lucio (2018-06-07) #

     and what if you spend too much time learning and unlearning that you actually never put it into practice ..?
     
     learning is a bussiness too, so you have to be aware of not being trapted.

402. David Hill (2018-06-07) #

     Hey Derek,
     
     Good stuff!
     
     I can relate in general terms thinking you know what life is like, and then getting married and having kids make you have learn a new way of life real quick haha.
     
     Hope all is well!
     David

403. Rod Kellow (2018-06-07) #

     Derek,
     
     Spot on my friend! I'm just about to sign a songwriter development deal with Merf Music Group (Nashville) and your article reinforced what I had been thinking!
     
     My Mom use to be with Harold Shedd (Legendary Nashville producer and publisher) but what I knew about the business in 1989 really means little today!
     
     All my best!
     
     Rod-

404. Varun Negandhi (2018-06-07) #

     Hi Derek, my favorite part of the article is, "The strategy that got you to where you are is different from the strategy that will get you to where you want to be next." It reminded me of the book "What Got You Here Won't Get You There."
     
     I see the value in unlearning and relearning. How much of it do you think is repositioning? Many times the fundamentals remain the same, but the way the ideas spread is different. For example, in the music business, the fundamental is always about moving the listener through music to a point where they love it and want to listen to it again. How do you think about what to unlearn?
     
     Thank you for sharing the article that may go in a book. You inspire me with the truth in your writing and how it is motivated only by your growth.

405. Jen (2018-06-07) #

     Sounds like the need to be aware of the limited context where something applies. What are you assuming. What happens if something changes. Everything exists in a context. If you never question the context itself and that context is temporary, then so is your expertise. But if you understand the fundamentals that do not change, you can be an expert on that and re-learn the superficial details.

406. Everett Adams (2018-06-07) #

     Many things change, some for the better but some for the worst. The only one that doesn't change is God."I change not" He said. What was sin yesterday is still sin today, even though the world accepts sin today as normal, the world today is bending over backwards to not offend, to be inclusive, in doing so they are accepting evil as good and making good as evil. A sure sign that we are nearing the end of this world as we know it.

407. Bill Serfass (2018-06-07) #

     As a public school classroom music teacher with over 34 years of experience I began to doubt how I was teaching. This old dog had better learn some new tricks I thought! Thankfully, the professional groups I belong to are always bringing in new ideas and ways to do things especially using technology. The new ways to approach teaching children music are wonderful and I had to let go or as you say unlearn what I knew so well. While I never felt like an idiot I did feel as if I may have become a throwback in a world that needed more throw ahead. Love the John Cage quote! Thanks!

408. Kevin (2018-06-07) #

     Great time in my life for this advice! Thanks Derek for throwing your thoughtful lessons learned out for your friends and fans to think about and reset themselves ☺

409. Amanda Monaco (2018-06-07) #

     Amen!

410. Deyanira Mendoza Dominguez (2018-06-07) #

     Is this the full article or did I miss something? If this is the full article, it seems like just the beginning to a full article that I would like to read. I am missing the parts where I was hoping to learn how to relearn, how you did the move from your old company, etc. Other than that, the topic is interesting and helpful to those who want to stay "current" with themselves. Perhaps a part of the article can relate to many aspects of life to apply relearning.

411. Jan (2018-06-07) #

     Hi Derek!
     
     I think this is more and more relevant, I got exposed to the idea by Kevin Kelly, who has defined it as "letting go at the top". From his new rules for the new economy: http://kk.org/newrules/
     
     6) Let Go at the Top. As innovation accelerates, abandoning the highly successful in order to escape from its eventual obsolescence becomes the most difficult and yet most essential task.

412. Gerard (2018-06-07) #

     Thank you for sharing Derek.
     Rather than "unlearning", I like to think of it as "evolving" my thoughts.
     
     Unlearning is not always possible or realistic for some of us - (I wish it were as simple as wiping a hard drive clean) - and our knowledge today is very much shaped by our past experiences. eg: what worked and what didn't work, under a specific set of circumstances.
     
     But, deconstructing our knowledge and potentially rebuilding from scratch, or rebuilding with a different foundation, like a lego set, does help evolve our thinking. Somethings do change, and some don't. The secret is not to lose perspective, and to evolve, along with the changes happening around our business models.
     
     It'll be great to read your upcoming book. Best wishes.

413. Rob Hays (2018-06-07) #

     Love the John Cage quote!
     
     and your line "You got successful doing things one way, but now that way is moot." reminded me of coaching from an early mentor about taking out the old cassette tapes running a program that no longer served me, and replacing it with a new one... And perhaps the cassette tape reference dates me a bit.
     
     Thanks for sharing yourself with the world! Cheers!
     -Rob

414. Kevin Grant (2018-06-07) #

     As I begin again, almost , no actually starting over after some hard entrepreneurial lessons in the importance of relationships and a common vision, I realize despite the outside appearance, I'm in a promising position. It gives me a chance to not only unlearn, but incorporate the new things I learned about learning itself, while releasing that which has been a hindrance. A long winded comment to basically explain how this has found me once again "right on time." Life is change, and while people may celebrate the expert, the expert is in the doing, riding the changing seasons that make up industries being in the thick of it, not celebrating what happened before in a different climate.

415. Bruce Wesley Chenoweth (2018-06-07) #

     You said:
     "You got successful doing things one way, but now that way is moot."
     
     Also there is:
     You failed while trying to do things a new way. Now that way has become highly effective.
     
     
     One of the most useful bits of information that I have learned in my 75+ years is: Socrates was thought to be the wisest man alive because he was aware that he knew nothing.
     
     Another shining example is the character Marilyn in the TV series "Northern Exposure" whose response to almost everything was either "maybe," or, simply non-expressive silence."

416. Hal Gullick (2018-06-07) #

     We learn from the past to create a brighter future.
     
     Then:
     HORSE:
     Hard / Simple
     ----------------
     Ride - No Stirring
     
     Now:
     AUTOMOBILE
     Easy / Complicated
     --------------------------
     Comfortable - Left and rights
     
     There will always be a tradeoff between the old ideas and the new.
     
     Take your pick! It's up to you.
     □OLD?
     □NEW?
     I Appreciate all your articles you send Derek
     
     Hal Gullick
     www.cdbaby.com/cd/eternallife
     
     FREE SHIPPING!
     www.halshomemadejerky.com

417. paolo (2018-06-07) #

     as a medical doctor, this is so true (and not surprising).
     You have to constantly test your assumption, and learn un learn and relearn.
     Many times you think B is a straight consequence of A, just to discover that b was jast false (i.e. you consider a bleeding a consequence of an antithrombotic medication, until the patient confess he had non compliance with the therapy).
     You have to face any new challage with eye child.
     I believe that the ultimate expert level is being able to rapidly change focus (from big to small picture, from trivial entertaninin to life changing) or in your perspectives from using your previous knowledge, to the naive open state.
     
     As I'm a musician too this is the same. Best musician shift from melody appealing riff to technical ones. Paul Gilbert (i mean totally guitar heroduring a live stated some thing this way "this is great about rock (and music in general) you can enjoy it at any level" and started playing alternating impossible riffs and happy singing with rythmic guitar
     
     PS your level of honesty with your self is master level, I sometimes anyway percive you're a little unforgiving with yourself
     
     all the best

418. Jeremy Klaver (2018-06-07) #

     Wish more people would act on this idea <3

419. Gary (2018-06-07) #

     A real gem of a blurb, Derek. Something that should be taught at a fairly early age, not only for self-awareness, but for assisting in developing compassion for those who resist the trend, offering a reasonable explanation for their stodginess. Someday this stubbornness may simply be called an "Unlearning disorder!" Thanks for the wake-up call.

420. Bruce Wesley Chenoweth (2018-06-07) #

     Reading comments reminded me of another favorite quote which I remember as:
     
     "A specialist is someone who learns more and more about less and less until he knows everything there is to know about nothing at all."

421. kirby j swatosh (2018-06-07) #

     A good reminder.
     Seems like everyone hates change, at least when not initated by them.
     Then it becomes normal and life goes on.

422. Benjie Hughes (2018-06-07) #

     The answer to the question "how" changes pretty fast; if you get good at "how" then your expertise is constantly expiring.
     
     The answer to the question "why" doesn't change very quickly at all; if you get good at "why" then you can use that expertise for a long time.
     
     You'll use your "why" expertise to reinvent the "how" over and over.

423. Mark A. (2018-06-07) #

     Thanks for sharing this and I can’t wait to read your new book!
     
     One of the most memorable quotes which I share with others who are stuck in a ‘what to do with my job/life’ rut is ‘Hell yeah, or no’. It is one of the ideas that resonated with me the most when deciding to quit everything, move to another city, reinvent myself and ‘answer the calls for help’ by starting a small business-one with no competition. All of you ideas are so worthy and I share ‘anything you want’ with others who are serious about making a change-not just talkers.
     
     This article is critical to remember to keeping one eye on your passion and the other on the landscape and be willing to shape-shift your plan/strategy if needed.
     
     Thanks again for all the ways you help and inspire others!
     Mark

424. Eric Jordan (2018-06-07) #

     as a digital music producer i'm always ready to learn the "upgrade", or new tech. This mind state has me in a always learning, never stop learning mode that can be tiring at times, but necessary. Still waiting on the payoff, but i do enjoy the learning.
     I think the thing though in this day in age is learning the new stuff before it pops and becomes over saturated. i think.

425. Sabine (2018-06-07) #

     I got INTO the music business 10 years ago and I was then 44 - a whole new world of learning, I came in with no idea at all about this new world. I still spend everyday learning as much as possible as this business and the world changes so quickly. Occasionally I feel like I know stuff, mostly I feel dumb :) My pride keeps me learning :) heheh
     
     You have helped me learn with everything you've written, cdbaby and your wonderful book list :)

426. Clifton West (2018-06-07) #

     The power of what you’ve said here lies in its simple truth. In my humble opinion what you’ve so aptly unpacked here is the process of evolving. Everything that exists in time evolves. As humans (creatures of knowing) we must at one point unlearn a thing in order to see what it has now become and therefore be able to now learn the utility of its current being as it applies to us.
     
     In short, I love what you’re doing here. You’re the 21st century philosopher.

427. Teddee Cullen (2018-06-07) #

     I can't believe how sometimes you read something at the perfect time. As if you know me personally and wrote this to me because you are aware of my feelings and what I am going through.
     This is such a simple and true subject. I need to adapt that thought process. It needs to be adapted. Reading it is one thing, living it is entirely another thing.
     So glad that this was put into words Derek. Thank you for taking the time.
     
     Teddee

428. James (2018-06-07) #

     So I’m curious as to when you should hold true to your old opinions and when you need to unlearn? Also how do you uncover these falsely held ideas? Sometimes I find that it’s difficult to see that you hold them in the first place. Also I find that principles are timeless which could be salvaged from previous things that have been learned.
     
     Thanks!

429. Rich Young (2018-06-07) #

     Some things are eternal. For example, A=440; music affects how we feel. Some things change like musical styles and how they are accepted, but there is resistance to change. Talent means being able to express yourself in a way that communicates something. Feelings are eternal, but how we express them changes with the times. Classics express some universal truths, so we like to revisit them, but we get tired of the same old thing. We need music to express things that move us in a new way.
     
     Anything we do that gets in the way of expressing ourselves or in understanding others needs to be unlearned like a prejudice or somehow changed to be more expressive. Things like new fingerings on an instrument or discovering new vocal placement or copying the style of other musicians and then making them our own are ways of unlearning old ways and learning new ones.
     
     I really liked the fresh and clever ways CD Baby operates. This is service with a smile. It is a new way of delivering classic good service. It is refreshing like a drink of water on a hot day. Well done!

430. DJ I.N.C (2018-06-07) #

     Great stuff as always Derek.
     Thanks for sharing

431. Kwin (2018-06-07) #

     Thanks for this Derek.
     
     What are your thoughts about identifying what needs to be unlearned? It seems there must be some foundational stuff that is evergreen and shouldn't be thrown out. Also as "history doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes" we should be able to leverage some of the even obsolete knowledge to do the re-learning part more efficiently.

432. Jane (2018-06-07) #

     You’re absolutely right.—I’m immediately thinking of my friend who was tired of a boring professor reading from his old, yellowed notes, so during the class-break he snuck up to the lectern, grabbed the notes, and threw them in the trash when nobody was looking. The professor grumbled and bumbled and threatened the class, but then he HAD to update his teaching from the latest research, stop doing the same old rote lectures, and the class got really interesting from then on.
     
     I find that the challenge for a lot of people re. unlearning comes when what they originally learned helped them survive a tough time. We see this with individuals who survived trauma, but now their relationships are falling apart, and on a broader scale, in a country facing new challenges & threats, clinging to the “comfort tools” of flexing military might and/or using all-or-nothing thinking to categorize “us” vs. “them”. In business, there are a million ways that the fear of failure keeps us stuck in old habits that are comforting/familiar, but actually more risky—because they’re not based in new realities. It truly is a vulnerable process (often requiring a little “grief process”) to unlearn the familiar, and be open to the new. Courage required.

433. Terry Kingston (2018-06-07) #

     Thanks again Derek for your insight.
     
     Maybe slightly cliche-ish, but still true: "change is the only constant".

434. Rodney (2018-06-07) #

     Perfect Derek, I once heard a quote from David Bowie:
     
     "Life is change".
     Always looking to change since then.
     Cheers!

435. Gil (2018-06-07) #

     With each new day comes a new way. That’s all I can say.

436. Joseph de Dominicis (2018-06-07) #

     I am faced with a similar situation. I am doing something that I have done in the past, but things have changed. I am older, and realize I need to take a new look at the landscape. Your article, as always is profound and helps me to navigate the waters.
     Thank You,
     Derek

437. David (2018-06-07) #

     Beautiful, articulate, succinct and inspired.

438. Sally Burns (2018-06-07) #

     Totally agree. Everything we learn in college or grad school is obsolete. Cumulative learning and experience are essential.

439. Gilbert Cardenas (2018-06-07) #

     How about instead of "unlearning" you "keep learning". I this article makes sense if you left an industry, and decided to come back to it as you did Derek. But I feel those who make a big impact are those who keep learning or at least make an effort to.
     
     I think the bigger takeaway is to not put yourself in a position where you suddenly find yourself being ignorant instead of being an expert.

440. William Lovelace (2018-06-07) #

     Very positive Thoughts and gave me perspective on where my thinking should be.
     
     Thanks Mr.Siver, do have a most excellent day and weekend kind Sir!

441. Jake Wright (2018-06-07) #

     This reminds me of a quotation from Tim Minchin's commencement speech at UWA from a number of years ago. I apologize for the vulgarity, but it helps with the remembering.
     
     "Be hard on your opinions. A famous bon mot asserts that opinions are like assholes, and that everyone has one. There is great wisdom in this, but I would argue that opinions differ significantly from assholes in that yours should be constantly and thoroughly examined."

442. Joe Marks (2018-06-07) #

     I'm in the middle of a mental purge to make room for new thoughts, ideas and life opportunities. I like the story in Andy Groves book "Only the Paranoid Survive" where he describes firing himself from Intel as CEO of a memory company and hiring himself back as CEO of a CPU company. As a small online business owner, I'm constantly watching for the signs of things that are not working anymore and what is replacing them. Learning - Purging - ReLearning is Survival ;-)

443. Karmin (2018-06-07) #

     I love this article. I see it everyday in my job. My job is constantly changing with technology and some do not like change and want to keep doing things the old way.

444. Brant Huddleston (2018-06-07) #

     Technology changes. Business changes, and systems do. People don't change that much.

445. Bob Larro (2018-06-07) #

     So true...I too am trying to fit in, in a new world. However, Never unlearn valuable lessons, acquired knowledge and never 'unlove' those precious people in your life. Sometimes, getting new ideas may tempt you into leaving your old life and loves behind ...don't be foolish.

446. Adam Erhart (2018-06-07) #

     I think this is my biggest takeaway "Doubt each old thing you know. Require current evidence. Make it prove itself to be true today. Otherwise, let it go."
     
     The future belongs to those who are adaptable (especially given the rapid rate of change in pretty much... everything). And holding on to previous beliefs, thought-patterns, and out-dated knowledge is no way to advance.
     
     Mark Twain put it well when he said: "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so."

447. Vikki Davis-Ellis (2018-06-07) #

     This idea will be stuck with me for days--or maybe forever. I'll apply this concept to ???? Certainly makes me question.

448. Marian Kemp (2018-06-07) #

     Hi Derek,
     
     "There are changes coming, changes behind them, and still more changes behind them." Whatever I read, I am always aware that technology may not last. We may (or may not) sink back to barbarism if western society collapses, just like Rome did after 700 years; just like all the other "civilizations" in the past. Nobody really knows if we will have to continue "learning, un-learning & re-learning". We may have to go back to clearing land by hand and plowing with horses! Or not. We shall see.
     
     I am a senior baby boomer & in my early 70s now. I wish I could be around 60 to 100 years from now, to see how things have played out.
     
     Meantime, there is room for advancing technology AND doing things in the old way. We can have cell phones -- and then turn them off so we can't be tracked and can have peace for a while. We can use a broom instead of a vacuum cleaner, so that we can use our skill and operate without having to depend on the electricity supply. Someday, the power is going to go off, and we'd better be prepared to operate without flipping a switch! Self-reliance and independence.
     
     So, fate and fortune can trip us up if we say that ANYTHING is here to stay. It probably is, but fate can throw us an unexpected turn.
     
     Just the same, I enjoy your comments. Keep them coming.
     
     - Marian

449. Ahmad Nadimi (2018-06-07) #

     Keep the fresh ideas flowing and growing.

450. Tim Storey (2018-06-07) #

     This is talking about me exactly. Thanks for your insight, once again.

451. Phyllis (2018-06-07) #

     There's nothing wrong with retaining what we know. I can still do arithmetic with pencil and paper, even long division. I'm not practicing it or promoting it, however, it might come in handy if technology is not available.
     
     On the other hand, if I had never bothered to notice that calculators, computers, and apps are the useful norm, I would be left behind in the worlds of business, education, medicine, science, etc.
     
     Yes, things are changing fast. But not so fast for me to notice and begin to update my thinking and my skills. If I wait until my skills are obsolete, the changes would seem overwhelming.
     
     When I was younger, I resisted change because it was scary. As I was forced to change, I began to enjoy the improvements. This taught me to pay better attention and to investigate new tools and methods.
     
     When I learn something early in its popularity I am valuable to others because I can explain it and assist them as they learn new ways. The biggest benefit I receive from technology is the ability to learn new things fast.
     
     It's never too late to start. Relax and have fun with it.

452. david rosen (2018-06-07) #

     Learning is similar to blockchain... I would never unlearn what I have learned... I would simply append the new knowledge to the end. Understanding the history of how things used to be provides a better understanding of why things work how they currently do.

453. John m. (2018-06-07) #

     Hey this is just another way of saying that we are constantly in problem solving mode. It the constant cycle of problem...cause...statergy...soluton...next problem. Just keep working you process, stay in the moment and live your life everyday. Its the journey not the destination

454. Charlie Houghton (BOLDR Nutrition) (2018-06-07) #

     Excited for this!
     
     Echoes of "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind"
     
     The ego imprisons the mind in its rigidity.

455. Gen (2018-06-07) #

     Loved Toffler way back when he put out Future Shock in several different jacket colours and love this article of yours too.

456. joão (2018-06-07) #

     I’ve been a student all my life. Of my life. Of life. And for life. Life has taught me, through challenges, mishaps, and success’s, that nothing is constant except change.
     
     Yes, this article affirms what I believe every one knows at their core. Just when you imagine you have you’ve dug as deep as your well can go, reach. There is no end to what you may discover. And what you will discover, will serve you well. No doubt.

457. Dillon (2018-06-07) #

     I agree with this. In fact every time I write a comment I delete it in hopes that I retooled for a better response. Sometimes It's better to accept defeat.

458. Sherrill Mair (2018-06-07) #

     Always enjoy your thoughts Derek.
     
     “Don't let yesterday use up too much of today.” Will Rogers

459. Erol Özdamar (2018-06-07) #

     Hi Derek,
     I just dont agree with this sentence
     ''You dug so deep into something that you lost perspective, and didn’t realize the landscape had changed''
     İ think, when you deep into something you will learn much more. Of course you should never say to yourself ''I am done, i am an expert of this subject or situation''. You are learning something any minute of your life, sometimes when you say ''hi'' who don't you meet before or when you are watching someone in a public transportation. You can't be expert of something in anytime. Learning is a limitless process so it never ends. Mainly, you should be aware of yourself, everytime and everywhere. if you can; you can not believe what are you going to learn.
     Take care yourself! :)

460. Dave Kirk (2018-06-07) #

     It it everywhere, this need to unlearn. We learn, unlearn, relearn all the while I am tempted to think I still have the answers. I may have the answers but the questions keep changing. It is vital to hold our thoughts and opinions loosely. Thank you for the Cage quote at the end (musician to musician)

461. KAROLINA SOBER (2018-06-07) #

     It's a beautiful read Derek! Maybe it’s not even about unlearning, but about learning wise - knowing already it’s fluid, agile, fragile, and question it the moment you acquire it. There is immense pleasure in this excitement about the infinite possibility that comes with such openness; “where nothing is certain, everything can happen”. It might not apply to everyone but in my case Mentorship helps - having that someone who your trust to break apart all you've got and build it back together with you.

462. Christina Luna (2018-06-07) #

     This absolutely resonated with me so thank you for writing with simplicity for such a complex theme. I hope I too can learn how to unlearn and relearn!

463. Kelly (2018-06-07) #

     "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock."
     -Thomas Jefferson
     Derek as per usual your writing is sublime. Clear and thoughtful. Unlearning is relevant to the aspects of business and life that are moving with technology and cultural shifts.
     
     Ah but the underlying principles those don't change...much. For example communication moved from typewriter to Twitter but emotional, lyrical, visual language still engages the mind regardless of platform.

464. Jimmy Brandmeier (2018-06-07) #

     Hello Derek!
     
     You are either tapping into a universal phenomenon out there or you are psychic. I’m literally experiencing that “expert to idiot” feeling right now. Long story short . . .
     
     I’m a musician and music biz veteran. I give a seminar titled, Be Who You Are INC. Your Life In The Music Business—I’m giving one next week titled, Brands and Bands, A Love Story. I’ve recently been thinking that I’ve got to unlearn, learn and relearn a lot of things for the students I’m advising—a gift and responsibility I do not take lightly. So, your post really helped solidify my nagging feeling. Grow! Learn! Become a beginner again! Embrace these amazing changes. My students are depending on me!
     
     I believe there is more opportunity than ever for people who dust off their thinking and dive heart first into new ideas and perspectives. Thanks for the jolt of clarity! Never never stop growing.
     
     
     All The Best,
     Jimmy Brandmeier
     
     
     www(dot)Jimmybrandmeier.com
     Instagram: @be.who.you.art
     Email: [email protected]
     
     
     Be Who You Are—Inside and Out—No Matter What.

465. Boone Thompson (2018-06-07) #

     Ok, cannot wait to get the new book! The “Hell Yeah!” Story in ANYTHING YOU WANT is still profoundly helping me. In regards to unlearning & relearning, I recently heard that the word “repent” simply means to change your mind or “rethink” and I’ve been rethinking anything & everything I can think of that needs to be re-learned. Thanks for the preview chapters! God speed!

466. Robert Kaetzel (2018-06-07) #

     Hard truth! Derek, I always love your honesty and your willingness to point out deficiencies in yourself. That is the mark of a lifetime learner and a wise person.

467. Praveen (2018-06-07) #

     Great article. I liked the way of conveying the idea of reinventing yourself, especially with a great example. Particularly these lines made stronger impact
     "It hurts to go from feeling like an expert to feeling like an idiot. But it’s crucial to go through that pain, or you’ll never grow"

468. Antonio Rillera (2018-06-07) #

     Very true, or as one of my favorite quotes goes: “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” ― Shunryu Suzuki

469. becky suzik (2018-06-07) #

     enjoyed this essay Derek. would love to read what you had previously though... would love to see what 9 years does in terms of editing ;)
     here it is — Derek

470. Michael (2018-06-07) #

     Thanks for revising this piece, Derek.
     
     I have increasingly found that being true to the motivators for starting my company, inform this unlearning and relearning cycle. What was true then, isn't true now, and what is true now, won't be a year from now. Business "Expertise" - much like academia - is a continuous process.
     
     Looking forward to the next installment!
     
     Michael

471. SETH (2018-06-07) #

     Hi Derek
     
     I enjoy your posts and emails, in part because they are so concise. No fat.
     
     I totally agree with these thoughts on unlearning. I have heard you speak of having a young boy (I have a young boy and a young girl). I am curious about your thoughts on the ‘meta’ skills you think are valuable for kids to learn so they are well equipped to learn and unlearn as they get older.
     
     Please feel free to refer me to previous posts if this is something you have covered off elsewhere and I’ve missed it.
     
     Cheers
     Seth

472. Isambard (2018-06-07) #

     There is a truth in not clinging to the past be it success or a particular expertise. However any absolute position will lack truth.
     
     Meaning you do actually know some thing about the music business, even today, as some truths from this industry remain in place, I also worked in the industry then too - for one of the majors and CD Baby was regarded with some shock and awe. #
     
     So I may be picking on semantics. Meaning you don't need to unlearn everything.
     to offer a view. Just don't over value or over claim at any time
     
     Therefore I suggest to claim expertise on almost any art form is a vain ambition, rather be open to share some concepts, and direction while making no grand claims.
     
     This will serve not to deny experience to those who seek it while not pretending the guidance is more than it is.
     
     Finally to illustrate what I mean, the truth of why or how an artist was breaking in the industry was not a science in 1999 and it is no science in 2018. Why certain tracks and artists transcend borders is a mystery then and now. This is a truth that requires no unlearning :) To confirm this to aspiring artists is simply to make the point that making music for the love of it, is its own reward and if others buy in that is a bonus. This has not changed for a 100 years or more of commercialisation of recorded music. Hope sheds some light on the debate. As ever my respects. Peter.

473. Curtis Fornadley (2018-06-07) #

     Great read as usual. This is even more challenging when small or large groups need to unlearn at the same time

474. AL (2018-06-07) #

     Always hitting the nail on the head Derek! You are a true mentor! Be well.

475. Carlos Semeghini (2018-06-07) #

     Hi Derek,
     Thank you for the heads up.
     
     Great and true article, I would add to that... "doubt and question everything!"
     
     In a world thirsty for new content and breakthroughs, relearning those days requires one to dig into a dynamic flow of new but not always true data...
     
     Perhaps a new great skill to learn would be bs analytics...
     
     The secret is to see through it...
     
     Best
     
     Carlos

476. Lansana Camara (2018-06-07) #

     Going from an expert in one topic, to a beginner in another, unlearning and starting fresh allowed me to grow beyond where I was.
     
     But here's some food for thought: if you use unlearning as a maxim and live your life by it, then wouldn't you (in effect) not be unlearning at all? The whole idea is to forget what you knew and start fresh, right?

477. Jason (2018-06-07) #

     How long can someone stay in the process of unlearning?

478. michael stoppa (2018-06-07) #

     Derek, love your post about unlearning and requiring current evidence. It reminds me of the Douglas Adams books Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy in which the "Ruler of the Universe" is a simple man who essentially every day requires that life prove its fact to him over again. Not only is he wise but he is also happy. Here's the Wiki link for the character: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minor_The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy_characters#The_Ruler_of_the_Universe
     Enjoy.
     
     Mike
     ThatHelpfulDad.com

479. Ryan Nile (2018-06-07) #

     Love this Derek. I find this often in the business and as the music itself changes, as a producer and artist we must be in a constant state of learning and unlearning. This is a great reminder :)

480. Laurence (2018-06-07) #

     In terms of learning-like most things in life you can learn how to and how not to. Adopting this yin yang approach prepares you to embrace change.

481. Dan Palladino (2018-06-07) #

     Great read, Derek. I’m a great believer in doing what works, until it doesn’t. Then, we move on to the next thing.
     
     When I was young, I decided I wanted to make a living with music, because getting bored with it was something I couldn’t imagine. So, I set off to do just that, with no real plan. 38 years later, I still have no plan, other than to grab opportunities that present themselves.
     
     No plan is the plan! If it isn’t working, unlearn it.
     
     DanPalladinoMusic.com

482. Kyle Law (2018-06-07) #

     So True Derek, been working on getting better at this since you were on the TFS. It’s a challenge especially in this tech age where you have to sift through so much to find and learn the truth these days. Everyone has an opinion on a subject matter and thinks that they’re 100% right. I feel this is where being open to debate and using facts comes into play, not just regurgitating & spewing (spewing? I don’t write that word too often) out opinions of others that have no accuracy.
     Anyways, I digress, again, you make a great point about having to unlearn the old ways and re-educate yourself in today’s world and what’s current.
     Also, good point about visiting old material, just because it’s older doesn’t mean it might not contain a gem that’s pertinent in the present moment.
     
     Thanks Derek!

483. Lou (2018-06-07) #

     I spent my life learning how to bring more oil and gas to market to keep energy costs low for the benefit of consumers. Today, I investigate alternative energy sources and how to reduce pollution from oil and gas use - which will remain high around the world until the US and other technology leaders can cheapen alternative energy generation.
     Unlearning and learning and relearning is critical to personal mental growth and productive progress.

484. Carl (2018-06-07) #

     Great stuff as usual, Derek! Thank you for continuing to post helpful ideas like this.

485. Michele garner (2018-06-07) #

     Derek you are soo spot on. I work with seniors and am a senior myself. One of our biggest challenges is lifestyle change. That is our key to successful aging and staying young. Now as a couch potato person and eat healthy and exercise. Just snorkeled in Maui this morning and when I’m home I go to Zumba classes which is totally new to my map of the world! Keep evolving! Your fabulous
     Michele

486. GJ (2018-06-07) #

     What's new has been knew... and forgotten... history repeated.
     
     8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us. 11 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after. Ecclesiastes 1:8-11

487. CI (2018-06-07) #

     Totally agree....but....the challenge is to know what to learn /unlearn and when. Perhaps there’s something you’ve already learned you may need to keep because the information/process is still valid, however, “experts” are telling you that you MUST change...and now. Although most if not all things are constantly changing...the key to successfully unlearning is to a) know what to unlearn and b) what to learn (what source to use to replace the stuff that needs to be unlearned). In today’s world people are constantly bombarded with “new and improved” ways of thinking (e.g. diets, fitness, time management, etc.). Currently there’s no “one stop shopping” to tell people what should be unlearned or learned.

488. Dahlia (2018-06-07) #

     I first heard about unlearning from one of my martial arts teacher. Since then I've become better at handling and being open to the truth. It's not easy and I get defensive sometimes when my views are challenge, but when I eventually step away from the situation and remind myself that I've accepted being a truth seeker and it's good to have my views challenged. I also remind myself of your directives on how to be useful - sharing strong opinions. I'm bad at sharing my own opinions, but it works the other way around as well, and I try to appreciate strong opinions from others so that mine can battle tested.

489. Rev Tina Redden (2018-06-07) #

     I like the article. I kinda knew where you were going with it from the onset because its true. I encountered this recently when adding a new piece to my studio. I was an expert in mixing my sounds but then a new way of doing it has come along now I must relearn what i knew already but in a different way. Im approaching it with caution because its a new thing. But its the relearning that makes you grow and i look at it this way "Now i know twice as much."
     
     Thanks for the article keep em coming...
     
     Rev Tina Redden

490. Jim Pipkin (2018-06-07) #

     Here's hoping original indie music has a future...but its past sure kicks ass!

491. Charmaine (2018-06-07) #

     Thanks again Derek. I always learn something from you when I read your articles. You could elaborate in this subject quite a bit as it is a very significant subject that we are all faced with in this modern world. I myself have yet to get up to speed. Not sure how to “do” this unlearning that precedes relearning. I do feel less alone now though.
     Thank you,
     Charmaine

492. Shang (2018-06-07) #

     Great revise to the article Derek... totally agree that its important to not be biased and to maintain humility :)
     
     Can't wait to get inspired further!

493. Linda Kerby (2018-06-07) #

     If you have not read this book, I think you will find congruent ideas that may inform your new book. I met the author at a booksigning and I have been recommending the book ever since.
     
     https://www.universetoday.com/97806/book-review-the-half-life-of-facts-why-everything-we-know-has-an-expiration-date/

494. Alan Hanslik (2018-06-07) #

     Derek,
     
     Well - this is something that I haven't given much thought you! How do you like that... lol
     
     Though, I'm probably faced with this - at 56 and starting many things over, but I may not have admitted to myself yet.
     
     I've been an avid learner of all things most of my life, but as we get older - one does often get tired of the constant 'new things' in our lives. It probably makes us sound a little like our parents. Technology is supposed to make the world easier and better, but learning the advent of new things can get old.
     
     The unlearning aspect is a pretty interesting thought and you're exactly right in that we want to rely on what we have believed in and believe we are still experts and know everything!
     
     Doubting in what we believe is hard, doubting in ourselves is probably something that some people may never be comfortable with to do. And I think that's what you're saying. We have to be strong enough to question these things to let them go and adopt new ways of thinking and doing things.
     
     I think some of this comes growing up, growing old - as the world does change and things that were so are no longer. Maybe this is some natural progression... or is it artificial selection of the things in our life.
     
     Also, going deeper - I think there is some ego behind our personalities and what enables our confidence and ability to be successful. Letting this go, is a part of ourselves - but there are new aspects our there waiting for us to discover too.
     
     I think being honest, strong enough, knowing ourselves well enough is needed to be honest - as you state and simply state we're not sure, don't know and it's new territory for us to venture into and figure out.
     
     It also reminds me of stories of people reinventing themselves. This seems to happen often and the parallel world of science and art, we see surgeons becoming painters and sculptures going back to school to become meteorologist and the such!
     
     I think that's in human nature and considering the time humans have been on the planet and only lived to 30 something vs. 80 - 90 day, requires us to change ourselves, what we do and what we know. As we age, this shows itself in many ways and certainly what you cite here.
     
     Finally, I think this can change on a few levels -
     Very personally, with divorce, new mates - requiring us to understand and know who we really are.
     In business, through many years in a job that runs a natural cycle and sometimes obsoletes us.
     As we age in discovering who we are all over again and understanding what it is we really want to do in our lives and what's really important to us
     
     The tricky bit is a balance - in not letting ourselves go or changing everything, but finding those things that we do have in our life that requires unlearning in order for us to continue to progress, grow and enjoy.
     
     Hopefully, these are useful comments and make sense...
     
     It's a new area for me to take time to think about - to understand and of course to relate to myself and my life.
     
     Thanks for sending along and as always - can't wait to see your book!
     
     Alan

495. Kellie OConnor (2018-06-07) #

     Love it. Clear Simoplr and helpful

496. The Robots (2018-06-07) #

     Touch it, bring it, pay it, watch it, turn it, leave it.
     STOP
     Format it.
     - daft punk

497. Kam (2018-06-07) #

     I love this. This reminds me of evolution, that the lifeforms which survive are not those that are highly optimized to a particular environment, but are able to adapt and change. I wonder if it's possible to face discomfort every day, to face one's own incompetence every single day in an effort to learn and grow? God that would suck. Is it possible to create a habit of facing discomfort every single day? imagine what you could accomplish, though. Shit, I'm going to try it.

498. Paloma (2018-06-07) #

     I was just talking about this to another PR specialist who is in the music industry. Everything is different from just 5 years ago, and we're constantly unlearning and relearning... Great quotes!

499. Dean G. Hill (2018-06-08) #

     This is exactly what happened to me until I woke up ...
     Deano Music Travel Media Dude
     'The man who knows not where he is going goes farthest'

500. Michele (2018-06-08) #

     Hi Derek,
     in my experience what you wrote is true.
     
     It's interesting examining in depth "unlearning what?".
     
     For example Beliefs are important. We behave according to our beliefs and we often don't know them.
     
     An example.
     I'm the recruiter of my companies. Young engineers come to me to work with us.
     Someone wants a "solid contract". He is not interested in learning. But if you ask them "Do you want to learn?" He says "yes". Ok. "Do you want less money to do something that improves your skills or the other position where you earn more money without learning anything'". They stop and begin to think of it. They, normally, have no idea of what is important for them.
     
     Other young engineers live in Sicily and send a CV to me in Monza, near Milano (I know you know that Sicily and Milano are very far).
     First application using skype.
     For the second application I ask them to come to Monza. Many of them don't come. ?!?!?!?!
     They have sent a CV to work in Monza but they don't want to come for an application. Only in that moment they understand that they don't intend to move!!!
     
     "Unlearning what?". Another point of view are Habits.
     
     Michele

501. Irina (2018-06-08) #

     The old to me is like a painting, looking at us from the past, teaching us about the way things were. Inviting us to create a version of the past world in our minds, to relive the version of it unique to each of us but the new is like music we have to actively participate in order to create it or even listen to it, it requires an effort of time that we have to dedicate to it in order to understand it, and only once we understand it we can go with the flow. This is one of the reasons Einstein and many others suggested that human brain should not be employed in memorizing things. Love your perspective of unlearning. There were even psychology studies done suggesting that our main problem is not in the ability or lack of relating to memorizing but the capacity to forget

502. Helena Escalante (2018-06-08) #

     Right on point, Derek! I'm going through an unlearning-relearning period now and, while painful, going through is the only way to grow. There's a quote by Churchill that is funny, but true: "If you're going through hell, keep going." I also love the quote by John Cage. Thanks for sharing your awesome insights!

503. Susan Rode (2018-06-08) #

     This is a really interesting concept. If only everyone was open to such thoughts the world might be a better place. However, I'm not so sure that it's about unlearning as much as it is about adapting, being open to new thoughts and ideas and being prepared to take them on board i.e. relearning, or additional learning.
     As you rightly say this is particularly important in a world where technology is making leaps and bounds every day. However, I consider it equally as important in a world where we are now dealing with cultural differences on a daily basis. Travel and the Internet have brought us all closer together and we have started to realise that although we are all essentially the same ( we are all human ), we are all also very different due to our culture, our religion and our up-bringing. Learning tolerance, acceptance and understanding is vital in this global world. In other words being open, being tolerant,being empathetic and re-learning what it means to be human and part of humanity.

504. Steve C (2018-06-08) #

     Sometimes, when people ask for an opinion or response, what they really are seeking is affirmation. However, if that affirmation is based in the past, they only feed what they want, not what they need. The answer for today is not necessarily the answer for yesterday.
     
     Here is what you DON"T want to hear: "Sure, I think you should keep making buggy whips".
     
     Today's answers work. But only for today's questions.

505. Steve Artzerounian (2018-06-08) #

     Thanks for sharing this. The post is so relevant to the world today where being subjected to new data or ideas is treated as a personal attack. People have never had to deal with the amount of information available today. Not only that, but the ways we consume information has become so confusing that people do not know what to trust. With this information overload, people shut down and become more entrenched in their original point of view. There is no longer room for debate without at least one side feeling attacked.
     
     It's great to have the understanding that we should be open to unlearning and new perspectives, but is there a legitimate way to implement this in a society that is so shut down?

506. Sean Crawford (2018-06-08) #

     To Dahlia at 491, regarding learning/being useful by having strong opinions (but doesn't): I am a lot like you.
     
     My saving grace is that I can "go home to think about it" and then, in privacy, I can release my ego and unlearn.
     It is better to not offer strong opinions than to fake them. I had a friend who thought he was doing the right thing by saying provocative things to get people to think. Trouble is, I always thought he was being sincere, and it would hurt my feelings sometimes. Like if I said "Orwell" and he retorted, "But he's old!" (out of date)

507. dave (2018-06-08) #

     Neil Peart said something I've taken to heart. He classifies himself as a perpetual apprentice. 'Nuff said. :)

508. John (2018-06-08) #

     Great piece Derek. It reminded me of a quote I had read before:
     
     "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change."
     
     I had planned to use Charles Darwin's name as the originator of this quote, but it turns out he never said or wrote this (even though there are a great many publications that attribute it to him). I googled it to make sure I got the wording just right and uncovered this truth. While I do still appreciate the quote and it is undoubtedly Darwinian in nature, I had to "unlearn" that Darwin said it. I always find it interesting to uncover widespread misunderstandings, and I wanted to share.

509. Peter (2018-06-08) #

     Really nice call out here Derek... We mistakenly think it’s about knowledge, but to your point about speed today, it’s the the shedding which unlocks tremendous insights and the vehicle to move forward...

510. Doug (2018-06-08) #

     "Gone are the days we stopped to decide / Where we should go / We just ride." Robert Hunter

511. Breanna (2018-06-08) #

     Great post. And yet a lot of corporations are run at the top by people who have not unlearned and yet keep pushing ahead without addressing this issue.

512. Gina Riley (2018-06-08) #

     What struck me: "It hurts to go from feeling like an expert to feeling like an idiot."
     
     Isn't this the crux of it? This desire to save face is part of the human experience. It takes a lot of work to become a valued expert and it takes even more work (with age, wisdom) to open oneself wide-open to eagerly embracing and experiencing changes as they come. Aren't some of the most difficult people to relate to those who hold firmly to one way (from stubborn teenager all the way to the cranky elder).
     
     In the end, wouldn't we build a mighty bridge across our current generations if we all believe everyone has some expertise in "something" while we all keep striving to learn and understand each other moving forward?
     
     For those who I work with and coach, people who embrace modern approaches are more joyful, hopeful, forward thinking, and connected.

513. michael (2018-06-08) #

     As always something worth reading. thank you for sharing - a great insight on how to evolve without frustration.

514. Angel (2018-06-08) #

     Definitely needed to read this. I love learning new things but to find myself getting conflicted with old ways of thinking after learning something new unlearning would definitely help me in progressing faster instead of staying stuck! Thanks!

515. Andrew (2018-06-08) #

     George Santayana said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it".
     Whilst I agree with the principle of refreshing your skills, knowledge and education one should not disregard what may have taken a lifetime to acquire.
     To stay relevant we certainly need to question current methodologies and dogma and adapt accordingly, but in my opinion we should build upon what we have, rather than start from scratch.

516. Billy (2018-06-08) #

     This has got to be close to ready for prime time. Well written and sequenced! I feel kindred in that this really resonates with how I've lost touch with several aspects of music today... I could've explained to you in detail all of the important A-Zs re: life and pitfalls to look out for from a struggling 90's small town rock star perspective. So much has changed and not all for the bad just different. Radio is mostly songs manufactured with autotune, Drake like barely enthused talking raps or stations devoted to traditional Mexican Tuba anthems... Deadmaus offers an online class for aspiring dj's etc and... a new discovery that gives me hope for the future of music:
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwIWj0uNVCo
     
     Me personally- had to come to terms with how much I had identified myself as a rock drummer and expert both of which were fleeting unbeknownst to me at the time. I couldn't give anyone sound advice on how to approach a career in music today or what band to look out for e.g. Nirvana Bleach era. Thank you Derek for putting words to the majority of those feelings with vulnerability -directly and succinctly. I believe that anyone who has been there and back (and there are many of us) would benefit from reading this and the message it delivers... -Billy Badlands

517. Jack Gates (2018-06-08) #

     Well, I agree and disagree with this perspective. Here are two examples:
     
     My learned skills in music include listening, melodic improv, chord harmony and a study of psycho acoustics. These are skills built up over a lifetime and they don’t go out of fashion.
     
     On the other hand, I’ve been constantly adapting to the new paradigms in the area of music marketing. This changes constantly and requires almost continuous retraining.

518. Mark (2018-06-08) #

     I laughed when I read that you realized you were no longer an expert on the music business. I've been retired from IT for many years and while I keep current with aspects of personal interest, I do not attempt to maintain the encyclopedic knowledge base I once relied on to make a tidy living. People still ask for help and they are horrified when I tell them, "I have no idea and I really don't want to dig into it." I do make exception for elderly folks and those who could otherwise never afford help, but that is more about being a useful person who desires to help those in need. It has been a pleasure to be able to verbally shrug rather than have to dive in as I did when I was on call 24 hours per day.

519. Ariel Joseph (2018-06-08) #

     The only constant is Change. And only the changeless Infinite is in charge thereof.

520. Lee Cutelle (2018-06-08) #

     This is so true and it seems I'm constantly updating my ideas and opinions a lot these days.

521. Joseph Leonard (2018-06-08) #

     Are you familiar with the growth vs fixed mindset as described by Carol Dweck in the book "Mindset?" I see correlates to what you are saying here, although it isn't quite the same concept. But a growth mindset would definitely help a person achieve what you are proposing here, especially in your first sentence. Adaptibility, flexibility, and critical thought processes vs the raw content of the information available. Put another way, no amount of knowledge can substitute for the ability to think critically. No idea if that makes any sense...I just awoke from a power nap.

522. Amanda (2018-06-08) #

     I'm a big fan of John Dewey's quote, “We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience.”
     
     You may have 10 years of experience, but have no insight in to what you are doing, and do it no better than you did on day 90 (allowing for a new situation learning curve). And as you say, what you did then may be totally irrelevant to what you do now.
     :)

523. Peter Fegredo (2018-06-09) #

     Good to hear from you.It's my belief that we should only use the parts of what we hear, read and understand to be true and useful. As no one is equal.

524. Seán Delaney (2018-06-09) #

     For me the one piece that's missing from this post is how to recognise when your expertise has expired. Not knowing what/that you have to learn is a barrier to learning or re-learning. The reason unlearning is difficult is because we develop habits - ways of being and doing. How could we make a habit of evaluating our expertise? By what criteria would we evaluate it? If we could do that, we would at least know that learning/unlearning/re-learning is (or is not) necessary.

525. Alexandra (2018-06-09) #

     Unlearning can feel like “work” and counter-intuitive because we have developed neural networks in our brain that quickly tell us the former way is the “right” way. It also requires a certain “letting go” of a part of our identity and sense of competency. This can be applied to how we view relationships. Do you love who the person was in the first six months of the relationship only (the honeymoon phase)or do you love the person now? Lastly, remember the Zen Master who poured tea into his student’s cup and kept pouring and pouring while it overflowed and stated: “I cannot teach you because your cup is already full.”

526. Stephen Harvill (2018-06-09) #

     Derek: I am in the process of writing an article on critical thinking for a magazine and my opening line is “what amount of evidence would you need to change your mind?”
     
     Aristotle’s geocentric model of the solar system stood the test of time, almost 1200 years, making it the longest running wrong idea in history!
     
     Your piece on unlearning to see something differently, to see it’s truth is right on the money!

527. Chad Harper (2018-06-09) #

     This is so very true. I am a Hip Hop educator. I dug so deep into the history of hip hop that I had created these concrete definitions of the culture and what it was supposed to do and created to do that I could not see past the Gang Peace Treaty that it was birthed from and couldn’t relate to 99% of the current music or the kids so was teaching workshops to. So I just stopped and walked away from it for over a year. Now having returned to it for a few months I have embrassed the current music and mindset of the kids. I still don’t like the music but it’s not my voice or my generation so I know it’s time for me to unlearn and LEARN AGAIN!

528. Sumeet Jariya (2018-06-09) #

     Well written Derek! Recently, I was thinking in the same direction. Your article has elaborated and cleared the concept quite well!

529. Crescenzo DiCecco (2018-06-09) #

     Nice article but I would love to hear how you unlearned something or maybe a more specific example of one. In my own experience my 'unlearning' is more of a forgetting, 180 degree turn sorta thing. Anyway, I also love the short sweetness of your articles. Keep it up!

530. Penny Choice (2018-06-09) #

     Have you heard of Moore's Law (technology)? I recently did and blew my mind. I think it can be applied here.
     Hugs,
     Penny

531. Fanilo (2018-06-09) #

     Hi Derek,
     
     Interesting article.
     
     For whatever reason, it made me think of The Growth Mindset concept.
     
     I was thinking maybe you could emphasize on the importance of raising awareness on lacking perspective on a subject. Then, I feel like unlearning would make more sense for the reader.
     
     Also, I personnaly have a hard time understanding how "Unlearning" relates to the book "Hell Yeah or No". Maybe it's just me but maybe it needs some further clarity.
     
     What do you think ?

532. Sienna (2018-06-09) #

     It´s just a choice of words, but there is no "unlearning", dear Derek (^_^)
     
     We are the result of learning process from the day we were born, but we are learning to adapt ourselves to the changes, which is also a part of the learning process until the day we leave this place. So I believe that being open, accepting the changes, going with the flow would be the best thing to do!

533. Dave Frazier (2018-06-09) #

     Derek, this is divine advice, and I'm not kidding:
     
     " The solution for all of these is unlearning
     Doubt each old thing you know. Require current evidence. Make it prove itself to be true today. Otherwise, let it go."
     
     God Himself says that in Deuteronomy 18:18. To paraphrase, there's going to be a new kid in town someday. You gotta listen to Him!
     So learn to relearn. Make it prove itself to be true today by reading Isaiah 53. Otherwise, you will be let go.
     
     Timeless advice, Derek? Hell Yeah!

534. Sarah (2018-06-09) #

     Your humility and incredible commitment to being of service and sharing wisdom selflessly is just extraordinary. Thank you!!

535. Amar (2018-06-09) #

     Nothing is permanent...repeat, rinse, repeat ☺ Great post, thanks for sharing!

536. Dobrin (2018-06-10) #

     Interesting perspective. Like the idea of testing assumptions and hypotheses on a regural basis. Health and smile!

537. Ashley (2018-06-10) #

     This is painfully true for me as a photographer, who started long before digital emerged and seemed to change everything. On the other hand, a lot of great skills honed through necessity have since been discarded or unlearned, so I often see people spending hours correcting things that used to take a few seconds before we had the technology.

538. Brent (2018-06-10) #

     Really looking forward to your new book Derek. The "Hell Yeah or No" principle seems so relevant regarding the multitude of opportunities and ideas constantly coming at us to today that we must sort through and decide upon. Its easy to take on too much, become overwhelmed and burn out without practicing the above principle. I see tremendous value in it for a sane human existence and humanity in general.
     
     I can see how the "Hell Yeah or No" principle becomes very important regarding the "Unlearning" section of your book. If we must unlearn the outdated stuff, deciding on which "new stuff" to learn can be a great challenge when there is so much to choose from. "Hell Yeah or No" could serve well as a great compass to keep our focus on what is most important.
     
     Happy writing,
     Brent

539. George (2018-06-10) #

     Nice little post my friend.
     
     One can definitely see social media platforms that will eventually need to be unlearned. Look how saturated Facebook, Instagram etc have become, surely the bubble will burst at some point.
     
     The paradox here is 'unlearning' vs 'history always repeats itself'? Warrants some thought.
     
     Can't wait for your new book to come out!

540. Albeiro (2018-06-10) #

     You got it , we got it . Thanks !

541. Thomas Zachariah (2018-06-10) #

     Hi Derek,
     Congrats, you have made the valid point more convincing...ya, unlearn the source of growth!
     To me, there is only one choice before every human, be updated or ready to be replaced as well...otherwise, to will be outdated, it's like your fate. So let's update by unlearning and relearning.

542. Sean Crawford (2018-06-10) #

     George at 542: You are pondering the paradox of unlearning versus history repeating.
     
     What repeats is human nature, born with each new baby. For example, being able to have denial. Whether it's the old Germans saying Hitler was a genius but not evil, that only the men around him were evil, to the people of a few years ago being in denial about those mysterious masked troops appearing in the Crimea.
     
     Putin had the genius to invent a "slow motion invasion" because he knew the rest of us would deny, be puzzled, not take action...
     
     This week a very important person "denied" (initials D.T.) by saying Putin should be allowed back into the G-7. As it happens, six other important people disagreed. But you can't count on people always learning. You can't count on humankind learning the horror of war, or of trade wars, either. Yes, America has some economists and historians, but not enough to counter human nature or educate the White House.
     
     Call me Canadian, but I predict a long, messy trade war. Trump will say, as in other wars,"Relax (the soldier-boys will be home by Christmas) the trade war will be over by Christmas." And out of denial, as in other wars, we'll believe him. Maybe not you, George, but most of us will.

543. Gautam Malhotra (2018-06-11) #

     I needed this...today.

544. Kevin (2018-06-11) #

     Great reminder....something i have suffered in mid thirties and again now in mid fifties...your article brought the book who moved my cheese to mind for some reason...though i cannot recall its contents.

545. Ryan Gass (2018-06-11) #

     Thanks for sharing Derek. It's a good reminder. With regards to Hell Yeah or No, when you shared that, it was one of the most important ideas I've come across in a long time, and I immediately adopted it and shared it with several people whom I also thought would immediately appreciate it. It has saved me so much wasted time, and allowed me to focus on the things that I enjoy doing. So I look forward to any book that you have coming out on that topic. Finally, in light of the recent tragedy of Anthony Bourdain, whom I really respected, and who opened my eyes in ways much like yourself, I'm making more of an effort to say thank you to those who do truly great work. A good friend of mine works with Jay Abraham, the marketing guru, and came away from one particular conversation with the great man with the realization that those at the top often receive far more criticism and crap than they do thanks. I just couldn't believe it, but then again, I could. So long story short, thank you sir. I appreciate what you do, what you share, and in the event you reach a dark place, as we all do from time to time, just know that your work matters. Thank you.

546. Ben Evans (2018-06-11) #

     Great title! It happens that this kind of thinking is also quite Buddhist. Perhaps that's ironically blasphemous for the author but...to simply be able to stand FREE of concepts in the "pure basis of awareness" and asses from THERE what one's next move should be--it's ancient and mystic, that kind of approach to problems. A person is as wary of "good" ideas as of bad ones--perhaps more so! Thanks Derek! Would love to work with you or for you someday. --Ben

547. Karen (2018-06-11) #

     I've seen a lot of technology come and go - learning and unlearning - and I've seen how our attention has been hijacked by screens.
     
     Live music is an experience and the desire to experience something in a group setting, with live people will never change. How you get attention when everything has become so fractured is impossible but they I believe the only thing that matters is your own base - they ones who find you and tell others.
     
     I've seen a lot of changes in my life on the net.
     
     Gleason Sackmann Internet Pioneer Granddaddy launched the "Hot List" K12 American School Directory ©1993
     https://k12playground.com/history
     
     I was reading his email using Eudora which I still use!
     
     Gleason Sackmann - Rated #10 on Newsweek's prestigious List of "50 People Who Matter Most on the Internet." ~ Newsweek Dec 25, 1995 / Jan. 1, 1996
     
     Back in the day - hardly anyone used a screen except to watch TV but everyone read Newsweek. When Gleason retired he turned everything over to me. My site the Educational CyberPlayGround launched his original database July 9, 1998.
     
     It's been 20 years learn/unlearn we needed a new home so the K12PlayGround.com TM has taken advantage of Drupal. This is the 3rd incarnation of a Public Folklore Project built by the nation.
     
     K12 Schools may now link from their info page to their video project and apply hashtags to help everyone find out who is working on certain topics.
     I hope children's oral culture: playground chants and songs get recorded and linked to from schools across the nation for our sense of music history.
     
     best,
     Karen

548. John H Foster (2018-06-11) #

     Derek.........I genuinely appreciate your candor. Your sentiments are what I and many truly great talents and business wunderkinds are feeling. What is going on? Why can't people do what we used to in the 70s and discern universal greatness in contemporary music and the other arts without "the machine" telling us what is great? Thank you Sincerely J Foster

549. chaitanya (2018-06-12) #

     At school, in a little community, someone who has gone deep into learning something and so deep that no one around (even the teachers) are left behind. For everyone at school, that someone, that kid, becomes something big. It is an overwhelming experience. But if he or she doesn't learn, unlearn, and relearn, they would become the first ones to be left behind. I am left behind. Trying to move forward now.

550. alex (2018-06-12) #

     Hey Derek
     
     I liked this a lot when I first read it a week ago but I thought the same thing then as I do now (I left it for a few days to try and come back fresh) that the first quote is incredible and would be a very strong way to open the article. I know that probably doesn't fit with the structure you are intending for the book but I do love a good quote to get me off on a line of thinking.
     
     Looking forward to the other "draft" chapters.

551. Bowdy Ehler (2018-06-12) #

     Thanks for the perspective. I think this can apply to many of us that finished school 10+ years ago. It is a different economy now. The structure of small businesses has changed. What it means to have a small business has changed. I'll bend Alvin Toffler's quote a bit and say that the new illiterate will be those that never learn how to make consistent income online. This program helped me see what I need to learn if I ever want to experience financial freedom. https://bit.ly/2JDu3cn

552. Lee Wickstrom (2018-06-12) #

     Unlearning.
     I understand the idea of unlearning; could it not just be learning.
     
     Example: A parent teaches and preaches racial bigotry.
     The kid raised on a subject until he or she graduates,.. 18 years old for discussion sake. If the kid only learns one way, more than likely, they will follow instruction. However, once an adult, two options are available, become a student of personally selected teachers and life experience or become what you were instructed to be.
     
     I know it is not this simple, but I believe, as an adult, you experience life differently. Consequence of action is greater than consequence as a kid under parental authority. (most of the time) Therefore, if choosing to continue a path of racial bigotry, you will reap the consequence.
     
     Enter unlearning. I don't think unlearning is the right path for a young adult, with whom was raised for 18 years in a hole of nonsensical thinking. I do think they should retain what they had learned in order to learn new ways of thinking. Rather, you can only learn by knowing what you already know and modify beliefs.
     
     However, this perspective is not so black and white,(Pun not intended) as many other factors influence a persons perspective on the world and the people in it.
     
     Now from your perspective of "feeling like an expert to feeling like an idiot". I think only an expert can feel that way,.. an idiot claiming to be an expert will never consider themselves an idiot. Furthermore, I don't believe unlearning what you know about the music industry is the right thing to do.
     
     For example, I help run a family business in the commercial construction industry. Our specialty is waterproofing. As technologies change, new products become available and new architects specify those products based on salesmen promises, and lab tested data, not what they have physically experienced.
     
     Many times we have scratched our heads, feeling like idiots because we are losing sales to competitors who are using innovative products that make it cheaper for the customer, knowing some of these products are not the best solution. In addition, we are told by architects that they know more than us,.. the people with 25 years of hands on experience.
     
     So as experts, who feel like idiots at times, take a step back to analyze the situation. We know what does and doesn't work,.. until proven otherwise.
     
     True learning happens through experience, and experience influences our ability to make future decisions,.. To not learn or to continue learning.
     
     Therefore, I ask, is it really Unlearning, or should it just be Learning. I may have missed the point and apologies for grammatical errors, i'm just a waterproofer.
     
     - LTW

553. adan look (2018-06-12) #

     Sounds like my dilemma and I try to learn the stuff but need to be in the mood with ADD,its really hard, boring stuff makes no progress , and technology is changing so fast!.I totally agree with your setbacks are mine too, I have a editor to help me just with the computer!
     Cheers,
     Adan Look

554. Oliver from Ghent (2018-06-13) #

     I just turned 50... time to look back and forward.
     Living in my truth today, knowing that this differs from 10 years ago or within 10 years. Only have my soul to guide me... and be very humble when speaking out.
     
     I connected with Seth Godin this week... a person who lives from the soul, just like you Derek... This is why your words resonate with so much people.

555. Maria (2018-06-13) #

     I agree to some extent about "Unlearning" but it is all part of change the way I see things. We are always changing whether that just be the fact that it is inevitable that we all grow older physically but, the mind can take on a different trip its up to each of us as individuals.Keeping current to what is going on around us is vital whether we see bad things or good things going onlyou just have to keep your eyes open and sometimes thats hard.Travel and listening to different Music and reading whatever is out there (Whatever topic "Floats Your Boat" can help. Sometimes we just have to shock our daily life and do something completely "Out Of The Box" and that can do it.Unfortunately, there are changes that are forced on us that make this occur but it does not always have to be a negative situation. Breathe; change your pace and sleep outdoors for a change or go camping! The Change will do you good!

556. Christopher Maloney (2018-06-13) #

     Derek,
     
     I always read and enjoy your posts, though I rarely leave feedback as it seems you've gotten things pretty sorted out with your writing. However, since you specifically asked for feedback, here's mine:
     
     I believe what you wrote about 'unlearning' is one of the biggest maladies facing our society today. We say that one shouldn't discuss religion or politics as part of polite conversation. I believe this is because people feel they must make some pronouncement of their beliefs as part of a right-of-passage to adulthood (and are looked down upon if they don't). Thus, people decide "right...I'm a Catholic and a Republican" or "okay..."I've decided I'm an atheist and a Libertarian". Once these decisions are made, they can be thought of as place holders, as in "I believe THIS and I am THIS right now", or as final declarations, as in "I am now THIS and will be THIS forever, and now I can move on and think about other things."
     
     I don't believe either way of thinking is better or worse. However, I think when people make final declarations, they tend to not only not be swayed by new experiences or new information, but they can sometimes cultivate an "us versus them" mentality. In fact, even in the case of overwhelming evidence that something might be wrong or need adjusting, they dig into their old beliefs deeper and deeper. This happens even when it's to their own financial, emotional or spiritual detriment. It's not only part of human nature...it's just nature. A dog will neglect a toy for years, but he will dig his heals in and bite down harder if you try to take it away from him.
     
     I believe it's wise to think about and develop a strong but fluid belief system. Obviously, there will be things you will always believe (it's wrong to kill someone, you shouldn't lie to people, etc). At the same time, new evidence, life experiences, and contradictory information will forever be viewed not as an attack, but as welcome new data to update an consistently outdated operating system known as the human psyche.
     
     I know your article was more about technology and business, but I'm sure you also understood the parallels with more basic human rejection of the continued learning process. All the best to your continued adventures.

557. Eli (2018-06-13) #

     I love the sentiment. I wonder whether unlearning is a true description of what's happening (even though it sounds cool!). I think it may be more 'letting go' and sometimes it's deepening of learning (gaining more perspective by zooming out and getting a bigger more context specific picture). In your example you didn't need to 'unlearn' anything, just realize that it was no longer accurate and 'accept/allow/let go' of a new reality, of not knowing, of not 'being the expert' you once were.
     
     I think the most magical and underutilized power we have as humans is to 'realize' things or see things in a new way. The reason this is so transformative is that moments of insight can lead to instant change in experience, action, direction and results and it's always available to us and we don't need to 'do' anything (including unlearning).
     
     I'd love to hear whether you agree!

558. Lee Jones (2018-06-13) #

     I'm having to relearn the whole music thing. The good thing is, I'm very close to getting out of this horribly corrupt business. 38 years of endless bullshit is enough.
     
     On the subject, though, the days where people weren't afraid to tell shitty bands, shitty musicians, and venue management that they were shitty are long gone. People are conditioned to listen to garbage, thanks to the "Majors". I hear young people go woo hoo for garbage, and sit there like dead people when there's decent music. And that ain't the half of it.

559. Niklas Lundblad (2018-06-14) #

     Hi Derek,
     This is really a powerful idea and a concept that I believe everyone is struggling with more or less. I would personally like to add that the people I tend to be most impressed by are the experts who still manages to stay humble and open (or better yet curious) to ideas contradicting their own.
     Do you think there is something in our nature that makes this so difficult? I'm thinking about how we as a species have benefited from spreading our knowledge and experiences from generation to generation, and how that now in the 21st century suddenly becomes a disadvantage instead. Would love your thoughts on that!
     Would also recommend everybody to read Tim Urban's piece on the blog Wait byt Why on How to pick a career, where he touches upon the same idea when he explains why it's a bad idea to take advice from your parents.
     Thank's for a great read as always!

560. Chris (2018-06-14) #

     It's all cyclical. Learn/Unlearn/Relearn. Life is about adaptability. Love the article.

561. Cynthia (2018-06-14) #

     I love this perspective. I'm a 20-year communications expert in PR, but everything I did in my former career (which I retired from in early 2012) is mostly obsolete now. My 20-year old daughter has often called me antiquated, although college students I mentor think I am up-to-date. I am painfully aware that 5-year-olds can use a smart phone in ways I still don't understand (ie: SnapChat). I am able to stay relevant by being willing to try new ways of doing things and being open to learn from everyone and everything around me. The one thing that stays true through time is "change." I look forward to reading your book when you publish it!

562. Kostanca Ktona (2018-06-14) #

     So true! It's about letting go of your established way of thinking, it's learning to think differently, it's about becoming the best version of yourself. Reading your article made me think and reflect.

563. JD (2018-06-14) #

     Derek - this is good work - it hits home for me in that I was on the hamster wheel until my heart disease hit me broadside and now I am looking at all things from a different angle. I am unlearning the chains that have kept me in a certain path - it’s not easy to let go of the dogma that is drilled into ones head.
     
     That is why I’m doing the IOU More project - to record the items I feel are important for my family to know if my heart doesn’t get me to the finish line with them. This message is bound to be a part of that video library for my family.
     
     Thank you for sharing this and particularly at this time.
     
     All the best,
     
     JD Grant

564. lily (2018-06-14) #

     I always enjoy following your thought maps to the links...I love how "I don't know" points to "So focus on the craft of making great melodies".

565. Ramesh Janarthanan (2018-06-14) #

     Absolutely and well said, I believe that learning is a continues process and there is no end to it. An old proverb says “What you have learned is a mere handful; what you haven't learned is the size of the world.” - Avvaiyar or also translated as “Known is a drop, unknown is an Ocean.”
     
     Likewise, I see, there is no end to any particular technologies or subjects, they keep evolving over the time & gets fine-tuned or it can be challenged. Being aware of this changes by going deeper in understanding & updating our-self is very important towards unlearning and learning.
     
     This is a very important topic and very much applicable in today's scenario, where things are changing at rapid phase, big Industry giants are challenged & Jobs are getting replaced at faster space due to new technologies!.
     
     I am looking forward to this wonderful book. “Wish you all the best”.

566. Lucia (2018-06-17) #

     Unlearning seems to be something like you throw the cage that around you. a man should not be limited by his old experiences, old skills and old thoughts, they are safe but may also be obstacles to critical thinking.

567. Anto (2018-06-17) #

     Great!

568. Nicky Shane (2018-06-18) #

     I'm still toooo busy trying to paint my best Watercolor or write my best screenplay or song or my best stand-up bit... a lot of what I do is on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/nicky.shane
     5000 Friends
     15,000 likes

569. Alexandra Stone (2018-06-19) #

     while unlearning is hard sometimes on the hard wired stuff, it is always worth it. People always look at me crazy because I am always doing and trying new things. There is so much to learn and see and experience and I would hate to live my life just doing stuff because society or my parents or school said it was the way. the only way. I will forever be a lifelong learning and unlearner.

570. Pete (2018-06-19) #

     This is a really good point, but I feel like it can be easily misunderstood when you're young and naive. When I was young I told myself the same thing about my knowledge and then tricked myself into thinking it was part of the process. I discarded alot of my old patterns to build new ones, but then later on in life I was surprised by how much those old habits or motives came back to add something unique. I don't think dismissing everything is a good idea, but just keep it in a file cabinet of your mind.
     
     Thanks for sharing Derek!

571. Danny Holtschke (2018-06-20) #

     Thanks, Derek. I love your tactic of revisiting articles and re-writing them.
     
     Re your article: I think you can add the Zen concept of "Beginner's Mind" into the article. I really love how aligned your article is with Buddhist philosophy (everything changes!) - so unlearning is a super practical advice. Another thing I miss is to investing into the process and utilizing a growth mindset.
     
     Hence, in my mind, learning and unlearning become master skills and are so much more valuable than the specific skills we aspire to learn.
     
     Much love from Berlin,
     Danny
     
     PS: Have you ever heard about the "Three Principles" from Sydney Banks? If you like Buddhist+Zen philosophy, you might like his understanding of our human psychological nature, too.

572. AJAY (2018-06-23) #

     Sup! Derek I have to say this one is deep,but looking at what your saying,and what I've experienced,come to understand,and still learning.I found it's not the learn and unlearn it's the source for the learn and unlearn is the buggy (so to speak) and the source is the horse as always itz good to hear from you and thanks for sharing

573. Ashsh Kolarkar (2018-06-25) #

     Excellent write-up. Liked it.

574. Terry A. Buchanan (2018-06-26) #

     Nice Toffler quote. But, of course, still important to be continually learning the new as well; particularly with me and my interests in advanced guitar styles like Django, Flamenco, and Bossa Nova. There's always something new to learn. And unlearning bad habits or outgrown daily practice exercises definitely need to be aware of how they may impede progress on the path!

575. vic602 (2018-06-26) #

     When we are aware of how little we know, only then can we remain pliable enough to evolve as the future unfolds.

576. Karl (2018-06-29) #

     you're going to need the 180° chapter in this book as well. collectively, we RUN THE SHOW. it's vital for the human race that progress SLOW moving forward, and that attention to preservation and codification of knowledge and method begins to reclaim the spotlight. learn/unlearn/relearn is the OPPOSITE of indigenous oral tradition which is the backbone of the humab organism - without it, we die. any manual on success describes the LUR flexibility, but only within keeping your eyes firmly fixed on your goals. in astrology there are fixed and varying elements. both are required for human balance.

577. Lou Vincent (2018-06-30) #

     Change is a universal constant that drives evolution! We must change with it,adapt to it or become obsolete!! I have always been inspired by you, and I am still working with, "CD BABY!" I love the way it is evolving. Keep up the good work, "FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER!!!"
     Peace and Love!!
     
     Lou!

578. Chloe McKnight (2018-07-02) #

     Unlearning is a product of being rational according to the following definition:
     
     http://definitionmining.com/index.php/2017/08/21/rational/

579. Clair Graham (2018-07-04) #

     Love this piece of reading( now want to read the book).
     Change can be very difficult,and change is happening every day and we need to adapt to it.
     As I am currently implementing a new IT system I see challenges every day. Instead of trying to adapt to the change people at times want the change to adapt to them I know it's hard because when you are used to doing things a certain way and things appear to be going right , why change? You often hear the saying,'why try and fix something that is not broken?' However, in order to continue to develop and learn and manouvere ourselves in an ever changing society we have to ,'unlearn,' to ,relearn; the experts (as they say) were also once beginners.

580. Adam Millest (2018-07-06) #

     Love it Derek.
     
     Scary in some ways, as learning can be so painful that once we've established a way that works, we might be reluctant to drop it because of the pain we have endured to get it.
     
     But I agree, absolutely necessary - great article!

581. Rae Rae (2018-07-07) #

     I naturally think different all of my life so, I have three ways to think of the article.
     
     Reminds me of when you're editing over and over, so you're going back and then forward?
     
     Since I'm dyslexic it like that almost every day for me, so I see everything bigger and different than most people.
     
     I do understand but I believe that all is a blessing as in just being grateful too.
     
     Thanks for the article and happy that I'm on the list.
     
     Rae Rae

582. John Zimmer (2018-07-08) #

     Hi Derek,
     
     I love that you're working on a new book and I am well acquainted with your "Hell yeah or no" philosophy.
     
     However, I don't agree with the concept of "unlearning," unless it's because you learned something the wrong way and are not getting the results you had hoped for. To take some basic examples, think of a golfer who did not learn the proper way to swing the club, or a chess player who did not learn the right moves for a certain opening. In those cases, yes, you have to unlearn and then learn anew.
     
     However, you are referring to something (skills, knowledge) that was relevant in the past but is not serving you well in the present. In such cases, I would not advocate "unlearning" but rather "new learning" or "more learning" or whatever catchy way you can think of calling it.
     
     I say this because many of the skills that we have learned still have merit even if time and technology have moved on. We learn skills, yes, but we also learn how to learn.
     
     So by all means, keep learning but take that new knowledge and add it on top of what you already know. It's like history. Many of the things that happened centuries ago have led us to where we are now. So too it is with us because, after all, we are writing our own personal histories and everything that we have done is a page or a chapter.
     
     Cheers and good luck with the book!
     
     John

583. Nicole Ives (2018-07-10) #

     So Awesome, thanks for your honesty about your own experience ☺

584. Karen Laws (2018-07-14) #

     Our education system needs to wake up to this.

585. Husam (2018-07-23) #

     Thank you for sharing. “It hurts to go from feeling like an expert to feeling like an idiot” hits home. It’s like, we worked so hard to get to a point where we feel like we should be respected, that we have this sense of entitlement.
     
     But as you suggest, the world’s moving so fast that we always have to be in a state of learning. And we have to accept that what we know is likely incomplete

586. Ben Bowen (2018-08-06) #

     Love this focus on lifelong learning and evidence. Key pieces of innovation for continued growth!
     
     https://www.benjaminbowen.com/blog/comfortably-profitable

587. John Fitch (2018-08-10) #

     This is what education should be about. This is also my favorite post of yours, Derek.
     
     Two questions:
     
     1. What are a few other things you have had to unlearn that you are most proud of unlearning?
     Hearing a few more personal anecdotes beyond the music industry would give me even
     more confidence to question what I need to unlearn.
     
     2. I have a podcast called "Time Off" and this topic would be wonderful to discuss with you.
     Would you make time to do that?

588. Denis Terletskiy (2018-08-14) #

     Not every person is able to doubt its "truth".

589. Suren (2018-10-09) #

     Thanks, Derek, for your great article !
     
     It reminds me of 'The Backwards Bicycle' experiment...
     https://youtu.be/MFzDaBzBlL0?t=185
     in which Unlearning is obvious in the context of riding a bicycle.

590. George Goetz (2018-10-18) #

     Fuckin' eh, Derek. You just blew my partner and I away with this entry. We got laid off 2 years ago from an ad agency we'd worked at for 10 years. We were shaken, but slowly re-learned a lot of things and we're doing much better now. Thanks for the inspirational quotes too. -George Goetz, Co-founder, bonafidecreative.net

591. Kat (2018-11-05) #

     I think you can add value to people if you give them background on how it used to be before you tell them that you don't know. A lot can be learned from your history by people who know the current state of things and can apply those lessons.
     
     I think it is awesome that you know what you know not, though, Derek :)

592. Brenden James Martel (2018-11-08) #

     Yessir, Derek! I too, with IndieMusicLounge.Com, learned that I was no longer an expert in the music industry. I have begun to relearn in this area, since I am still a budding artist to be, in artist development, for the next 5 years, or so.
     
     Technology changed everything. There are so many music industry experts that aren't there anymore and I, for now, am one of them, lol.
     
     Nobody I learned from back in school and as a young adult is still even teaching on the music industry as an expert. The industry has changed so much, so fast and for the most part, not for the good.
     
     Except, the fact that you can now reach more music than ever before! The best part of the state of the modern music industry, I guess. It is a win-lose situation for artists, though, of course!

593. Sean Crawford (2018-11-24) #

     A university guy once told incoming students, "I hope you all have at least one cherished belief that you will give up while you are here." Yes.
     
     My favorite students were always the active ones, who argued, discussed, explored, got involved and had meaning of life conversations and changed their beliefs. The ones I didn't like would run away from culture shock. (Like some extremist students are doing in South Asia today)
     
     Some had to get out from under their parent's roofs before they felt safe enough to think and change.
     
     The benefit for life and the music business is this: Once you have known the humbleness of change, then you always know you can do it again.

594. Sean Crawford (2018-11-27) #

     In a college class, as we were questioning so much of our career, our teacher warned us that five years after graduation we would be locked into one view. Unless we made an effort.
     
     I like how Jody at #1 is willing to look at various angles. The tragedy of extremists is they can't do so.
     
     I came straight here after feeling moved by the Zygon speech of Doctor Who, where Bonnie, the leader of the
     separatist/revolutionary/generic army,
     
     is standing with her finger over The Button for
     launching atomic missiles/declaring war/announcing separation.
     
     He is trying to get her to think.
     Bonnie: "I will not change my mind."
     Doctor: "Then you will die stupid."

595. Wayne Wesley Johnson (2018-12-05) #

     Brilliant concept and it is very true.

596. Jamie McPherson (2018-12-05) #

     Hi Derek, I hope you are well. Something I have learned from my time in child protection from our clients, that I realised applies to myself, not just those struggling on the fringes. All our modes are survival modes. We go into these modes to get us through life. The problem is we resort to the same modes every time, because at some point in our early life, they worked for certain situations. But, they will work for us in some situations, and destroy us for others. Our best traits are also our worst. We have to re-evaluate the ways that we act and react to situations. Learn and unlearn. Teach the old dog some new tricks and not be just a one trick pony. That is where true success comes from.
     
     Take care,
     
     Jamie

597. Jacie (2018-12-05) #

     Yup!!!
     Agree!
     Nice cousin!!!

598. Curtis Morgan (2018-12-05) #

     One addition to the solutions could be that of the mathematical law of noncontradiction (if I remember correctly).
     
     Ask yourself "If this were to be true, what other firmly held beliefs would be true or untrue?"
     
     It is a great way to check the robustness of what you think is a valid belief.
     
     Considering the fast moving world, it's more important than ever to test your current held beliefs. "What principles by which am I making this decision?" is also a great personal one.
     
     Love the term ' deliberate unlearning '
     
     Hope your going well!

599. Rich (2018-12-05) #

     I work in a school district. On the door to my office is that exact quote from Alvin Toffler.
     Spot on!
     
     In this day and age machines are learning but are 'we' as a civilization learning?
     What is the quality of what we are adding? Is change so slow that we don't notice?
     I'm reminded of the flea jar experiment...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Dn2KEjPuc

600. Mark Friedman (2018-12-05) #

     Derek:
     
     I find i have a similar problem of holding on to what I know to be true but no longer is. I no longer need a map as GPS tells me how to find wherever I am going to. I was just in Portland Oregon and didn't need to print out where I was going and how to get there. I am older now and so many people I worked with are gone, their email no longer works. They have retired or died. What they did was so important at the time but who does it now? Knowledge: I have many books but it is all on the Web now. My books lying on my shelves are for me to feel happy having them but they have no utility. I will never read them again or even open them.
     
     I knew never to make mistakes and try to be perfect but now errors are tolerated more and no one wants perfect. They want speed. And simple. I am stuck in making no errors and taking as long as it takes. People want ship it now. I want to make it better before I let it go for shipping.
     
     I am shooting videos now. I learned to make them rock steady and edit them perfectly. No audiences don't care if they are steady. They want them short and even shorter. And get them out quick.
     
     I took photos at a recent national conference and the people want to see them now, immediate. I want to edit the photos to make them prettier. I changed my behaviour and posted them on Google and Facebook and many people were happy to see them soonest.
     
     So i can unlearn past behaviors that once worked, but no longer. It feels unsatisfying to do things differently, even when I see the new way works better. It is still uncomfortable.
     
     Thanks.

601. Kelly Pardekooper (2018-12-05) #

     An expert in the CD (Baby) era may not be able to advise in the streaming music era, but I will always open your sage advice emails Derek. You have exuded the beginners mind open mind always learning attitude for nearly 20 years in my inbox. Long may you subtract!

602. Danny Hartal (2018-12-05) #

     Hi, this is good...I like it...the world has changed, we have changed, things are moving in circles ...it's no longer about "success-driven- societies"...it's about
     Being mindful,green, kind etc

603. Marshall (2018-12-05) #

     Derek
     I like all your writing
     This I had a great slant to it compared to much available literature that says you must do this or your a failure.
     Regards
     Marshall

604. Octarve Anderson Jr (2018-12-05) #

     Modernization and evolution at its best.

605. Robin Hackett (2018-12-05) #

     The buddhist would say, always keep a ''Beginner's Mind'. This is eye opening for me, today. As I read this, I realized I am trying to do many things or go about things the way I used to, and it's causing lots of pain. So, thanks for this. Beginner's Mind. I know nothing...that feels good to say that. I feel relief.
     Robin

606. Justin (2018-12-05) #

     It totally makes sense. I made a post about a similar concept recently about being allowed to change our thoughts and opinions. Once we say something it shouldn’t be our identity forever. Unfortunately, with the ubiquity/omnipresence of social media once you say something that differs from something you said in the past your suddenly a Hippocrite. Evolution of thought is no longer acceptable (to certain people anymore).

607. Benny Wallington (2018-12-05) #

     I'm borrowing hell yes or no for my community of people i'm leading on a journey of Vice Optimisation.
     
     Somehow I pulled the same Tofler quote to share as well. Thanks for your insights Derek. Love it.
     
     I of course would love to meet you one day, however there is someone I believe you are destined to meet first. His name is David Pearl.
     
     Cheers, Benny

608. April Bell (2018-12-05) #

     I’m drawn to the wisdom in allowing for not knowing or needing to know, yet courageous enough to explore new frontiers. Not to ultimately know (and be able to proclaim so), but to be on a journey of constantly having the gift of saying, “I don’t know” and discoving what awaits on the other side of that. Wise words, as always, Derek. :)

609. WILLIAM LOVELACE II (2018-12-05) #

     Beautiful!!! I am glad I took the time to read it. You are very great and powerful individual.
     
     Thank you kindly for sharing be Blessed, Prosper and always be in excellent health!!!

610. annie (2018-12-05) #

     I don't think there ever was in all of history a more appropriate time to learn how to unlearn. No hyperbole. I mean, now, of all times in history. Change and unlearning. I applaud you Derek for tuning in to that and thank you for contributing your wisdom to helping guide us through the reality of what you're revealing and describing, and we're discovering and contending with.

611. Griffin House (2018-12-05) #

     Love this. Letting go of old ideas. Being brave enough to admit when I don't know where to go or what to do, it's ok to rewrite the phrase "don't just stand there, do something" to "don't just do something, sit there" :)
     I've been in that place for years. Finally feeling like I'm being invited to love, but with new eyes and more information and a clearer heart. Thanks for this Derek

612. Ian Jones (2018-12-05) #

     Doctors are a good example, I certainly wouldn't want to be treated by a doctor in his 60's who was still using only the skills he'd learnt from the medical teachings of the day!
     Doc I have a cold!
     "here this filterless Camel cigarette will fix you right up!"

613. Sebastian (2018-12-05) #

     This article rings a bell right outside my front door. The John Cage and Alvin Toffler quotes are spot-on.
     
     I appreciate the philosophical wisdom you present here and see it as timelessly relevant, especially to current the world's current state of affairs. Growth is always important and happens best via learning. Einstein said, "Once you stop learning, you start dying."
     
     I would be intrigued to have one or two specific examples you've experienced as the theory applied practically, and possibly some suggestions to give readers a starting point for them to apply the gold you are communicating.

614. Margaret (2018-12-05) #

     Thanks for this one, too. Timely reminder!

615. Ds (2018-12-05) #

     Nicely written

616. Alec Wills (2018-12-05) #

     Worh the rewrite. Much clearer in distinction between knowledge/facts and skills. I like it and if you intend writing on how to unlearn especially beliefs then Lefkoe is worth reading.

617. Justin (2018-12-05) #

     I like the post, but I feel like it is incomplete without an example.

618. Ariel Joseph (2018-12-05) #

     Your important discovery “Unlearning” gives instructional base and
     And human application to a similar philosophy
     in a poem I wrote called “Death of a Strange God”
     The part that applies to your very excellent
     Observation - & educational response, is my
     Last verse:
     “Today is one day;
     Tomorrow is forever -
     But Yesterday, is NEVER!”
     ...Best to you always- Ariel Joseph

619. Gabriella Benko (2018-12-05) #

     Your 'unlearning' reference inspired some thoughts in this early morning in Paris, France where I am sipping my coffee.
     
     Questions are the best answers all along in our lives. Doubt is uncomfortable, but reassuring as it can show that we can still challenge our mental 'status quo'. Change is everywhere, has always been there, it is just quicker nowadays and in a more complex world, so flexibility, adaptibility, stretching our thinking is critical. Or our answers are of the past's.
     
     I think if we always keep learning new things that keep us experiencing the process of learning (the hardships,the failures, etc) again and again, it also helps us unlearn things. Good luck with your book.

620. Bill Bodell (2018-12-05) #

     I've come to realize that the things I used to do and think were right at the time, were in most cases wrong. I'm now relearning a lot of things from the past, thanks Derek.

621. Ross (2018-12-05) #

     When I read your work it’s like I’m stepping into a place that doesn’t exists. It’s almost like you’re writing from an alternate universe. Unlearning as a skill? Profound idea but it makes so much sense.
     
     Awesome Derek!
     
     Thank you.

622. Elmar (2018-12-05) #

     Hi Derek,
     
     it seems like people don’t like to admit that they adopted a different idea on a subject or just lost their original standpoint without adopting a new one. Maybe our small tribe gene?
     
     As an inventor you need to constantly doubt your approach, otherwise you do not get anywhere. It’s like a concentrated form of unlearning because old thought patterns don’t get you new results.
     
     Besides, we understand only a fraction of what we know anyway so maybe we should also differentiate what learning means ;).
     
     Best,
     Elmar

623. Cat (2018-12-05) #

     ahhh...perfect read after finishing a paper about drumming, for a class where I'm the oldest student. ☺

624. Jack Perricone (2018-12-05) #

     I agree with the idea of seeing or hearing a new way to get to a result. I believe most of the time it is a matter, not so much of unlearning, as seeing or hearing or behaving in a way that will produce the result needed. A good example is how when dealing with electronic music instead of real instruments a composer or arranger who once got a crescendo by using brass and percussion now has to use synth sounds to create the same result on his listeners. If s/he chose to use real instruments, the music would not produce the reaction and acceptance needed because the society has changed and the earlier method would simply conjure up nostalgia. Not an unlearning, but a transformation has taken place. As John Laporta, the jazz guru from early Berklee once stated "Style is everything.", a statement that made me think deeply about style and its importance in the realm of authenticity.
     Thanks for the musical example, Jack! — Derek

625. Anton (2018-12-05) #

     Hi Derek!
     
     I like the map analogy — we ndeed do need new maps in our lives as things often might change (or the old maps might now be working )
     
     This reminded me of the Tim O’Reilly’s most recent book “WTF” — the first part of the book is literally called “Using the right maps”.

626. Paul Horgen (2018-12-05) #

     Unlearn. Yes, after 45 years in organizational life, I agree. Nothing is more true, more succinct. Cogent:
     “The illiterates of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” Toffler

627. Sabine (2018-12-05) #

     Derek, you sound a little depressed here. Not that that's a bad thing, because that's also part of being alive. But I hope you also realize that 'frustration' leads to new, refeshing, helpfull inventions or ideas. (Like your upcoming book?)
     
     Besides, isn't this about curiosity really? About how you think, feel, act. experience and view the world. When I am curious about something, I ask questions. Often I hear myself asking the same questions over and over and some of those questions (once statsfied with an answer) return after a few years. Those are opportunities to reinvestigate - besides feeling frustrated, and angry even. And that might lead to carving away stuff that I no longer need or no longer fits comfortably.
     ☺ Don't worry about me. I originally wrote it in 2nd-person, and flipped it to 1st-person for more impact, less preachy. — Derek

628. raysonkong (2018-12-05) #

     True, the world is constantly changing. In fact, change is the constant. Be oportunitistic. Have you read nassim Taleb's anti-fragile? Very thought provokiing and covers ideas like ''add by subtracting' which he calls via negativa and so much more.

629. Jude-Laure Denis (2018-12-05) #

     Hell yeah! I've spent.the past year unlearning a heck of a lot of bullshit. Separating wheat from chaff in terms of relationship through every experience. So freaking grateful. #synchrodestiny

630. Panos (2018-12-05) #

     I often see the failure to "unlearn" in the academic world. People who became professors because of their work, expertise and brilliant mind, after a few years "get stuck" and even though they follow the newest developments in their field, their actions and beliefs come from what they new years ago.

631. Joe Tuck (2018-12-05) #

     Lovely 😀 maybe a clearer personal example for context? Joe

632. Jing (2018-12-05) #

     Great concept. Even knowledge has an expiration date. Let's take it one step further: if we are all shoppers in a supermarket of knowledge where the currency is our limited time on earth, which type of knowledge would we want to pay for? Probably either those with very looong shelf-life (natural language and etc) or those with instant value (how to do SEO) and etc.

633. Robin (2018-12-05) #

     I cant unlearn. I can unuse and I can learn to do this and that to do this allows me the opportunity to do something other than what I would have done had I done what I have previously learnt. I can do something new and still return to mey previous ways. Such is the power and comfort of habit that we do this despite our knowlege that it may not get the result we seek.
     
     Recovering addicts who have a chance at remaining clean know that they have not unlearnt their old behaviours, they are leaving them unpracticed while they pursue new ones.
     
     Im mot sure we can unlearn, we cannot use and make a clearing for new. A part of doing that is to say I dont know, as you put it - to know the map no longer applies

634. Willie Buyson Villarama (2018-12-05) #

     I enjoy watching your lectures. I am from the Philippines.
     
     Keep it up. You are an inspiration to many.

635. [email protected] (2018-12-05) #

     Very cleaver with the words.
     learn to subtract. You're constantly defining life by adding and subtracting fyi from your brain. My brother use to say,"the brain is like a toilet...you've got to flush it ".
     
     The only thing constant is change.
     Hell No , Hell yeah
     Did you take that from my CD Derick?
     Don't stop keep writing. It will all make sense in the end.
     Godbless you.
     Shonuffffffffff

636. Lillian Hamlin (2018-12-05) #

     Well, I figure it makes sense why so many times in our path of life we "feel" blocked since we are clogged with a well of information that may no longer suits us, especially since change is constant. Thanks for the enlightenment.

637. Darius (2018-12-05) #

     Intriguing piece. Much like machine learning (not big fan of this expression), in today's world we have to purge old files to make room for new files.

638. Simon (2018-12-05) #

     Perhaps rather than the more linear sounding concept of unlearning and relearning another way of looking at it would be as a web. Our skills, beliefs, habits, whatever is in question, are interconnected and cognitively cross referenced. Rather than unlearning we adapt.
     
     This is where I feel you have it right, when you talk about adapting to new changes. The brain being a difference engine means we learn/react by a process of information input, feedback and calibration; adapting and/or consolidating our views/skills to new input.
     
     This is a fascinating subject. There's a lot more to be said on this, but I don't want to overload your comments!

639. Navreet Heneghan (2018-12-05) #

     Hi Derek!
     
     I enjoy reading your material, so thank you.
     
     The last line in unlearning looks like it shouldn’t be there - it should be in “subtract” (where it might be redundant actually), or not at all.
     
     Cheers,
     Navreet

640. Steve dAvis (2018-12-05) #

     Hi Derek,
     The practice of subtracting & unlearning seem to me to be a step back from ego thinking. This new space is where one is no longer the centre of the process and has no need to be the expert but can happily be the student, the watcher, can be who they are without holding on to some cultivated image. Happy to let go.

641. Jen Zeman (2018-12-05) #

     Once again, spot on. Unlearning bad habits, automatic reactions, letting go of ego was the unlearning for me. Being in a state of constant love, compassion, serenity and harmony was the relearning.

642. Wayne (2018-12-05) #

     Derek, This is an interesting passage. Somehow, and perhaps off topic, but maybe not I contemplated Newton’s discovery of calculus while somewhat simultaneously exploring alchemy. One thing changed the world, the other not so much. So, our little intellectual side trips do matter, if only for ourselves. Peace.

643. Dr. Barb (2018-12-05) #

     Derek unlearning is key. I also like to think about the neuroplasticity of our brains - we CAN rewire and that is so encouraging!

644. JC (2018-12-05) #

     I fight those unable to unlearn almost daily when discussing regenerative agriculture, which is still new and a very loose term. Trying to open the idea that cows are not causing climate change to everyone who read some newspaper article many years ago. And then even with those within the regenerative space, who still try to bring tech into a seriously intense biological system we just barely understand. It's ok to say "I don't know" and then observe what happens in it's wild form to find the answers...or continue not knowing.

645. Kip (2018-12-05) #

     Reminds me of a wonderful quote from a very wise old man I know, "When you think you know, you really don't know. When you deeply realize you don't know, then you truly know."

646. Gabrielle Fontaine (2018-12-05) #

     Thank you so much for this, Derek. It is powerful and your experience (and recognition of the humility needed to grow) is an example for me personally, on a journey where everything has changed. Again, thank you.
     
     This vital mindset is also extremely important in the professions that are now in disruption, so again. Thank you. I will share with those who have an ear to listen.

647. Ian Horley (2018-12-05) #

     Well put and well received as always Derek. Thank you for everything you've given us!
     
     I'm going to be lazy in my contribution and just add a Bob Dylan line (from the song "It's alright ma' I'm only bleeding"), and it goes a little sum'n like this:
     
     "He not busy being born, is busy dying"
     
     I take that to mean that if you aren't busy reinventing yourself, learning and bringing something that didn't exist before into the world, then you've started the process of dying.
     
     Have fun

648. Frank Tuma (2018-12-05) #

     Technology is moving forward so fast that most things are outdated It takes very little of the latest things to accomplish much more and faster. If we don't know this we fall far behind.

649. Abbigail (2018-12-05) #

     "We don’t get wise just by adding and adding. We also need to subtract."
     
     I love this. I'm using it in a different context. I'm trying to simplify my life in 2019. I've been saying "yes" too much, and it's time to say "no." I want to subtract in order to have margin.

650. Mark (2018-12-05) #

     Very true. As I get older I realise that things I held to as absolutes I know hold as "my best informed opinion". What is truth and what, if anything, never changes?

651. Abbigail (2018-12-05) #

     'Where I had expertise before, I don’t necessarily now. People ask my advice on things I knew well years ago. It’s tempting to think I still know the answer, but instead I have to admit, “Sorry. I don’t know.”'
     
     I don't trust people who know everything. I trust humble people who have the courage to admit that they have doubts. I am an attorney, but I say "I don't know" more often than you would think. I'd rather say that and verify the answer instead of steer someone wrong. In the end, there is more honesty in 'doubt,' than in people that are always 'sure.' So, take heart because your not knowing is actually you growing wiser.

652. Joe (2018-12-05) #

     Hi Derek. I assume you've read "Mindset" by Carol Dweck. I thought of the "growth" (vs "fixed") mindset while reading this. A lot of parallels. In cognitive behavioral therapy, we talk about "schema," which are the beliefs and reality filters we all put on sensory information coming into our brains, which serve a purpose of simplifying how much CPU processing the brain has to do, but can also be limited by errors in thinking (incorrect schema). This results in poor decision-making (erroneous outputs). In a sense, perceived reality is a creation of the mind. Sadly, some have interpreted this to mean there is no absolute truth/reality, only what you believe is true. This has been externalized as "alternative facts" or "truth is not truth," which is a bastardization of the concept that the absolute truth is not knowable, only an approximation of it as filtered through our senses and the tools of technology/science. Indeed, the alt reality folks are the victims of their own fixed mindsets, unable to grow or adapt to new information (climate change deniers being the first example that comes to mind). I always enjoy your thoughtful prose. -Joe L

653. Carlos Semeghini (2018-12-05) #

     Like just another monkey that I am I embrace my utter ignorance, trying to grasp onto as much new knowledge as I can but constantly challenging the knowledge I believe I have... knowing is a process, not a commodity...
     
     Derek, about your piece, got the memo... but I think it could use some polishing...
     
     Best.

654. Benedict Westenra (2018-12-05) #

     The sentence “there’s a tunnel through the mountain now” really struck me, possibly because of the story of the Indian man who spent 22 years digging one by hand because his wife died as a result of not receiving medical attention fast enough: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashrath_Manjhi
     
     Separately: welcome to England, Derek!
     Ha! Yes! I was thinking of that story! How funny you know it too. — Derek

655. Jordan (2018-12-05) #

     You could do an entire chapter on "what got me here, won't get me there" and it would surprise many.
     See this great book ☺ — Derek

656. Callum (2018-12-05) #

     This is applicable to so many areas of life, thank you. I think that continuing to be curious really helps with this process of unlearning, as you don't stick so rigidly to ideas that you hold to be true.

657. Don Blevins (2018-12-05) #

     Derek.. You really got to the point on this article. Consider how man in his efforts to solve all of life's mysteries based on time, mass. energy and acceleration using one's 5 senses. It's like walking on a treadmill .. You may spend a lot of time and energy but in distance you get nowhere. This earth is not our eternal home and we are more than a body of flesh and blood. We have a soul that has an eternal intellect. This temporary learning may have a good temporary purpose but to seek the knowledge of the spiritual realm and allow that knowledge to open our minds and change our lives to prepare and fit us for a greater glory. This is the only way we can escape the treadmill.

658. Brent (2018-12-05) #

     I may be off-base here, possibly because I just reviewed your Subtract piece, but what I'm getting from this section of the book is that although we all want to be comfortable, at peace, secure, etc., a key component to living a stimulating, fulfilling life is to embrace the struggle involved with learning new things. We become successful with something, get comfortable, then have a tendency to stop challenging ourselves with new ideas. I believe the struggle involved with learning new things is necessary to really thrive in life. Well, and to get back to this piece... not be left behind.

659. Ed West (2018-12-05) #

     Reminds me of an old Hit Me song, 'Everything I Love is Taken Away', except in this case it's "everything I know is taken away". Excellent work my friend. You have always been wise beyond your years. Glad to see nothing has changed.
     !!!!! Ed! Ssshhhh! Nobody here knows about my music! ☺ (( Thanks for making my jaw drop. )) — Derek

660. John Sherry (2018-12-05) #

     I think the ideas you’re putting forth are interesting but would be a more compelling if the individual ideas were expanded on in narratives; like Aesop, but you could use real life stories.
     Good point. Thanks for the suggestion. — Derek

661. larry malu (2018-12-05) #

     roi, network ,innovation ,partnership ,re -think global level , going places to restart a new company, china is the new business icons to live right now, try hong kong to start ups , take music to far east asia
     
     
     lawrence malu
     
     ceo
     
     zac ventures inc

662. Jill Woodworth (2018-12-05) #

     Derek,
     
     Great article. progressive, provocative, sparse. This is so fucking difficult. What I'm finding that in order to exist in a state of "unlearned", aka fully in the present, it's been necessary to confront certain aspects of the past on a daily basis. In order to be the best possible advocate for offspring with intense issues, it is necessary to remember details from a lifetime medical history in order to not only teach whoever is treating them but to understand how disease manifestations have improved or worsened. I must remain constantly vigilant while tapping this history not to fall off center into other correlating memories associated with the medical history which were learned under the guise of trauma. So, even more, apropos to learn how to unlearn but unlearn how to learn as you did then. That is, how to remember the essential facts that are necessary and not get into the sticky associated memories that can haunt and cloud one's vision. Thanks for the article. It's a definite help in verbalizing the necessity of unlearning despite the rigid clutch of the learned.

663. Lena (2018-12-05) #

     Oh man, I can so relate to this. Unlearning is so hard, admitting you don't know "everything" is hard, and yes, going from being an expert to an idiot hurts a lot. Stupid pride. Why do I feel so insecure not being in the know?!
     I love learning, that's no problem, but letting go of identity of someone who "knows things" is where the battle is. I'll be pondering on this article today. Thank you, Derek, take care!

664. Jim Lang (2018-12-05) #

     Great principle. My immediate reaction is that the idea of "unlearning" something works better as a trope than anything else. The real work is to continue and being curious. I know- the new knowledge replaces the old and that process is the unlearning part. Just something about promoting the positive idea of staying alert and observant in the moment and being avid about vacuuming up new information seems more helpful.

665. Michael-bret Z Hodges (2018-12-05) #

     What tactics do you think work at getting people around to new ways of thinking?

666. Robbie (2018-12-05) #

     Derek,
     
     Enjoyed the article, some thoughts I had while reading:
     
     I've dealt more with unlearning bad mindsets and behaviors modeled to me during childhood than I have with giving up things that used to be useful for me but that are now stale. I tend to focus on learning models and principles that are useful in almost any environment.
     
     I see the core theme of your article as maintaining a child-like state. Being humble and playful, aware that what worked for you in the past may not work again, and may not work for others.

667. Cynthia (2018-12-05) #

     Very true. When my daughter, who is 20, asks me for advice I preface my suggestions with "what worked for me 30 years ago may not work for you today, but here is what the 20-year-old version of me did back then and what I learned from that experience... and here is how the 50-year-old version of me might react now, given what I know and how the world has changed." Lots of things change in time, but our morals don't have to. We adapt and we relearn based on life's changes.

668. Ashley (2018-12-05) #

     Hi Derek,
     Thanks so much for giving me a taste of what’s to come...
     As per usual, you are definitely on the right track.
     
     Love your work.
     
     Take Care
     Ash
     X

669. Fazeel Chauhan (2018-12-05) #

     Interesting topic. I wanted to hear examples. Your article reminded me of a a popular movie from 20 years ago, I think it was called "Dangerous Minds" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_Minds
     which ended with the message: UNLEARN.
     So very important, as you said.
     First, we need to be lifelong students. Staying focused on learning valuable stuff, while not listening to the clutter of trash. We consume a lot of junk food and junk thoughts, for example from ads and from TV. Garbage in, garbage out, means we have to be mindful of what we let in.
     Many people have been led astray by preachers, guru's, banksters, war mongers, fake news and propaganda. Most of us are on auto-pilot. For example, most people will loyally follow the religion, politics and biases of their parents. To paraphrase professor Cornell West who said: Socrates said that an un-examined life is not worth living, and 2000 years later Malcolm X took it a step further and said "An un-examined life is painful".
     The masses "have become comfortably numb" as the Pink Floyd song goes. Getting out of the comfort zone and going through changes can be painful. But for a seeker of knowledge, truth and wisdom, it is important to do self-reflection. I wouldn't say to doubt oneself, but rather to question oneself, and to question "authority" as the popular 1980's bumper sticker said. As Hamid Khan says "The jury is always out", we might think for decades that we are right, and later find out we were misguided all along.
     A couple of days ago, while listening to KPFK 90.7 FM, after a mass murderer died, I again realized something very disturbing, which most of our fellow Americans don't want to hear, though it is about unlearning and examining our common practices:... we live in a society with rampant mental illness.
     
     Another way of looking at this topic is that we are living in an (orphan) "Sibling Society" as Robert Bly says. Meaning we have killed off our grand parents, and cut off our parents, and look for wisdom from our peers. And that crap changes fast, with fashions. True today, false tomorrow, in today, out-dated tomorrow, cool today, fools tomorrow. Bly says, what's missing is lack of initiation into manhood. And til then, we behave in immature manners in various aspects of our lives. After going to such an event 25 years ago, I was given some universal principles, by elders. That helped me to decipher good from bad, valid from extinct. I realized that I had been "educated" by parents, teachers and preachers. But the things I had been taught, were a mix of education and mis-education. So I had to spend a lot of time in self-reflection and to re-examine what I was taught. To unpack that baggage. To separate the good from the bad, instead of throwing away the baby with the bath=water. To let go of the trash, but to value the gems and to hold on to the pearls of wisdom.
     One of the principles I was taught is: You are never with a person who is not your teacher in some way. So the default position is to be humble.
     To be open to learning. And after learning something, to do the harder task of applying it in my life. Some of those steps can take years to implement, but I keep trying "with a little help from my friends".

670. Robert (2018-12-05) #

     - That's sooo true. I now know me a bit better, even though I had this "unlearning"-aspect already in my unconscious mind. For example: When I tell people that I'm an engineer, they sometimes look at me like a superhuman who knows everything of all.
     
     Days, weeks and months after study, I felt the same. But the more time elapses, the more I feel like someone who just happened to be a student, not more or less. You gain a vast amount of knowledge, but now, years later, the same knowledge vaporized to a bunch of concepts about how the internet and technology really works. Actually, I 'unlearned' so much of my 4-years-past-study, that I can't be called an engineer anymore. I just do it because it sounds cool.
     
     - Do you know the 'Dunning-Kruger-effect'? I bet so, but maybe you haven't thought about that concept in the 'unlearning' context. DKE describes 4 stages of 'learning':
     1. Unconscious incompetence (You don't know what you don't know) (Look at a human being who wants to study, having now idea about what it means to study on a university)
     2. Conscious incompetence (You start to learn, realizing desperately that you still have a lot to learn. You know what you don't know.) (Look at a student in his second year in study)
     3. Conscious competence (You know that you learned something but it's still hard to use this knowledge. (Look at a student, who can't sleep because he has an exam tomorrow)
     4. Unconscious competence (Being an academic, you don't know anymore what the hell you learned years ago. Being asked, you don't need to think about your answer anymore. The answer comes from your gut. It's frightening how easy it is for me to swiftly convert a hexadecimal number to it's decimal counterpart in seconds, while other people around me don't get the idea of hexadecimal numbers, even if I had hours to explain it to them.
     
     So we have 4 stages of 'learning'. Concluding, could there be 4 stages of 'unlearning'? You explain 4 stages in this blogpost. So you could try to map both of these 4-stage-concepts better to get a 'bigger picture' about learning and unlearning.
     
     - In philosophy, "knowing nothing" describes your mental state when you are born, and when you die as well. Already Sokrates said: "I know that I know nothing"
     
     Best Regards
     Robert

671. Audio-Rarities (2018-12-05) #

     Thanks Derek,
     
     All the best to you and your family Merry Christmas and happy new year 2019
     
     Jan
     best regards

672. Bruce Peters (2018-12-06) #

     Derek,
     Some time back I become an avid listener/reader of the work of J. Krishnamurti.
     Some find his work difficult or even unaccessible. I found it utterly fascinating as it reflected deeply within me beyond conditioning and thought.
     If you're already familiar my apologies for the replication. If not, I believe that it might inform your unlearning path.
     My best,
     Bruce

673. Jie Tian (2018-12-06) #

     Things I learned in the past are now wrong. Times have changed.
     
     Every moments is a new moments.Enjoy & live at present .

674. LOUIE B HILAL (2018-12-06) #

     Brillant. Love the article. Nice perspective. Thank U.

675. Camellia Y (2018-12-06) #

     Have you ever thought about that majority of things you’ve learnt from school are out of date or even wrong? It’s so important to have the ability to unlearn and have an open mindset to new concepts and ideas. I find it’s very frustrated that a lot of people from previous generations are not willing to learn since they find a job and look down young people’s ideas because they think they know more and better than younger generations. Younger generation have new way of accessing information and work experience is not depending on how many years you worked anymore.

676. TerryLee WHETSTONe (2018-12-06) #

     Music4Winds - So very true. But many Spiritual things I have been given are still true even after the check and balance within my self. But if the checking finds new knowledge and change in anything then it has to be done to grow and experience new in Life. Don't stay in the past for it becomes dark and you get lost.

677. Brian Kasperitis (2018-12-06) #

     They tried to brainwash me and force me to conform to their ways, those bad folks over there at the AA meetings.
     
     Now my new group says that milk is bad for me too!
     
     .... and what's this shit, "Don't drink from the garden hose!"?

678. Victoria (2018-12-06) #

     Hi Derek, I used to teach innovation techniques. I see you are offering concepts, and I would like to see more details. Example, how to relearn, or how to leverage old learning, recycle it you might say. Most of us hate to feel stupid, or we wasted our time, or we are useless. Maybe include some experiments? Years ago the American society of training and development said one of the best skills to keep honed was your coping skill. Hope this is helpful.

679. Priscilla (2018-12-06) #

     Love this! It’s refreshing to read because people get so stuck with “I know that.” It’s the same as asking someone why they do something a certain way and they answer “Because we’ve always done it that way.” It stifles growth, problem solving, and the smallest changes that could provide the biggest outcomes.

680. Nate Yandow (2018-12-06) #

     Derek,
     
     This is a great topic and awareness. I feel that specific examples can bring greater understanding for the reader. I need to work on this when I teach and coach. I tend to find myself wanting to not get to specific with people as I feel if I add too much detail I will lose the connection with someone. When in reality most people will find that a specific story will really relate to a small % off people entirely the story will have bits and pieces that are relatable to the masses. We really aren't all that different. The greatest of all men and women were given for the most part the same resources as the lesser of all men and women. In fact; often times we find that those that started with the least end up making the greatest of achievements and contributions. You may arleady have examples further in but use the stories as much as you can.

681. Lee Jones (2018-12-06) #

     Good write, Derek.
     
     As for me, the music business has morphed into something beyond (my) recognition, and beyond corrupt, and after 38 years of fighting with all the ego driven sociopaths, I finally decided go get out. I'm working on a new adventure, it's not easy, starting something new, but I can no longer stomach all the flaming bullshit in that businsss. I play for me, and that's all.

682. mao (2018-12-07) #

     adaptation vs evolution, its an important concept, we are raised to believe that all this updates keep improving us, and we have failed, because there is a middle ground, and of course there is all types of perspectives, being able to know what is good for you is the important, taking a step back and being honest with yourself is this something that will make me happier or is it just following a trend? it might be letting go of something, or adding something, life is about adaptation, kids today in school hate memorization because they have the tools to get all the answers at the palm of their hands, whats the use? our education system has failed to adapt to the new technologies around and the kids are growing up resentful because they know, the truth is always going to come out. "the truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off"

683. Avril Bonner (2018-12-07) #

     Hi Derek
     Love your article.
     What about health issues. We are given different advice, all the time, particularly, what to eat and what not to eat. I feel I'm always in a constant 'unlearning'.
     Avril

684. Niran (2018-12-07) #

     Lovely and so true

685. Peter Fegredo (2018-12-07) #

     Hi Derek,
     Good to hear from you. It's an ever changing world. On occasion sometimes friends tell me what I'd mentioned to them a long time ago and forgotten, thinking they're telling me something new. Rain forests going finding the soil is only good for two years. Floods and tsunami's changing coastal lines and land. Yeah! Nothing remains the same. We should all be used to this but, were not. I like what Alvin Toffler said.

686. Nicky Shane (2018-12-07) #

     Awesome point Derewk (my new spelling for you). See, you can't change everything and a lot of "New people" (my new definition of youth) think "New" is the only way to go. I break life down like a scientist and it takes time to work through the different levels. With "New" I believe there is a lot of toxicity that is being avoided, like cell phones... Too much new knowledge, for the good of enterprise, could be heading 1000 mph into a mountain but no one wants to hear that. Moving on too fast by trying to establish something new with little substance, review or examination? This is what I question throughout my life... I still depend on my verisimilitude to create visual realities. These are all EXPERIMENTAL to tap the imagination of the viewer. I've never followed the latest trend to keep up with the Jones's for many reasons. I'll get there sooner or later but with purpose, care, research and with my heart truly attached.

687. Martin (2018-12-08) #

     Reminds me of the lyrics to a Doors song titled "Soul Kitchen." The lyric goes:
     
     "Well, your fingers weave quick minarets
     Speak in secret alphabets
     I light another cigarette
     Learn to forget, learn to forget
     Learn to forget, learn to forget"
     
     The song "Soul Kitchen" on YouTube.
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAw_w0sA2jY

688. Maggie McKaig (2018-12-10) #

     Ella Fitzgerald is quoted as saying, "It isn't where you came from, it's where you're going that counts".

689. Maggie McKaig (2018-12-10) #

     I really like men. But I always appreciate hearing a woman's point of view. Hence my Ella quote.
     
     Love and peace, and carry on!

690. Obediah (2018-12-10) #

     I like where your head is at. Burn away the fractured ideas in the crucible of doubt.
     
     ... but if you spend a majority of your time contesting old ideals, how do you find the balance between new and old? How does one juggle the vastness of new information that begs to be added?
     
     I suppose that's not your point though. You and Oscar are seemingly on the same page: “We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities.” ― Oscar Wilde
     
     So yes. Let it burn. Continually reforge yourself into your ideal self.
     
     I hope some of this helped. Ciao brother.

691. jules breen (2018-12-13) #

     i find that being a parent is about unlearning, unwinding forward motion, and being happy
     in the empty space with my child. then something new often arises

692. Alexandra (2018-12-13) #

     Anyone who respects the scientific method must have humility about their knowledge, knowing that our body of knowledge is constantly growing and changing. Just think about how we used to bleed people as a medical solution for many ailments. We can also try to “unlearn” our biases. How many people in the slave-era (legal) had that clear intuitive feeling that it felt wrong but...because everyone around them was doing it and it was a way of life, as in a white child growing up on a Georgian tobacco plantation, they didn’t question it?

693. Sean Crawford (2018-12-22) #

     Part of unlearning is being willing to disengage your ego.
     
     I mean, I can just imagine that guy at #545 egotistically wanting to quote President Trump tweeting back in March, "Trade wars are easy..." and then wanting to follow up on his comment by saying, "It's less than a week before Christmas and no, the troops are not home, in fact, the stock market has taken a dive this week, the worst of the year, over the trade war..."
     
     Let's hope that guy would write so due "less than half" for his ego, and due "more than half" to help the rest of us. In. fact, I know he did, as I know him well enough to inhabit his body.
     
     As an adult, with less ego, I can better face history, whether history of my citizenship failures, or history of the music business being other than what I want it to be.

694. Tamara Rose (2018-12-29) #

     I really feel more in tune with you when you share your personal experience. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable, eh?

695. Bill (2019-01-08) #

     I love this. It took a long time for me to unlearn thinking I knew the answers. Love the idea of throwing out the old map because you can get caught on the old paths. I'm back in my small home town after being away for several years. It's hard to be surrounded by people with my old mindset.

696. Meryem (2019-01-10) #

     So true!
     Skill to unlearn to relearn and to know to subtract to be fulfilled.
     Love it. Thank you.
     Also timely realization with all the resolutions for the new year.
     I am Enough.

697. VAIL HAYES (2019-01-22) #

     This is fucking brilliant
     (sorry for the language)
     just as your subtract is.
     Its absolutely f'in brilliant
     and it's something that I have been instinctively been implementing with out realizing it. Thanks for validating what I have been slowly putting into practice. You Da'Man

698. Laurence (2019-01-28) #

     Being asked for an opinion I think can be taken as a compliment depending upon who is asking and what the question is...
     Opinions are common everybody seems to have one. I get the gist of ‘unlearning’ but it is short of having amnesia / dementia impossible to do - there’s an opinion geez they’re everywhere aren’t they! Who doesn’t offer free advice?
     Right and wrong if only it was always that simple. In some situations the wrong thing might be right and visa versa. Consequences always apply. Just do your best and I think judgement is an opinion and you cannot unlearn judgement. I could agree with you but then we’ll both be wrong! 😎

699. Jude (2019-01-29) #

     Problem being that the lens through which we view the world need replacing or updating. Good luck.

700. Abi (2019-02-26) #

     I am a small man born to a simple family in Indonesia
     
     if you want to share and socialize whatever my WhatsApp account is at…

701. Marilyn Shannahan (2019-05-29) #

     We like our assumptions. They validate our systems and provide security even when we are merely believing in an illusion. If the majority follow mindlessly and only a few succeed that seems to be enough to call it truth or fact. If we put a few letters after our name then we have credentials and all that we “know” can be summed up in just a few words disseminated to the masses. If I earn a degree does it mean I’ve retained all the known information about that topic? Does earning an A mean that I’m smart? How about earning the highest honors? What if I make a lot of money? What if I hold the highest office? Isn’t this what we as a society and culture believe, for the most part? Maybe I can only speak as a US citizen...
     I don’t want to be a “knower.” I don’t want my children to be “knowers.” Learners are curious, open, intentional, collaborative and generous not only with themselves but others. Is anything a sure thing? I don’t know.

702. Zoie McIntyre (2020-10-30) #

     What an awesome chapter. Some of it is something I instinctively feel myself but to see it written together with thoughts from several other people is very interesting. I am not as good with words as you are but I have long thought that it is very important to let go of old thoughts that no longer serve. I trained my replacement for 3 years when I retired. One of my biggest recommendations was for her to not treat what I was saying as gospel she was much younger and would have current knowledge and innovative ideas. (I was a paralegal) Just an example. Your advice carries it just that much further and will definitely be something I will think more about. Facing the hard truths can be a challenge.

703. Martin Haene (2021-10-28) #

     THIS!
     
     recentrly I was asked friends what they feel, at this time, is their purpose in life. what they really hope for to have for the rest of their life.
     
     later, when they asked what it is for me, I basically said what you wrote in your article.
     
     I so deeply hope I can live the rest of my life with that attitude in me.
     
     and I want to keep remind myself that the things I don't know I don't know are so many more then the things I know, and the things I know I don't know.