Implementation Report of "Output" book
Back on October 26th (my very first post on this Substack), I shared my thoughts on a book I had just finished reading called “Output,” by Japanese psychiatrist and author, Zion Kabasawa.
You can refer to that post here:
On "Output"
“Output” is the second book in a series of books by Japanese author, Shion Kabasawa, covering the role of input and output in learning. The first book, “Input,” which I read over a year ago, dramatically changed out how look at the learning process, personal growth and how I think about the information I consume.
This book was the entire driving force behind me starting this Substack and publishing my learnings and “output” every day. For the past 30+ days, I’ve been disciplined about posting on this Substack every single day, no matter what.
In this post, I want to share what I’ve learned from implementing some of the key principles and concepts I learned in “Output.”
According to scientific research, the ideal ratio of output-to-input is 7:3. In other words, you should be doing at least twice as much output as input for optimal learning results.
Over the preceding month or so, I've deliberately and significantly reduced my intake—whether it be the number of books I read, the quantity of YouTube videos I watch, or the podcasts I listen to. This intentional reduction in input has allowed me to allocate more time to thoroughly absorb and process the information I'm consuming.
A case in point is my engagement with "The Diary of a CEO," which I completed in October, and to this day, I am actively digesting its content. The process of working through this book has marked a departure from my previous reading habits. Traditionally, once I finished a book, I would dedicate an hour or two to jot down some notes, and that would conclude my interaction with the book.
In addition to crafting posts on Substack, I have expanded my reach by cross-posting content on various social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. On Instagram, I distill the best principles and insights from my posts into visually engaging text graphics. As for Threads, I typically convert Substack posts into succinct bullet points or "short-and-punchy" paragraphs. This approach to cross-posting has proven to be an effective strategy for amplifying the volume of my output.
Our brain only converts information to long-term memory if it is frequently used or applied within a short period of time of input. Or, as Kabasawa specifically states, use or apply (i.e. output) the information at least three times within two weeks of learning in order to convert the information to long-term memory
I’ve currently set up my Substack writing schedule so that I can get at least 2-3 “touches” within a 2 week period.
Touch 1 - After I finish reading, I’ll usually go through the book and transfer any important highlights to my note-taking app.
Touch 2 - I write my first post on the topic on Substack.
Touch 3 - I write a distilled version of the post in my Weekly Learnings post on Substack.
Touch 4 - I write another distilled version of the post in my Monthly Learnings post on Substack.
5+ Touches - Now that I’ve been distributing my Substack posts on social media, I’m getting even more touches
After following this routine for over a month, I’ve noticed that I’m retaining the material much better than before.
The Spiral Staircase of Personal Growth - personal growth can be achieved when you complete one full “cycle” of input AND output.
I’m really enjoying this new pattern of immediately following reading and learning with output. Increasing my output has definitely improved my retention of the material and I feel like the information I need is much more at my fingertips. This principle has also fundamentally how I read, especially when I’m reading to learn. Rather than highlighting everything that looks interesting, I’m hunting for knowledge and information that I can actually use or implement.
How I’ve actually been implementing what I’m learning
First, I condense the essence of my Substack post, extracting its a core principle to serve as the guiding foundation for subsequent implementation.
This distilled core principle acts as a compass, directing my focus towards meaningful and actionable steps.
Building upon this principle, I compile a comprehensive list of habits, routines, and systems that I could potentially implement.
Additionally, I integrate thoughtfully crafted journaling questions into the framework, designed to facilitate self-reflection and introspection.
By combining the distilled principle with concrete action, my learnings can transform into real personal growth and improvement.