Time is the most precious currency we have. Imagine you’re given a magic bank account that credits you with $86,400 every morning. The catch? You must spend it all that day – no savings, no transfers. At midnight, whatever you haven’t used disappears. What would you do? You’d probably spend every cent, right?

Well, here’s the kicker: You already have this account. It’s called time. Every day, you’re gifted 86,400 seconds. How are you spending them?

This reality has shaped my approach to learning and education in ways that might surprise you. I’ve come to a conclusion that flies in the face of conventional wisdom: don’t waste your time studying things that you can’t apply to make your education, your career, your relationships – your life – better.

Shocking, right? Especially coming from someone who values education. But stick with me, because this perspective might just change how you approach learning forever.

Now, I get it. During school, you’re often forced to study subjects just to pass classes. That’s the system, and you need to navigate it. But here’s where it gets interesting: even within those constraints, there’s a secret weapon you can wield. It’s not about what you study, but how you study it, and more importantly, why.

Intrigued? Let me explain with a curveball example: baseball.

Everyone wants to win the game, right? But desire alone doesn’t determine the victor. It’s the team that follows the proper process before the season, during practice, before the game, and during each pitch that comes out on top. How they did it, and why they did each step, is the reason they won.

Now, apply this to your learning. The difference between “what” and “how” is profound. “What” is about content; “how” is about process. When you focus on how to do things, and why they’re done that way, you’re learning skills and approaches that can translate across many areas of life. It’s the difference between memorizing a formula and understanding the principles behind it.

Think about it. Which is more valuable: knowing the date of a historical event, or understanding how to analyze historical trends and apply those insights to current events?

This concept aligns beautifully with an ancient piece of wisdom: “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” It’s not just about acquiring knowledge but gaining true understanding – the “how” and “why” behind the “what.”

Here’s where it gets exciting. Studying “how” and “why” gives you a universal toolkit. It’s about learning to think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, learn and adapt quickly, work with others, and manage your time and resources. These skills are as useful in a boardroom as they are in a classroom, as valuable in relationships as they are in careers.

But here’s the million-dollar question: How do you actually do this?Start by asking yourself: How can I apply this knowledge? Why is this important? How will this make my life or someone else’s life better? These questions transform passive learning into active engagement with the material.

Remember, the goal isn’t to become a walking encyclopedia. It’s to acquire knowledge and skills that you can apply to improve your life and the lives of those around you. Every hour you spend learning should be an investment in your future, not just a box to check.

Now, I can almost hear you thinking, “But Pop, what about subjects I’m not interested in? What about things I’ll never use?”

Fair question. But here’s a secret: There’s always something valuable to extract, even from subjects you think are irrelevant. Maybe it’s a problem-solving approach, a way of thinking, or a nugget of information that connects to something you care about. Your job is to find that value and make it work for you.

In the end, education isn’t just about filling your mind with information. It’s about learning how to use that information effectively to create a better life for yourself and others. That’s the true value of learning, and that’s how you make every hour of study count.

So, as you face your next class, your next book, your next challenge, remember: You have 86,400 seconds today. How will you invest them to make your life better? The choice, and the power, is yours.