Why You Learn Is MORE Important Than What You Learn (2276)

Most people collect information, but very few understand what actually makes learning change their lives. In today’s episode, Kevin and Alan explain a simple idea that shapes your confidence, your habits, and how consistent you stay. After thousands of coaching sessions and more than two thousand episodes, they have seen the same pattern again and again. 

This conversation will help you see your own learning in a new way and understand why your progress feels fast at times and slow at others. If you want real growth, not just more information, this episode will help you get there.

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For more information, check out our website and socials using the links below. 👇

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Show notes:
(2:23) Awareness Vs. Exposure: Overcoming fear in practice
(4:12) Why most content fails to create real change
(6:45) The four layers of content and the purpose of learning
(8:30) Reference groups, accountability, and identity
(11:42) Daily standards, consistency, and long-term identity
(13:43) Accountability data and the power of a strong coach
(15:10) Increasing accountability and community-driven consistency
(16:10) Outro

🎙️ Hosted by Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros

Next Level University is a top-ranked daily podcast for dream chasers and self-improvement lovers. With over 2,100 episodes, we help you level up in life, love, health, and wealth one day at a time. Subscribe for real, honest, no-fluff growth every single day.

Chapters

• 2:23 Awareness Vs. Exposure: Overcoming fear in practice
• 4:12 Why most content fails to create real change
• 6:45 The four layers of content and the purpose of learning
• 8:30 Reference groups, accountability, and identity
• 11:42 Daily standards, consistency, and long-term identity
• 13:43 Accountability data and the power of a strong coach
• 15:10 Increasing accountability and community-driven consistency
• 16:10 Outro

Transcript

Kevin Palmieri

(0:00) I learn about like a lot of dumb stuff I would say. (0:03) I've learned a lot about planes and I've learned a lot about truck driving. (0:07) I've learned a lot of things and for some reason I always search stuff on YouTube and it might seem dumb but today my goal is to prove that it's not because there is a reason to why I'm learning these things.

Alan Lazaros

(0:18) I think all learning is important. (0:19) If we take away our knowledge we're all going to be infants again but if you don't take action consistently on that learning it is fairly useless.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:29) Welcome to Next Level University. (0:32) I'm your host Kevin Palmieri and I'm your co-host Alan Lazarus. (0:37) At NLU we believe in a heart-driven but no bs approach to holistic self-improvement for dream chasers.

Alan Lazaros

(0:43) Our goal with every episode is to help you level up your life, love, health, and wealth.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:50) We bring you a new episode every single day on topics like confidence, self-belief, self-worth, self-awareness, relationships, boundaries, consistency, habits, and defining your own unique version of success.

Alan Lazaros

(1:06) Self-improvement in your pocket every day from anywhere completely free.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:12) Welcome to Next Level University. (1:18) Next Level Nation today for episode number 2276. (1:23) Why you learn is more important than what you learn.(1:28) There was a time where I was obsessed with learning about planes and I'm sure there's probably people out there that would hear that and say well Kev are you going to be a pilot? (1:37) No. (1:37) Are you going to like work on planes?(1:40) No. (1:40) I can't imagine I ever would. (1:42) Why are you learning about planes so much?(1:44) And my reason for learning things is because certainty creates comfort and certainty creates control. (1:52) My flight to Toronto and back were the two best easiest flights I've ever taken. (1:56) I was the least nervous I've ever been.(1:58) I'm convinced because I've learned more about planes. (2:02) I've flown to Toronto how many times at this point? (2:05) I don't even know.(2:07) Enough. (2:07) Enough. (2:08) You might say well Kev it doesn't really make sense for you to learn about that.(2:11) Well for me the why is certainty and comfort and I would argue that that's a really good reason.

Alan Lazaros

(2:19) I think when you learn things and you understand how they work and why they work you you have control over them. (2:23) I would agree. (2:24) So your emotions go nuts when the plane takes off if there's turbulence but not anymore not as much as they used to because now you know that that's totally normal.

Kevin Palmieri

(2:33) The thing that used to get me is you know how when you get up to speed and then the front comes off and then you get to like the wiggle wiggle wiggle as the the wheels are leaving. (2:42) I didn't like that part. (2:43) The second you feel like the weightlessness it's like oh oh this is strange.(2:49) This is a strange feeling. (2:50) But this time it was like it really wasn't bad at all. (2:53) And what changed?(2:55) I just have more awareness. (2:58) I think I just have more awareness because I've spent time and I've invested time into into learning and maybe maybe it's not natural to connect when you learn about stuff to your fears. (3:09) I don't know but I think that's probably how I've always done it.(3:12) Well there's two things.

Alan Lazaros

(3:13) One is learning how things work and why they work that way. (3:16) The other thing is called exposure therapy which is actually experiencing it.

Kevin Palmieri

(3:19) Yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(3:20) Because there's one thing to know that planes are safe. (3:22) There's another thing to experience that planes are safe. (3:24) We coach relationship talks coaching.(3:27) Shout out to you. (3:29) I think she still listens. (3:31) She's a pilot and she's in planes all the time.(3:34) All over the world. (3:35) All the time. (3:36) And obviously she's not nervous.(3:38) Right. (3:39) But she's in a lot more control of the plane than you.

Kevin Palmieri

(3:42) I would say so. (3:44) Right. (3:44) Because she's she's driving that thing.(3:47) Exactly. (3:47) I'm just I watched uh a little bit of Knocked Up on the way home. (3:51) Great movie.(3:52) Great movie. (3:53) That's the level of control that I had.

Alan Lazaros

(3:57) Yeah. (3:58) I just thought of the scene. (4:00) Moon rocks.(4:01) Your earrings. (4:01) You take those off. (4:02) Moon rocks.

Kevin Palmieri

(4:03) Yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(4:03) Yeah. (4:03) It's a great that's a great movie. (4:05) It's it is funny.(4:07) It's a movie. (4:08) Hilarious. (4:08) Yeah.(4:08) It's a movie. (4:09) So why did we talk about this? (4:12) I was on a podcast earlier about storytelling and there was really good questions.(4:18) 15 minutes quick hits. (4:20) Why does someone who owns a business need to be good at storytelling? (4:23) What is a story brand?(4:25) How does it work? (4:26) What is three act structure? (4:27) And at the end he said is there anything we didn't talk about that you wish we did because my listeners need to know.(4:34) And I love that question because I always got something in the holster of course. (4:39) And I said most content out there is useless if you don't act on it. (4:48) And if you if you research this the subconscious and unconscious mind are 200,000 times more powerful than the conscious mind.(4:55) So learning it you will eventually probably act on it even if you don't aren't aware of it. (5:02) But I said that there's different types of content out there (5:07) and the top of the funnel the top of the business model the top of the the surface level (5:11) entertainment content particularly in the self-help self-improvement personal growth (5:15) personal development industry is very I've been watching neuroscience TED talks and then I've (5:21) gone down the neuroscience rabbit hole pretty much every morning for the last three weeks.(5:25) And I'm learning a ton but I find it useless not as useful if I don't apply it. (5:31) It's like okay what does this mean? (5:32) Am I going to eat something different now?(5:34) Am I going to do something different now? (5:35) Am I going to sleep different now? (5:37) Now that I know that now that I'm aware of that I have to actually take that awareness and put it into action.(5:42) And I think that at the top of the what I said on the podcast I said at the top of the content masses breadth large web is content that is inspiring and motivating. (5:58) So layer one is inspiring. (6:01) Layer two is it motivates you.(6:04) Layer three is it actually educates you. (6:08) You actually learn something new. (6:10) You are now aware of something that you weren't aware of before.(6:14) The last one and this is what we try to work on really well at NLU because I basically came to Kev a long time ago. (6:20) I coached someone who had listened to 500 episodes of the Hyperconscious podcast and I said our podcast sucks. (6:26) And Kevin and I have since debated about this.(6:28) He thinks that's his fault and I think that's our responsibility. (6:33) Oh the the the individual? (6:35) Yeah the listener.(6:35) It's like your responsibility. (6:36) Kevin thinks it's your responsibility to take action. (6:38) I think it's our responsibility to get you to take action.(6:42) And obviously it's in the middle right? (6:45) You can't force anyone to do anything but you can be a better fucking coach and podcaster to get someone like there is ways to get people off their ass to do something about stuff. (6:56) Like there is a way to do that.(6:57) And that's my job. (6:58) That's my goal with this episode right here. (7:00) If you do nothing with this I will be upset.(7:03) I will and I will put it on me. (7:05) We did a bad job if no one does anything with this. (7:07) So what are you going to do with this?(7:09) We have these communities and sub-communities like the fitness group. (7:13) Dude you can watch my Instagram, Facebook fitness videos. (7:18) You might get inspired and motivated.(7:20) Great. (7:20) You might learn a little something if you read the caption but you're not going to consistently do anything with it unless you're in the fitness group in my life. (7:30) We have people in the fitness group.(7:31) I'm certain when we post it's called your reference group. (7:36) Oh shit Alan's in the gym. (7:37) Kevin's in the gym.(7:38) Amy's in the gym. (7:39) Bianca's in the gym. (7:40) I should get my ass in the gym.(7:42) It's this peer pressure but a good form of it. (7:47) You have to leverage that last piece. (7:49) You have to have the good type of peer pressure.(7:53) I think and I'm actually trying to create an ecosystem within the next level of all ventures, the we communities of constant peer pressure but not in a negative way. (8:05) In a hey if you're lazy you're gonna know it. (8:09) Hey if you're lazy come on you're better than this.(8:11) Hey if you're not working out hey you could be. (8:13) Like I actually think that's really good. (8:15) If you're on an NFL team or in the MLB or in the Olympics and you have a bunch of Olympian gold medalist friends you're not going to be lazy.(8:24) Your reference group is going to force you to get off your ass and I think that's so important.

Kevin Palmieri

(8:30) I would concur. (8:31) I would concur with that. (8:32) I would uh so I worked out in Toronto at the hotel gym.(8:35) I wouldn't have gone if I wasn't one of the leaders of the fitness group. (8:39) No way. (8:40) It was like might as well.(8:43) It'll be inspiring.

Alan Lazaros

(8:44) Was there anyone else there who's in shape like you?

Kevin Palmieri

(8:48) Was there anybody who takes fitness as seriously as you? (8:51) Uh there was a couple people in above average shape. (8:54) I don't know if.(8:55) It's a yes or no question. (8:58) As serious as me? (8:59) No.(9:00) Nice. (9:01) Above the average? (9:03) Yes.(9:04) In between. (9:05) So you are a leader in that room. (9:08) Even if no one knows that.(9:10) Yes I would say so. (9:11) Real quick a shout out to each one of you who has donated to the Next Level Hope Foundation for our December 20th event. (9:19) Real quick Allen and I both grew up without fathers.(9:22) When we teamed up to start this whole thing we used to spend Father's Day together and then eventually it got to the point where we were like hey we should probably do this for kids who had experiences similar to ours. (9:34) So every single year we rent out the local YMCA for Father's Day as well as around Christmas time. (9:40) So we appreciate all of you that have donated and if you're interested we'll have the link below.(9:45) Again couldn't do it without you. (9:46) We appreciate you and you are literally helping to shape the lives of little kids and families whether you know it or not. (9:53) So super grateful.

Alan Lazaros

(9:54) I realize in hindsight so Kevin and I both donate as well and you asked me do I donate as the business or do I don't donate as me? (10:02) Yeah. (10:03) And you ended up donating as Next Level University.(10:06) It was supposed to be as you but I thought you were asking me which card to use.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:12) So I don't know what I was asking. (10:14) You were supposed to donate as Kevin Palmieri. (10:17) Well NLU's ponying up.(10:19) NLU is ponying up the dough. (10:20) But just know that that is me.

Alan Lazaros

(10:23) Yeah 100%. (10:23) Thank you seriously. (10:24) So I want to give a shout out to Nicole.(10:26) She just donated. (10:27) Thank you so much Nicole. (10:28) We appreciate it.(10:28) And she donated last year the year before. (10:30) We really appreciate it. (10:31) It means a lot.(10:32) Thank you. (10:32) It really means a lot. (10:33) Okay so I'm obviously pretty intense about the whole get off your ass thing.(10:43) I think that helps people. (10:45) I think everyone needs someone in their life who like holds a standard. (10:48) For me it's Emilia.(10:49) She's one of us always holds the line. (10:51) We've been exercising every day for coming up on four years. (10:53) 1,378 days today.(10:56) And I track it every day. (10:57) She tracks it. (10:58) Awesome.(10:58) Great. (10:59) Congratulations. (10:59) That's not my point.(11:00) My point is there's no way I was going to do that alone. (11:04) We hold each other accountable. (11:07) We did cardio two days in a row.(11:12) And then one of us always holds the line to make sure we weight train two days in a row. (11:16) Because we want to weight train every other day. (11:19) And so she called me out the other night because you and I recorded late when you were in the hotel.(11:22) I think it was 10 o'clock. (11:24) Yeah and she's like we're not are we going to go to the gym and then wake up and go again tomorrow morning. (11:28) Like that's stupid.(11:29) She said it nicer than that. (11:31) And I was like yeah. (11:32) Fuck.(11:34) I mean damn. (11:34) I'm trying to swear less. (11:36) And I was like yeah it's not optimal.(11:38) I know. (11:39) But we need to make sure we weight train twice then. (11:41) Saturday, Sunday.(11:42) We have to weight train both days. (11:44) She's like done. (11:45) I feel like if you don't have an accountability partner or a group that holds you accountable.(11:49) I have someone right now a client. (11:51) Shout out to you. (11:52) You know who you are.(11:53) She's sending me a screenshot of her calories every day. (11:57) And so real quick. (11:59) Let me pull this up.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:01) What if you do it long enough where it becomes your identity? (12:03) Then what?

Alan Lazaros

(12:04) Well then you need someone who's ahead of you that motivates you. (12:09) So because I had exercised every day but I was nothing compared to where I am now. (12:15) Yeah.(12:16) So it's important to like. (12:18) I really think it's important to get around people that make you feel insecure. (12:23) I think that's really important.(12:25) I do. (12:26) You know you work 60 hours a week every week. (12:29) It's great.(12:29) You're going to be a very successful man. (12:31) That's awesome. (12:32) But you wouldn't have done that on your own accord.(12:34) Like nobody does that on their own accord right? (12:36) Everyone at Apple works really hard because the leader sets the pace. (12:41) And leaders need leaders.(12:42) And I'm grateful Emilia sets the pace. (12:45) You know we need that. (12:47) All human beings need that.(12:48) I need that. (12:49) It's very important. (12:49) All right.(12:50) So let me pull this up. (12:51) Just FYI we have three minutes.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:53) Yes. (12:54) So podcast breakthrough session with someone after this. (12:56) Gotta be on time.(12:57) That's key number one. (12:59) Be on time. (13:00) You know it.

Alan Lazaros

(13:02) So 1,467 calories. (13:04) The budget was 1,400 and she sent me it. (13:07) She said oops didn't hit sent last night blah blah blah.(13:11) I said you were 67 over and now go 67 lower today period. (13:15) She said yep. (13:16) At the end of the day my clients and she's a client otherwise I wouldn't do that because that would be too many messages.(13:22) But if you are a client I have another client who is studying for a license an exam and he sends me his notes twice a day every day. (13:32) And he sends me his quiz score. (13:33) So he does review questions end of section quizzes or a test every single day leading up to this exam and I'm having him send me that every single day.(13:43) And I'm checking it every day. (13:44) It's important the accountability is so. (13:47) I gotta look at I gotta do some research about people with an accountability coach versus without.(13:54) I gotta look at the numbers. (13:55) Last I checked it was 700% more results for someone with a good coach.

Kevin Palmieri

(14:00) But good coach is the key there. (14:02) Like a really good coach. (14:04) I say that all the time when people say like how do you guys do an episode every day and blah blah.(14:08) It's like well number one I appreciate it. (14:09) Number two it's normal now. (14:10) It's in our identity.(14:12) It's in our branding. (14:13) One of us always holds the line even though we don't. (14:15) We always both hold the line.(14:17) I didn't want to record when I was in Toronto that late. (14:20) But you were there right. (14:22) You were there.

Alan Lazaros

(14:22) So that was harder for you than me.

Kevin Palmieri

(14:24) You were. (14:24) Oh for sure. (14:25) That was brutal.(14:25) That was a big deal man. (14:26) It's important that crosses over. (14:28) I've done.(14:29) I didn't even. (14:29) I had a moment the other day. (14:30) I've done 180 episodes of podcast growth you without missing every single week.(14:34) And I was like interesting. (14:35) I don't even know. (14:36) I don't even know that's how far it's been.(14:37) 180. (14:38) That's three and a half years or whatever. (14:41) That's awesome.(14:41) So all right. (14:42) We get a hop because I got to get on this call book club every single Saturday 1230 Eastern time. (14:46) We have the next level dreamliner dream line your way to success 90 days at a time quarterly.(14:53) I got feedback from a client. (14:55) They said it doesn't say 90 day 90 day journal on it anywhere. (15:00) And I said interesting.(15:02) What do you mean. (15:03) On the front doesn't say 90 days at a time or anything. (15:06) No it says it on the spine.(15:08) Oh I didn't see that I guess.

Alan Lazaros

(15:10) Achieve your dreams 90 days at a time. (15:11) Never mind. (15:12) Squad listeners next levelers.(15:15) If you want more accountability in 2026 join one of our sub communities. (15:19) They're free. (15:20) Masterclass book club fitness.(15:22) So much free. (15:23) So much free.

Kevin Palmieri

(15:24) So we will help you stay accountable for free. (15:28) And again not to not to pump our tires but we are two of the on the very very very high end of consistency for sure. (15:35) Like if you're going to have people leading a group of consistency.(15:38) We got you. (15:39) We got you. (15:40) I do take days off every day.(15:42) I do 2026. (15:43) I do take days off from the gym. (15:44) OK.

Alan Lazaros

(15:46) I'm in there in there every day 2026. (15:48) I'm in the fitness group. (15:49) I'll be in there every day.

Kevin Palmieri

(15:50) OK. (15:51) Well then I 26. (15:52) That's a challenge.(15:53) That's a challenge. (15:54) I'm willing to accept challenge accepted. (15:56) All right.(15:56) Reach out to us if you want access to that. (15:57) We don't put the WhatsApp link out because we don't want bots getting it and it's a whole thing. (16:02) So reach out to us directly a Lazarus 88 on Instagram at never quit kid on Instagram Kevin or Alan at next level universe dot com.(16:09) Those are our emails. (16:10) As always we love you. (16:11) We appreciate you grateful for each and every one of you.(16:13) And if you are as committed as you say you are to getting to the next level make sure you tune in tomorrow because we'll be here every single day to help you get there. (16:19) Keep leveling up to your true potential. (16:21) Next of the nation.(16:23) Thanks for joining us for another episode of Next Level University. (16:27) We love connecting with next level family.

Alan Lazaros

(16:30) We mean it when we say family. (16:32) If you ever need anything please reach out to us directly. (16:35) Everything you need to get a hold of us is in the show notes.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:39) Thank you again and we will talk to you tomorrow.