The speaker, a science YouTuber, shares his experience running a programming puzzle on his YouTube channel to prove that anyone could learn to code. He asked 50,000 followers to solve a maze using code blocks representing programming operations like if-else statements and while loops. However, he didn't want to prove that anyone could learn to code; instead, he wanted to test the learning process. He served two versions of the puzzle: one where followers lost points for failed attempts, and another where they didn't. The results showed that those not penalized for failed attempts had a success rate of 68%, while those who were penalized had a success rate of around 52%. This led the speaker to conclude that framing the learning process in a way that doesn't concern oneself with failure can lead to more success and learning. He uses the example of Super Mario Brothers, where players focus on the end goal (rescuing the princess) rather than the potential failures (falling into pits). He applies this concept to his own life and career, including a three-year project to create a dartboard that could always hit the bullseye. The speaker concludes by suggesting that by shifting our focus to the end goal and treating life's challenges like video games, we can learn more and see more success.
1. The speaker created a programming puzzle for his YouTube followers, aiming to prove that people from any background can learn to code.
2. The puzzle involved getting a car across a maze using code blocks representing computer programming operations such as if-else statements and while loops.
3. The speaker randomly served up two versions of the puzzle to his followers. In one version, if a participant was unsuccessful, they didn't lose any of their starting 200 points. In the other, if unsuccessful, they lost 5 points.
4. From the 50,000 data points collected, the success rate for those who were penalized for failed attempts was around 52%. For those who were not penalized, the success rate was 68%, a statistically significant 60% delta.
5. The speaker observed that those who didn't see failure in a negative light nearly had two and a half times more attempts to solve the puzzle as a result.
6. The speaker concluded that the trick to learning more and having more success is finding the right way to frame the learning process.
7. The speaker shared examples from his personal experience, such as creating a dartboard where you could get a bullseye every time, which took him three years to complete.
8. The speaker believes that reframing challenges and focusing on the cool end goal often takes away the fear of failure, making learning come more naturally.
9. The speaker suggests that life's challenges should look like the bottom version (failing and failing and failing and eventually succeeding), rather than the top version (achieving the desired result immediately).
10. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of shifting your focus to the end goal and treating your life's challenges like video games, to trick your brain and actually learn more and see more success.