The Art of Moving Without Mastery

Welcome to The New Mind Studio — your weekly space to think clearly, decide quickly, and act with confidence.

If you keep thinking, "I just need to read a bit more before I decide..." this is for you.

This week, we’re talking about taking action over hoarding information and a concept I love from the serial entrepreneur Pat Flynn: just-in-time information.

Let's get into it.

CONNECT

If you are a leader right now, you’re probably drowning in “learning”.

Articles on AI. Whitepapers. Podcasts. Slack threads. It can feel almost impossible to stay up to date.

A while ago, I fell straight into that trap too: Reading another article, saving another podcast, adding another course to my “later” list…

All in the name of “being prepared” and moving absolutely nowhere.

I believe this is one of the habits we need to adapt in this new era:
Not more learning, but different learning.

While searching for a better way, I came across a concept in Pat Flynn’s new book Lean Learning: just-in-time information. (It already sounds relieving, doesn’t it?)

Here’s the idea:

Instead of trying to learn everything you might one day need, you:

learn only what you need for your next step
use it right away
then learn the next small thing

You intentionally block everything else out.

Why it works:

Just-in-time information creates momentum when you'd normally freeze (hi, analysis paralysis). Your focus stays protected from "just in case" information. You learn in context, so it sticks.

You're not collecting information anymore. You're making real progress.

REFLECT

Here's how the just-in-time information loop works:

Step 1: Identify your next step

Just the very next move:

"Write a draft of the LinkedIn post."
"Test one new way to run my 1:1s."

Step 2: Gather the minimum information

Ask: "What's the smallest amount I need?"
One article. One prompt. One example.

Step 3: Take action

Use what you learned immediately.
Hit publish. Run the meeting. Send the email.

Step 4: Repeat
Think about what worked. Adjust. Move to the next step.

Just-in-Time Information loop by Pat Flynn

How to maintain focus (and actually move)

The 70% rule
Move when you’re about 70% sure.
Let the remaining 30% come from feedback, not more research.
Use a "for-later" system
Save interesting links, books, and ideas in one simple place (I use Evernote for this). You’re not deleting them, you’re parking them for later. Fun fact: 99% of the time, you won't revisit this folder, it just helps you move past the distraction.
Trust your chosen path (for now)
Once you’ve picked a next step, stick with it long enough to see a result.
You can always change direction later.
Set information boundaries
Decide upfront: "I'll give myself 20 minutes to research." "I'll use only one source."
Use FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) as a checkpoint
When you feel "I might miss something important," ask: "Is this helping my next step?" If it's anxiety, save it in your "for-later" system and get back to work.

GROW

This is one of the most important skills to relearn as you lead and navigate change. You’re learning in motion, in context, with your real work.

Here’s what just-in-time learning looked like for me recently:

I wanted clearer feedback in my next 1:1, so I skimmed one article on difficult conversations, picked three questions I liked, and used them immediately.
I wanted better newsletter automation, so I read one chapter on email distribution, updated my welcome flow, and tracked the results. (I can really recommend the book, by the way.)

Over time, small loops like this added up. My systems got better. My communication got clearer. And my mental load got lighter.