‍The fastest learners are unburdened by embarrassment.

Think about the last time you were learning something new — a language, a sport, or a skill. Did you hold back from asking questions or practicing in front of others out of fear of looking foolish? Most do.

As Thomas Newkirk put it:
"Embarrassment is a true enemy of learning."
It blocks full engagement with the learning process. It stops us from making the mistakes that growth demands.

Fast learners understand this. They know embarrassment is just temporary discomfort. They’re willing to look silly, ask "dumb" questions, and fail publicly — because that’s where the real growth happens.

They live Alain de Botton’s truth:
"Anyone who isn't embarrassed by who they were last year probably isn't learning enough."

This is the mindset shift:
It’s not that fast learners don’t feel embarrassed — they just don’t let it stop them. They see discomfort as progress. A signal that they’re stretching beyond their current limits.

So if you want to learn faster, start with your relationship to embarrassment.

Don’t avoid it — use it. Ask the questions others won’t. Practice in public, even when you’re not ready. Make mistakes loudly.

Because the sting of embarrassment is nothing compared to the speed of growth that follows.

The fastest learners aren’t those who never feel embarrassed — they’re the ones who feel it and move forward anyway.