Feynman Technique
Understand by teaching—explain simply, find gaps, refine.
Explanation
Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman believed that if you truly understand something, you should be able to explain it in simple terms that anyone can understand. The process of trying to teach something reveals gaps in your knowledge that you didn't know existed. If you can't explain it simply, you probably don't understand it as well as you think.
Real-World Example
Think you understand blockchain? Explain it to a 12-year-old. Can't? You memorized jargon, not concepts. Feynman taught complex physics using simple analogies: electrons as spinning plates, particles as rubber bands. If the expert can't explain simply, they're not an expert—they're a memorizer.
How to Apply
1) Choose concept. 2) Write explanation for a child. 3) Identify gaps where you used jargon or hand-waving. 4) Research those gaps. 5) Simplify further. 6) Try teaching someone. Their questions reveal remaining gaps. Test: Can grandma understand your explanation? If not, keep refining.