What if we measured learning not by time spent in class, but by what we can actually do?

In his book, Mastery: Why Deeper Learning Is Essential in an Age of Distraction, Tony Wagner critiques an education system focused on grades and tests, arguing it leaves us unprepared. He champions "mastery learning," where individuals progress only when they can use what they've learned, fostering deeper motivation and real-world readiness.

As Tony shared on our podcast, this shift moves us toward curiosity, creativity, and purpose. This is where the entrepreneurial mindset becomes a tool for direct action. We don't have to wait for the system to change. By embracing the courage to learn by doing, we can restore agency to our own learning journeys and pursue an education that truly prepares us for work, citizenship, and life.

An entrepreneurial mindset means facing constant ambiguity, and many of us are conditioned to view this with a negativity bias. That is, we tend to ruminate on threats, failures, and unfinished tasks. This "stress loop" can be exhausting and block new learning.

How can we arrest this cycle? Enter: the "Three Good Things" exercise, developed by positive psychology founder Dr. Martin Seligman.

The tool's practice is simple:

Before bed, write down three things that went well, no matter how small. The critical step is to reflect on why they happened.

This isn't just "thinking positive;" it is an active process of intentional closure. It trains your brain to find and encode progress, shifting your nervous system from "fight or flight" to "rest and digest." It’s how you build resilience, teach your mind to rest, and wake up ready to learn from the next day's challenges. Ultimately, this is a practical tool for taking agency over how we process our day.