Leverage Maps #29: Framework-First Learning

Some of us learn best by understanding the underlying logic of a task before tackling how to implement it. If you've ever felt frustrated following step-by-step instructions, you might be a framework-first learner.

Imagine you need to replace your car's inner door handle. The instructions say: "Insert a flathead screwdriver and pry up the plastic panel."

A procedural learner follows this directly and moves on.

A framework-first learner immediately wonders: What's holding this panel in place? How do these fasteners actually work? What happens if something goes wrong?

For this type of learner, spending 10 minutes understanding how clip fasteners grip and release creates a mental model that makes every subsequent step clearer, faster, and more intuitive. When an unexpected issue, like the clip bending, happens, they can troubleshoot because they understand the mechanism.

However, don't confuse framework-first learning with procrastination or perfectionism. Building your ability to sustain focus and work through discomfort is what separates strategic foundation-building from avoidance.

When framework-first learners force themselves into purely linear, "just follow the steps" approaches, several things happen. Learning feels inefficient, motivation drops, problem-solving decreases, and knowledge doesn’t stick.

To suit this learning style, build the mental model first. Spend time understanding the key components and how they interact as well as the purpose of each step. Seek explanatory resources that explain the mechanisms or principles behind processes. Set limits on how much framework learning you do to avoid the issue of never starting or making minimal progress.