Teach First, Master Later
Why Teaching Is the Ultimate Shortcut to True Mastery
We usually think of teaching as something you do once you've "made it." It’s the final act—something you do to give back, share your knowledge, or pay forward the wisdom you’ve earned. But what if we have it backward? What if teaching isn't just the end of the journey, but the best way to master something?
This idea struck me years ago, and the more I've explored it—both in practice and through the lives of people who've inspired me—the more convinced I've become that teaching is the secret path to mastery. Richard Feynman, the iconic physicist known for his Nobel Prize-winning work in quantum electrodynamics and the Manhattan Project, didn’t just master physics. He mastered teaching, which deepened his insight into physics itself.
The Feynman Technique: Teaching to Understand
Feynman's brilliance lay in his relentless effort to simplify complex ideas. His method was simple yet powerful:
Choose a concept.
Explain it plainly—as if teaching it to a child.
Identify gaps in your understanding.
Revisit and clarify until you can explain clearly.
“If you can’t explain something in simple terms, you don’t understand it,” Feynman famously said. This became his litmus test—not just what he knew, but how clearly he could communicate it.
I've applied this approach myself—professionally as CEO at B:Side and as an educator at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Teaching entrepreneurship and management isn't something I do because I have expertise; it's how I've developed that expertise. Each semester reminds me of gaps in my knowledge. Preparing lectures, answering student questions, and engaging in discussions force me to clarify my thinking about business, leadership, and decision-making.
Why I Teach
My passion for teaching at ASU isn't about imparting knowledge from above—it’s about lifelong learning. I teach precisely because I don't have all the answers. Facing my ignorance alongside my students is both challenging and rewarding.
Students frequently ask questions I’ve never considered, pushing me to refine my thinking. To deepen this learning, I challenge students to teach concepts back to me or their peers. They quickly see that understanding something deeply and clearly communicating it are distinct skills. This discomfort sparks genuine growth.
Developing Leaders at B:Side
At B:Side, we explicitly use the teaching-first philosophy for leadership development. Instead of merely instructing team members, we make them responsible for teaching and developing others.
When someone takes responsibility for another person's growth, their own development accelerates. They must clearly articulate their knowledge, anticipate questions, and deeply understand effective leadership. Teaching others sharpens their own capabilities profoundly.
Emerging leaders at B:Side quickly improve their communication, strategic thinking, and empathy. Teaching transforms from a task to a powerful developmental practice.
Try Teaching Yourself
You don’t need a formal opportunity to experience the power of teaching. Pick something you're currently working on—leadership, financial forecasting, or even a hobby—and teach it. Explain it to a colleague, friend, or simply aloud to yourself.
Getting stuck is the goal. These moments highlight precisely where your learning needs improvement.
Feynman’s legendary lectures at Caltech weren’t about demonstrating what he knew; they were about uncovering and clarifying what he didn't fully grasp yet.
Clarity Is Power
Teaching forces clarity. When explaining something, bluffing isn't an option. You must address fuzzy areas and clarify them. At B:Side, explaining SBA lending to clients or training new employees often reveals overlooked areas. These moments are opportunities for deeper learning, not flaws.
Teach to Grow
Teaching isn't about demonstrating expertise—it's about forging it. It’s a relentless cycle of explanation, confusion, revision, and clarity. Each teaching moment deepens your understanding.
This philosophy shapes my commitment as CEO and educator. Each interaction adds new depth to my understanding. Teaching isn’t something I do after mastery; it’s how I achieve mastery.
When you embrace teaching as the pathway, you become more than an expert—you become someone who never stops growing.
This is exactly how Feynman became Feynman—not by knowing everything, but by relentlessly pursuing clarity until he could explain ideas simply and honestly. Teaching isn’t just about mastering knowledge. It’s about mastering growth.