Lean Learning by Pat Flynn: Achieving More through Different Approaches
Introduction: Lean Learning by Pat Flynn
Have you ever signed up for an online course, watched 20% of the videos, and then bought a second course before finishing the first? I have. Once, I spent €300 on a “Masterclass for Productivity” while putting off actual work. That’s when I found Lean Learning by Pat Flynn—a book that says you can achieve more by learning less.
Sounds suspicious, right? Like those diet pills that promise you can eat cake and lose weight. But when I read Lean Learning by Pat Flynn, I realised it wasn’t magic. It was about cutting away the noise so the signal gets stronger.
Table of Content
The Overload Problem: A Tale from My Atelier
I run a sewing atelier in Vienna. I once bought five online embroidery courses. I thought each would help me master my Brother embroidery machine. Guess what? I finished none of them. The USB stick with half-downloaded patterns still haunts me.
This was classic “information hoarding.” In Lean Learning by Pat Flynn, he calls it the false safety of learning . We keep consuming because it feels like we’re making progress. But it’s procrastination.
Flynn is right. A 2019 Microsoft study showed the average person checks their phone 96 times a day . That’s 96 distractions that could have brought me closer to finishing a hoodie.
The Core Idea: Just-in-Time Learning
Flynn’s main idea in Lean Learning by Pat Flynn is just-in-time learning . Learn what you need only when you need it. Not before, not “someday,” and not for fun.
Once I stopped binge-watching embroidery videos, I wondered, “What’s next?” The answer was threading the machine. I learned that—one tutorial, 15 minutes, done. No binge, no fluff. Progress.
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Stories Pat Uses (and How They Landed with Me)
Pat Flynn shares the tale of George and Terry. George works on his golf swings, while Terry reads golf magazines. George wins. That story hit me hard. I've often been like Terry in my creative work—always researching but not taking action.
But here’s my take: Terry likely had superior Pinterest boards. So while Flynn is right about action beating theory, balance matters. Sometimes research is rest, and sometimes it’s avoidance. The trick is knowing which.
The “Force Function” trick
- Flynn introduces voluntary force functions. Trap yourself into action by setting deadlines, organising sprints, and establishing accountability.
- I tried this when launching Mintimonks’ first embroidered hoodie line. I didn’t wait for the perfect moment. I informed three clients that their hoodies would be ready on Friday. That was Tuesday. With only 72 hours, I had no choice but to focus. And it worked.
- Flynn’s warning is smart: don’t shout your goals to everyone. Research shows that sharing goals publicly can deceive your brain. It makes you feel like you’ve already completed the work. So, tell the right people—the ones whose disappointment you actually fear.
Critics & Caveats
- Not everyone loves Lean Learning by Pat Flynn. On Goodreads, reviewers rate it between 3.9 and 4.4 stars. Many say the advice is practical, but some feel Flynn often drifts into entrepreneurship, losing focus on “learning.”
- Another criticism is that “lean” can sound like a corporate buzzword. Lean thinking (from Toyota production) has faced criticism for causing stress in workplaces. Applied to personal growth, there’s a risk of squeezing joy out of curiosity.
- I partly agree. If I only learned “just-in-time,” I’d miss fun detours, like the history of Japanese sashiko stitching. These inspire my embroidery designs. Flynn’s system is strong, but curiosity deserves space.
Stats that back it up.
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The University of California says that the average knowledge worker changes tasks every 3 minutes. That’s not learning—that’s chaos.
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LinkedIn’s 2023 Workplace Report shows 57% of employees feel overwhelmed by the amount of learning content available. That backs up Flynn’s thesis in numbers.
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In the U.S., people spend an average of 7 hours daily online—often consuming learning passively, rather than engaging with it actively.
The message from Lean Learning by Pat Flynn? Trim the fat and take your time while chewing.
Where Pat Flynn nails it.
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Do first, learn later – scary but liberating.
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Teaching = Learning – Flynn suggests teaching enforces mastery. I tested this by running a beginner’s embroidery workshop. The students asked questions I hadn’t considered, which deepened my skills.
Micro-Mastery – Small wins stack up faster than binge-learning marathons.
Where he's too optimistic.
Pat Flynn sometimes implies that less learning equals instant productivity. But real life is messy. Mistakes hurt, and experiments can fail. It’s not always a clean leap.
My addition? Build in reflection time. Otherwise, “lean” becomes “rush.”
As Seth Godin says: “Learning is not the same as education, and education is not the same as learning.” We need both—knowledge and lived experiences.
Summary
Lean Learning by Pat Flynn is a wake-up call for anyone drowning in courses, podcasts, or bookmarks. The book champions just-in-time learning, force functions, and teaching as growth multipliers.
But here’s the nuance: don’t starve curiosity. Balance lean learning with playful exploration. Progress thrives not on cutting, but on savouring.
The Author:
I’m Vanya, founder of Mintimonks, a sewing atelier and conscious streetwear brand. Reading Lean Learning by Pat Flynn reminded me that buying 10 embroidery tutorials won’t make one hoodie. Doing does. Flynn’s lesson is strong, but my key point is gentler: learn what you need, when you need it. Also, make room for curiosity to surprise you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lean Learning by Pat Flynn only for entrepreneurs?
No, but entrepreneurs are his main audience. The principles apply to artists, students, and anyone tired of course hoarding.
Can I still read for fun?
Yes! Flynn warns against paralysis, not joy. Distinguish between learning for curiosity and learning to avoid doing.
What’s the first step?
Pick one goal. Learn the one thing you need for it. Do it. Then repeat.
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