The Friday Brain Upgrade

How to eliminate mental fatigue, amplify cognitive performance, and become an unstoppable learner

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Turn Books Into Real Results: The Book-to-Action System

Ever feel like you’ve got shelves full of books but not much to show for it?

You’re not alone. Most of us buy books, highlight the good parts, maybe jot down some notes… and then what? Those great ideas just sit there, never making it into our actual lives.

The gap between reading and doing is where most of our learning goes to die.

I’ve been there too. I’ve spent countless hours with my nose in business books, highlighting like crazy, even writing detailed summaries. But when I looked back, I realized something frustrating: despite all that reading, I wasn’t actually using much of what I learned.

What You’ve Probably Tried Before

Maybe you’ve tried to read faster to get through more books. Or perhaps you’ve set up complex note-taking systems that you eventually abandoned. You might have even bought courses on better reading techniques.

But here’s the thing – the problem isn’t about reading more books. It’s about getting real value from the ones you do read.

Most reading approaches focus on taking in information, not putting it to use. They might help you understand ideas, but they rarely help you actually use them in your life.

A Better Way to Read Books

That’s why I created the Book-to-Action System. It’s not just another way to read – it’s a simple approach to pull out useful ideas from books and actually use them in your life.

How My Book-to-Action System Works

My approach is different from the start. When you open a book, you’re already thinking about how to use what you’re reading. Every time you highlight something, you ask yourself: “How could I use this in my life tomorrow?”

The system has three main parts:

1. Smart Reading Method - A way to get the best ideas from a book without wasting time on parts that don’t matter to you
2. Idea Sorting Tool - A simple way to organize the book’s best points so they make sense for your specific needs
3. Action Plan Creator - A step-by-step guide to turn those book ideas into real steps you can take right away

What makes this really powerful is how I use ready-made templates and AI assistants to speed up the process. I simply feed my book highlights and some basic info about myself into the templates, and with the help of AI, I get a personalized action plan tailored to my specific situation.

This three-part system helps bridge the gap between just knowing something and actually doing something with that knowledge.

Five Simple Steps to Make Books Useful

The Book-to-Action System works in five easy steps:

1. Read with purpose - Highlight parts that could actually help you in your life
2. Pull out the good stuff - Identify the most useful ideas for your specific situation
3. Make a simple plan - Create a straightforward roadmap for using these ideas
4. Take your first step - Schedule time to actually try out what you’ve learned
5. Adjust as you go - See what works, what doesn’t, and make it better

A Real Example: What I Did With One Business Book

The following short video runs through a live example of Book-to-Action I did for the book "Blue Ocean Strategy" applied to my business context.

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Recently, I used this system with Alex Hormozi’s “100M Offers” book. Instead of just understanding his ideas about creating irresistible offers, I turned them into a simple action plan:

A Clear Commitment

I created what I call a PACT: - A specific Purpose (what I wanted to achieve) - Actions I would take (with actual deadlines) - Ways to keep going (Continuous) - How I’d track my progress (Trackable)

Simple “If-Then” Plans

I made easy-to-follow rules like: - “IF someone asks about the price, THEN I’ll show them the full value they’re getting” - “IF people seem hesitant, THEN I’ll add an extra bonus just for them”

Setting Up for Success

I made it easy to follow through by: - Putting visual reminders where I’d see them - Creating simple checklists - Getting a friend to check in on my progress

And the best part? I did all of this in just 30 minutes after finishing the book.

Why This Approach Works Better

This system isn’t about reading more – it’s about getting more from what you read. And yes, it really only takes about 30 minutes.

Once you’ve finished reading and highlighting (which you’d do anyway), turning those highlights into a simple action plan takes less than half an hour. I’ve tested this myself many times.

This isn’t about rushing; it’s about making the most of your time without sacrificing quality.

Picture Your Reading Life, Reimagined

Imagine finishing a book and knowing exactly how to use its best ideas in your life. No more guilt about books you’ve read but never applied.

Instead, you have a simple approach that turns reading from a passive hobby into a tool for real change. Each book becomes a source of practical wisdom that makes a difference in your life and work.

Your knowledge builds up over time as you connect ideas from different books. You build a personal collection of useful insights you can tap into whenever you need them.

Best of all, you get to experience the satisfaction of seeing book knowledge create actual results—whether that’s growing your business, getting more done, or improving yourself.

Want to Learn More?

Would a simple system that turns book highlights into doable action plans in under 30 minutes change how you read?

If you’re tired of reading books that don’t lead to real changes and want to know more, just reply to this newsletter with “Book to Action” and I’ll share more details about how this system works and how you might use it yourself.

Don’t let another great book idea go to waste. It’s time to bridge the gap between reading and doing.

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Learn Smart, Basti

P.S.

——— THE NARRATIVE for Future-Proof Thinkers In a world where most knowledge workers are drowning in information while starving for wisdom, a new approach is emerging. The old way - scattered notes, forgotten insights, and constant overwhelm - is giving way to something more powerful: the path of the Future-Proof Thinker.

Future-Proof Thinkers have mastered their learning ecosystem, creating a system where knowledge compounds over time rather than fading away. They’ve integrated AI as a thinking partner rather than a threat. They’ve reclaimed their curiosity and joy in learning.

The Learning Ecosystem Mastery Program is your gateway to becoming a Future-Proof Thinker.

Through three interconnected territories:
→ Mindset Mastery
→ Knowledge System Mastery, and
→ AI Enhancement

you’ll build a comprehensive system that transforms how you learn, think, and create.

This isn’t just another course - it’s a complete world to explore, with ongoing discoveries, community connections, and evolving insights that will keep you at the forefront of knowledge work for years to come.

———

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P.P.S… To respond to this newsletter, just hit reply. I love getting replies, read all of them, and reply to as many as possible(And if you received this email from a friend, and would like to subscribe, please go here: https://pages.quintsmart.com/)

I will publish my newsletter every Friday at about 13:00 o’clock CET. See you next Friday.

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