The Secret to Mastery? Give It All Away

A personal journey from high school tutoring to teaching professionally reveals a profound truth: the fastest way to master anything is to teach it. Discover why sharing knowledge creates abundance, not scarcity, and how giving freely accelerates your own growth.

Alvin Cheung

Nov 24, 2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The High School Lesson

The Master Teacher

What I've Learned

The Real Challenge

Hey friend,

Let me ask you something: Would you share your hard-earned knowledge with a stranger?

I was having conversation with a friend recently, and we got into this fascinating debate. Especially when it comes to knowledge that pays the bills—you know, the stuff that took you years to figure out. Share it freely, and won't you run out of "secret sauce"?

That question took me back to two moments in my life that completely changed how I think about knowledge.

The High School Lesson

Back in high school, I wasn't exactly a star student. But one day, I decided to help a classmate prepare for an upcoming test. I'm talking full commitment here—sharing every trick, every shortcut, every hard-won insight I had. The kind of stuff I wished someone had told me earlier.

The result? He improved... a little. Not the dramatic transformation I'd hoped for.

And here's the thing: this happened again and again. I learned something crucial: just because you want to teach doesn't mean people will absorb it. Knowledge transfer isn't automatic. It's not about what you give; it's about what they can receive.

The Master Teacher

Fast forward to five years ago. I met someone I'd call a knowledge master. This person generously shared insights that literally transformed how I work and think. I'm deeply grateful for that.

But here's what's interesting: he rarely shared these gems with just anyone. "This knowledge cost me dearly," he once told me. Yet even with all that generosity, did I absorb everything perfectly? Watching his subtle reactions, I could tell—not quite.

But he let me in on a secret that day: "The fastest way to learn something is to teach it."

What I've Learned

After years of teaching, coaching, and learning from books and experience, I've come to believe one thing: "To receive what you want, you must first give it away."

Here's what I've discovered:

1. The more you share, the deeper you understand

Every time I teach something, I understand it better. As a teacher these past few years, I've proven this to myself over and over.

2. Sharing creates abundance, not scarcity

The more I give away on social platforms and in my work, the more new knowledge flows back to me. It's like the universe has a way of rewarding generosity with curiosity.

3. The best teachers create more teachers

I'm not interested in hoarding knowledge anymore. I want to become a teacher who raises other teachers. That's the real legacy.

The Real Challenge

So I'm not worried anymore about what to share or what to keep. The real challenge? How to share so people can actually absorb it. That's the hard part worth solving.

If you want to become truly knowledgeable and capable, what would you choose?

My advice? Share freely. It's your shortcut to growth.

The knowledge you give away is never lost—it's multiplied. In teaching others, you teach yourself. In helping others grow, you grow exponentially.

So go ahead, share what you know. The world needs your insights more than you think.

What's one thing you've learned recently that you could teach someone else today? Sometimes the best way to solidify our own understanding is simply to pass it forward.

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Alvin Cheung

I'm Alvin Cheung, an IT pro with 15+ years helping businesses level up their tech. I love finding everyday wisdom and exploring how tech and spirituality can enhance our lives. When I'm not geeking out on IT solutions, I'm sharing stories about personal growth and life lessons. Email: alvin.cheung@nstrlabs.com