In the introduction to Kevin Trudeau's Your Wish Is Your Command, he explained four stages of learning which I have found to be uniquely helpful in looking at what needs to be known and learned. First, let's go over the definitions of the words we will use.

Conscious - Aware, knowing, awake
Competence - Skill, expertise, advanced, proficiency 
Unconscious - Unaware, not awake, not knowing
Incompetence - Lacking skill, amateurish 

The 4 stages of learning are:  

Conscious Incompetence - At some point in the learning process, you start becoming aware of what you don't know and are willing to seek knowledge beyond what you already possess. There is so much to learn and apply, especially in key areas that will determine your happiness, abundance and comfort. 

Conscious Competence - You begin thinking about the mechanics of learning something new. It is the ability to be aware of the growth in a trained skill. In the beginning, more time and attention is required to comprehend concepts and implement them in practice. You have the newly acquired information needed to accomplish a task, but you have to remind yourself of the steps or process involved. It doesn't come naturally.

Unconscious Competence -This is when you can operate at a mastered skill level without thinking about it. The terms "know like the back of your hand" or "it's second nature" or "it's like riding a bike" speak to this level of understanding. Once you learn, you will always be able to do it. 

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