Can you identify gaps - and worse, misconceptions - that you don't know you have?
I think you can "debug" yourself, to some extent, starting with what you do know: you have trouble with that something . Start with the symptom, and diagnose. Narrow down where the problem occurs, by attempting sub-parts of the problem, simpler versions, and prerequisites.
If you can't identify it, it's a sign that the problem is not where you think itis. i.e. you have a misconception about something you think you know.
Then, there are many resources available to try to remedy it: textbooks, courses, subreddits, stackexchanges.
Of course... so much easier to have a perceptive coach who can instantly see where and why you stumble.
One thing about the 2 sigma effect of tutoring is that it doesn't generalize; it doesn't make you smarter, just better at what you were taught. A different mechanism, but similar effect is learning the "trick" of solving a puzzle/problem - you just look smarter (and, well, know that specific trick).
In other words, tutoring is spoon-feeding.
This is still great, if you need that skill for something, such as for a specific technical job, or in order to learn something subsequent at which you are talented.
Yet, tutoring seldom makes someone dumber. And a good tutor doesn't spoon feed.
At a meta-level, an intelligent person wants to solve problems, or increase their ability to solve problems. So an intelligent motivated person would appreciate anyone more familiar with a subject strategically removing some of the friction.
Even if it didn't make them innately smarter.
Time, after all, is finite for us all. And nothing is worse for learning, than an unnecessary stall. — Nevermark
Can you identify gaps - and worse, misconceptions - that you don't know you have?
I think you can "debug" yourself, to some extent, starting with what you do know: you have trouble with that something . Start with the symptom, and diagnose. Narrow down where the problem occurs, by attempting sub-parts of the problem, simpler versions, and prerequisites.
If you can't identify it, it's a sign that the problem is not where you think itis. i.e. you have a misconception about something you think you know.
Then, there are many resources available to try to remedy it: textbooks, courses, subreddits, stackexchanges.
Of course... so much easier to have a perceptive coach who can instantly see where and why you stumble.