Roadblocks to learning are a myth. In this day and age, there is nothing stopping any person, regardless of age, skill, or perceived capability, from championing any skill desired. Only personal desire, direction, and focus hinder the learning path.
Want to learn how to draw? Bake a cake? Make a bookshelf for your kids? How about catch up on the most important skills for future advancement, success, and personal growth that weren’t effectively taught in school. Such as:
- Business Basics
- Networking
- Negotiation
- Critical Thinking
- Leadership
- Marketing
- Communication
- Finances
- Self-Awareness
The power to become a better you (hopefully to give back and make a better EVERYONE!) is at the tip of your fingers. Type, hit enter, and begin to let the waves of information roll over your entire being!
Sure, sure, but I’ve recently come to the conclusion that with this relatively unlimited resource comes a rather limiting sense of being overwhelmed. Where do I start? What do I do? How do I do it? There doesn’t seem to be a plan of action readily available to spearhead a new venture into LEARNING LAND.
Until now. This is the 18 Step process I use to Learn and Commit new skills. May it serve your curiosities and passions well!
18 Steps to Learning and Committing New Skills:
- Pick a Topic / Subject / Skill
- Search for Recommended Books Related to Subject
- Check Amazon for Reviews & Information
- Add to Potential “To-Read” List
- Rank Each Entry Based on Opinion, Reviews, Ratings, and # Comments
- Make Short List / Update Phone List App or Notes to Have a Tangible “To Buy List”
- Check Clearance Sections at Half-Priced Books, Goodwill, & online: Consider a rotation and be patient – stock changes and is unpredictable and fun!
- Before Buying Retail Priced, Check online again: Tax local tax vs. online shipping into consideration; Spending >$25 on Amazon nets no tax and free shipping
- Purchase and Queue in Library as “To-Read”
- Pick Book from To-Read List: Consider reading your highest rated books first
- Start Reading, Highlighting as You Go: Don’t stop to write down notes here, just mark/highlight and go forward
- Perform Preliminary Evaluation on Worth: If Not Worth It, then Rate as either “Junk” or “Limited Use”; if Rated as “Junk”, then File as “Done Reading” /// If Rated as “Limited Use”, then Speed Read to Completion /// If Worth It, then Continue On Reading to Completion
- Pretty Up the Notes: I usually “Word-ize” them and then convert to PDF (free Primo PDF)
- Re-read Notes and Sanitize: Correct glaring errors, fill in any necessary gaps, and make succinct; Take this time to review and commit the information
- Index-Card-ize Notes: Put the most-useful items on an index card to act as an “ah-ha” index to your learning; This also helps reinforce the key learning points and are “flash-cards” for practice
- Archive Notes and Index Cards: Consider categorizing items and putting in separate binders
- Perform Evaluation on Presentability: If Presentable, then Generate a Post or Video to Distribute /// If not Presentable, then File To Archive
- When Post/Video Complete – Archive
How can this help your growth?