The Checklist To Becoming a Faster Learner

When you start your own business you may be require to keep learning new skills  to keep up with the market and this can be very valuable, but I get it, there’s never a moment to spare. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an edge and actually consume information and learn new skills faster?

This checklist will help you become a faster learner in any area:

1. Find someone with an edge.
I listen to Tim Ferriss’s podcast, the author of The 4-Hour Workweek and he mentions his new television show The Tim Ferriss
Experiment where he has to quickly learn a new language, how to drive a racecar and become a great poker player.

For him the challenge is learning enough of the new skills to be competent and not make a fool of himself on Television. And how does he do it? He says
the fastest way to learn something is to find someone who shouldn’t excel at a skill but does anyway. For example, a short basketball player:
What’s his trick? Understanding that you might have to go the least likely route to learn on the fly will help you overcome more obstacles in
your business. Look for the solutions that are a little counterintuitive.

2. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
When we’re trying to get a grip on something new, it’s easy to get bogged down by the details. Instead, try to focus on the big picture. If
you’re trying to learn a new language you should start with the most frequently used phrases. Once you grasp the key concepts, the rest should
flow more easily.

3. Chop up your big project.
Make small and attainable goals for yourself. That way you’ll be more likely to attain them and set yourself up for success. Having
defined deadlines with very actionable tasks will get you to the finish line faster or in time. For instance, if you need to learn new software, break down
all the ways it will help you during you day and learn to use it in pieces.

4. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
When you’re first starting out you should expect to do a bit of trial and error. Pushing yourself to get everything right just adds unnecessary
stress and pressure. Go easy on yourself.

5. Ask for help.
Pride has this habit of getting in our way. When we’re complete novices at something we often don’t mind looking for advice, how else will we learn. However, as soon as we start to find our feet, we suddenly stop asking for help. Why? Pride. Most people are happy to share some of their wisdom, so why stop asking for it now? I always like to reach out to the best of the best for any topic and often I’ll find that person is more than happy to give me a
helping hand.

6. Reward yourself.
Learning something new can be quite a big task. It something that requires time and dedication. You might find yourself going weeks without any
progress. So how do you keep up your moral and stay motivated? Make sure to reward yourself for each step you take, whether if feels like progression or not. It doesn’t have to be something huge, just enough to keep you going. Getting your hair done and attending a concert work well for personal bribery.

Original Source & Article http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/247222