Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Learning is good as it leads to better performance and other beneficial things. There are tools available that accelerate learning. Let’s use those.

I try to learn. Sometimes I forget to learn. Yes, fatigue clobbers my mind and I simply forget to notice things, store them, and use them.

There are tools that help me to learn. These tools accelerate learning. Some examples:

Keep 3×5 cards and a pencil in my shirt pocket at all times. See something; note it.

Wear a charm bracelet. Each charm on the bracelet is a reminder of something that I might otherwise forget.

Keep cheat sheets in a notebook that is always with me. What was that four-key shortcut to do something important? It’s on the cheat sheet. What was that question that I should ask at the end of a meeting? It’s on the cheat sheet.

Wear a great big set of notes on a sleeve. Hey, pro athletes who are paid $20 million a year wear them. Why can’t I?

A shirt that has all the important reminders printed on it upside down. When I glance down at me odd shirt, I can read the reminders.

Put a picture of someone I respect on the wall of the conference room. That person is watching me while I’m in meetings. That person would tell me, “Dwayne, don’t forget to …”

The list can continue. The list is different for every person. Accelerate learning. We can do this.