beat guessing with rapid testing

Recently I bought a new HD antenna. In theory it comes with a reusable adhesive that sticks to walls and other surfaces. I hypothesized endlessly about the probability of the adhesive solution holding the antenna to the wall and the associated TV reception.  My words multiplied but never provided any verification on the key question. Will it work? Nothing proved more effective than simply testing it. When it arrived, the antenna fell off the wall repeatedly because the texture didn’t allow the proper hold. I improvised with some small adhesive hooks and moved on. Instead of the endless debate, just test quickly and move forward.

start with the basics to accelerate learning

I had never made a real effort to solve a Rubik’s Cube. As a result the puzzle held an elevated status in my mind as a measure of intelligence. This year I decided to not only solve it, but to understand the puzzle. I found and tried to follow three different cube solutions simultaneously. It helped me understand the cube a bit, but was too much information for my novice attempt. How did I solve it the first time? I identified the instructions that were most clear to me and followed them through to the end. I understood the total process better and quicker by completing it once rather than trying to understand all the intricacies from the start.

let work work for you

I subscribed to a daily newsletter through work which provides me with regular content that is sometimes prepped for social media. I schedule these articles through an app to post on a regular basis to LinkedIn and build my positioning as an expert on the topics I care about. It takes little time and I don't have to search for the content. It's served to me ready-made.

learn by doing

Do you need to learn how to use an app? Are you trying to understand a multi-step math problem? Do you want to memorize a recipe? You'll gain more insight and better memorize the content by also physically doing and not just reading the instructions.

lunch and learn to level up

I invited two colleagues to lunch with me to share some work resources and information. The resulting conversation was better and I gleaned more knowledge from the two more experienced individuals. I didn't have to carry the conversation as they were eager to share their experiences. Being able to listen in on the conversation was far more beneficial than listening to myself talk. I got customer questions answered and eliminated one from my to-do list. As a bonus work paid for lunch. If lunch with a colleague is intimidating or you don’t have the requisite knowledge to drive the conversation, invite a third person to carry the conversation for you. If you have one or two questions you would like answered the two professionals will pour the knowledge on you as they converse.

reduce, reuse, and recycle

It’s not just a memory tool trying to be clever while brainwashing young kids. It’s also a great strategy for life. Reduce your work by reusing and recycling it. Because I saved emails and organized my folders I found training guides that provided all the content I need to plan the next couple months of training. My boss asked me to put together some way to track my learning and these guides do most of the work for me. It also let me get on with the learning and not spend more time on the planning than necessary.

take control of the conversation

During a call with my manager she wasn't giving any direction, so I helped. Instead of letting my boss continue fumbling around the conversation and slowly telling me she didn't know what direction to give, I broke in and suggested my next steps. The conversation ended at least ten minutes ahead of schedule. By having a plan for myself and taking initiative I set my direction and made a potentially long, difficult call short and easy. Also, don’t underestimate the unnecessary work I prevented for myself in the future by setting my own direction.

debrief with the team for additional insights

By going through a debrief of my first demo with colleagues, I discovered that I have a wealth of knowledge I can share even with more experienced colleagues. Going through the process can reveal learnings you would not get otherwise.

leverage your team

If it's a team effort, make a team showing of togetherness. In one meeting some questions didn't get answered because certain team members left early. As an added bonus, you can learn more by paying attention to the other portions of the team project than just your own.

learn by doing

Go and do. A live performance or competition will show you exactly what you know and where you stand in your abilities. Put yourself in front of a real audience who will judge you. You will learn things no study or practice test can teach you.

if you need more space, choose a different seat

Most of us don’t get to fly business or first class. It’s a statistical fact. Most of the seats on a plane are in coach class. While business class allocates more room per seat, it’s not the only place on the plane with extra space. Choose the exit row or first row behind business class to get more space to work on a flight. Exit rows provide more leg room, a better flight experience, and more space to work or read on the flight.

you need rest

Working too many hours has negative consequences. Burn out starts to happen if you don't moderate your work. It kills cognitive power and motivation to do your best work. Maximize the productive hours and you will deliver higher quality results more frequently than a brute force approach. This philosophy is applicable in days, weeks, and months.

summarize your key points in writing to improve mastery

Write down what you want to say. I memorized and learned more of my presentation by spending time writing out my thoughts. I memorized the concepts faster than if I'd copied key messages from somewhere else.

you're more efficient when the time is precious

I was working on the weekend when I had a realization. I was more efficient in my work when it was eating up my precious weekend. Think of 9-5 Monday - Friday as weekend time to preserve your personal time by working more effectively and efficiently.

see what you can do first with the resources you have now

Work with what you have. I didn't spend $200 to change my flight and attended the part of the meeting I could. I saved money and obtained all the value I was going to get from the first part of the meeting. It turned out the meeting only went to noon and I obtained most of the info I needed from a fraction of the time.

ask the necessary question

I asked a question about a point that was unclear. The resulting conversation realigned the focus of the team and increased my understanding of my responsibilities. It also gave me insight into how I might address the subject going forward. Sometimes you don’t understand, not because you’re less capable, but rather communication has not been sufficient.

communicate clearly to move faster

While working on a project I had many things to do. I told a colleague about a meeting I was invited to and she took my place on it. I saved 45 minutes on a call by delegating to someone else. Good communication will accelerate answers and remove obstacles.

know the theory, gain the unfair advantage

Knowing the theory of a discipline gives you an unfair advantage when discussing related topics or particularly subjects that rely on the foundational theory. A recent story serves as an example. I joined a call discussing some work requirements. All the people on the call have been working with the current company and product longer than I. However, I contributed significantly to the conversation because I know more about accounting than most of my peers.

before you throw away a solution, make sure you're using it correctly

I bought a new chair, the HÅG Capisco. The first time I sat on it I felt like the included hydraulic seat post was too tall. The sitting angle was unlike any chair I’ve ever used. Honestly, it felt wrong. I started down the path of ordering a shorter stem sold for the chair. Before going through that bit of trouble I decided to check the instructions for further adjustments. I found an instruction booklet under the seat. It showed how to adjust the chair for proper height and gave a key explanation. Reading the instructions to understand proper design and use of the chair prevented me from spending money or time on obtaining a new piston for the chair. It's supposed to be that tall.

use the right tools for the job

The right tools make the job easier. To edit my video presentation I needed to select and delete sections of the recording. While it required more time than expected, the video editing tool was simple and intuitive. This allowed me to quickly create an edited, polished, professional video presentation with no training.