| How is it that most people can still overlook good | | | | people discuss people, above ordinary people discuss |
| information? My theory is that people know | | | | events and extraordinary people discuss ideas. |
| knowledge is good for them but they just can't | | | | Evaluate whether a conversation is worth your time |
| seem to tolerate reading a book or digesting | | | | and if it's not get out of there.BOOKSCost: Ranked |
| information in a boring way. It's clear that most | | | | 3rd in cost. Why? Books are generally the cheapest |
| people find it easier to absorb television, movies and | | | | medium relative to the knowledge inside. A twenty |
| computer animation than they do books or audio | | | | dollar investment could reveal a lifetime of work in a |
| tapes.The more senses activated during an | | | | short period of time.Density: Ranked 2nd in Density. |
| experience the more likely it is the experience will | | | | Making it one of the densest forms of knowledge. |
| hold our attention. Attention is a vital component to | | | | Why? A well written book contains a storage house |
| absorbing knowledge.Why are you reading this right | | | | of organized data for a reader. Within the confines of |
| now? What's holding your attention? Are you just | | | | an average book a lot can be said.Ease of |
| different from the majority of people who don't | | | | Understanding: Ranked 7th Why? Books don't use |
| even take the time to read? Somewhere in your | | | | very many of the senses. Unless you learn how to |
| brain you've linked up pleasure with reading - or | | | | effectively read and employ as many of the senses |
| you've created a compelling enough reason to read | | | | as possible, reading becomes a challenge of |
| this. Reading the words written here employs only | | | | concentration. |
| one sense - your sense of sight. What are your | | | | Books remain by far one of the best ways to |
| other senses doing right now? What do your ears | | | | acquire large amounts of new data in a short period |
| hear? What do you feel - sitting there in your chair? | | | | of time. Books may also be substituted with some |
| What is the temperature like? Are you eating | | | | magazines and other periodicals. Again always |
| anything? What does your mouth taste like? What | | | | consider the source when determining the value. Full |
| do you smell right now? Now you've anchored more | | | | Potential will do more for your future than Harry |
| of the experience to this writing - but before you | | | | Potter. Fortunate magazine will do more for your |
| were somehow able to shut off your other senses | | | | future than The Enquirer.AUDIOCost: Ranked 4th. |
| while you focused on what I wrote here. One sense | | | | Why? Audio programs generally cost more than |
| was able to over rule the other four. That's quite a | | | | books. That's because perhaps more money goes |
| challenge, and it doesn't stop there.Your brain is also | | | | into their production, and the media costs slightly |
| trying to process what it sees written here, while at | | | | more than a book. Of course there are exceptions |
| the same time entertaining thoughts. If you read this | | | | like downloadable audio programs, etc.Density: |
| at a normal reading speed it's far too slow for your | | | | Ranked 3rd. Why? A good audio program is usually |
| brain to remain entertained for long, so your brain | | | | concise and fast paced. A lot of information has to |
| begins to wander. You start thinking about what you | | | | go into a sellable program and a lot of information |
| have to do next or what your day was like. So now | | | | can be packed into one CD. The average talking time |
| maintaining your attention isn't only a battle against | | | | is less than the average reading time. Most book |
| the other senses, but it's also a matter of maintaining | | | | audio programs are abridged versions of the book, |
| your physical sight over you mind's eye. Wow what a | | | | this mean's less information than the book.Ease of |
| huge responsibility on the writer! If after all that I still | | | | Understanding: Ranked 6th. Why? Audio programs |
| have your attention long enough to read this in full - | | | | employ the sense of sound. We remember less |
| I've done my job.You can see why reading is an | | | | when we hear it than when we see it. You could be |
| unpopular sport entertained by only a small circle of | | | | engaged in another activity and completely lose focus |
| intellectuals. It really is unfortunate I can't jump out at | | | | of what you were listening to. Audio programs unfold |
| you and make you use more of your senses while | | | | and you remain a passive listener. This makes |
| you read this. (Scratch and sniff anyone?) It's also | | | | focusing and learning challenging.Audio programs are a |
| unfortunate that the only books that seem to fully | | | | great way to change the learning tempo up if you've |
| use imagination are fantasy or fictional novels with | | | | been reading all day. It serves as a fantastic learning |
| little real life value.THE LEARNING MEDIUMSI've | | | | tool in the car, an excellent alternative to the radio. |
| compiled a list of learning mediums available to the | | | | It's also nice to relax, lie down at home and let the |
| average person today. I've assigned three main | | | | stereo do all the work.VIDEOCost: Ranked 5th. Why? |
| attributes to each learning medium.1. Cost2. Density3. | | | | Generally a lot of money goes into video production |
| Ease of Understanding.I've included a chart here to | | | | and the media is more expensive to produce.Density: |
| make better use of your visual sense and give you a | | | | Ranked 5th. Why? When audio and visual are used |
| clearer idea on how these mediums break down. Of | | | | producers generally employ more than one method |
| course keep in mind these are approximations and | | | | to explain the same thing. The speaker may say it, |
| the value of a knowledge medium can vary | | | | then show it with a chart, and then express it again |
| depending on the source.COSTThere is a Time and | | | | in another visual.Ease of Understanding: Ranked 4th |
| Money investment in each learning medium. This | | | | easiest to understand. Why? Video uses both the |
| should be taken into consideration when you evaluate | | | | visual and auditory senses. Although they may use |
| the other attributes that help you learn best. Time is | | | | more examples to explain something, this makes |
| more heavily weighted than money. Meaning time | | | | understanding easier. In some cases a video program |
| gets a higher priority. Money is renewable, time is not. | | | | is the best way to learn and grasp a new concept. A |
| You can't buy back time.DENSITYDo you remember | | | | video program may also be significantly less than |
| high school? Remember when you used to get | | | | alternatives like a seminar.LECTURECost: Ranked 6th. |
| homework and it seemed like you got a lot more | | | | Why? This medium is comparable to Seminars, but |
| stuff done by yourself than you did with a class | | | | the differences are enough to warrant it being in its |
| room teacher? That's because the teacher had to | | | | own category. College lectures can vary in price |
| make sure that 30 students understood the message | | | | depending on the college you attend.Density: Ranked |
| and would repeat the same thing over and over | | | | 4th. Why? A lecture doesn't allow for much of a |
| again in different ways. You could probably get | | | | feedback loop to be established - so it requires less |
| through more information in a book by yourself than | | | | time for more topics to be covered. Most lectures |
| you could with a teacher. That's because the book is | | | | simply allow for note taking. A lecture in this way is |
| denser with information than a classroom discussion. | | | | very comparable to an audio program except the |
| So in the same amount of reading time you could | | | | person giving a lecture may take time for questions |
| cover more topics than your teacher would be able | | | | or pause a few times to get feedback.Ease of |
| to cover. This is the basis of information | | | | Understanding: Ranked 5th. Why? A lecture is right in |
| density.EASE OF UNDERSTANDINGGoing back to the | | | | front of an audio program and right on the heels of a |
| high school example. What was nice about having a | | | | video program. A lecture provides stimulation of both |
| teacher, if you didn't understand what you read, the | | | | the auditory and visual senses. But it lacks the |
| teacher could make it clear until you did. The book | | | | exciting format of most video programs.Lectures can |
| might try to explain things in more than one way but | | | | be a great way to grasp up to date knowledge from |
| a teacher may be able to emphasize key points | | | | market leaders. If time sensitivity is an issue, |
| better than a book ever could just by tone, | | | | production cycles for Video or Audio may not be as |
| excitement or expression. So even though it took | | | | up to date as a live in-person lecture. Lectures may |
| longer to cover the same number of topics, it was | | | | also be the only way to access knowledge from |
| also easier to understand through the teacher than | | | | individuals who have never produced a program or |
| just going through your book. The teacher was able | | | | have no desire to do seminars for the mass |
| to employ your visual and auditory senses and do it | | | | market.SEMINARSCost: Ranked 7th in cost. Why? |
| in a congruent manner to help you understand the | | | | Seminars are usually hosted by the leaders that are in |
| course material. The learning approaches that employ | | | | high demand. The most successful speakers can ask |
| more of the senses, entertain or heighten our | | | | for thousands of dollars per ticket for a seminar that |
| emotions make learning easier. The strategies that | | | | lasts just a few hours. Seminars may also offer |
| make learning easier are the basis for Ease of | | | | additional optional purchases, increasing the cost of |
| Understanding.See the chart below and identify which | | | | the seminar.Density: Ranked 6th in Density. Why? |
| forms of learning are best for you. It may be one | | | | Most seminars are made to be fun and entertaining. |
| learning method or a combination. By at least | | | | Effective seminar speakers make sure everyone is |
| analyzing the knowledge mediums you'll have a | | | | involved. Much like the class room scenario this can |
| greater understanding on the best way for you to | | | | mean spending a lot of time covering the same |
| learn. This will help you improve your learning abilities | | | | concept in different ways.Ease of Understanding: |
| in the future. You can't improve what you're not | | | | Ranked 2nd in Ease. Why? Because seminars are so |
| aware of. And if you want to achieve any level of | | | | action packed, entertaining and raises emotional levels |
| success in this world there's no escape from learning. | | | | - a lot of information is retained. A dynamic |
| Superior information will always make the one who | | | | passionate speaker in person can actually help you |
| possesses it capable of superior action.Click here for | | | | remember more even if they give the same talk on |
| a full view. Study the chart. Your goal is to determine | | | | an audio or video tape. It's the difference of seeing a |
| the best ways for you to learn. And remember to | | | | football game on TV or seeing a football game live - |
| choose your sources of knowledge carefully. Learning | | | | you just get more excited close to the action. |
| starts with the medium and ends with the source. If | | | | Excitement makes it easier to engage yourself in the |
| your source is poor it doesn't matter which medium | | | | material and understand it.EXPERIENCECost: Ranked |
| you use. | | | | 8th in cost. This is the most expensive form of |
| Our strategy for evaluating each learning method is | | | | learning. Why? Real life experience can consume |
| based on personal experience and theory that seems | | | | many years and an entire fortune before a lesson is |
| to hold true for the greater majority. Your | | | | learned. The same lesson could have been learned by |
| experiences may have been different. If you | | | | observation in self analysis, picking up a book or |
| disagree with any method and challenge that perhaps | | | | attending a seminar before a mistake was ever |
| any of these mediums are completely the opposite | | | | made. You can either learn by example or learn by |
| for you - bravo! At least you're able to evaluate your | | | | mistake. |
| own learning methods and decide what works best | | | | Density: Ranked 8th in Density. Why? Because a |
| for you. That is the main point here.SELF | | | | serious amount of time and money can be invested |
| ANALYSISCost: Ranked 1st making it the least costly | | | | into one lesson. The density of the lesson can be |
| method of knowledge. Why? Considering the time | | | | stretched over such a long period of time. Even if |
| and money that go into other forms of knowledge | | | | the lesson learned was a powerful one the message |
| self analysis yields the most in the shortest amount | | | | can be condensed into a single book. Amazing isn't |
| of time. It's all in your head to begin with. The | | | | it?Ease of Understanding: Ranked 1st in Ease. Why? |
| processing speeds of your mind are the most | | | | Because an experience is first hand - every sense is |
| efficient method for learning in the world.Density: | | | | engaged. The message can be so clear that some |
| Ranked 1st in Density. Making it the densest form of | | | | messages literally knock you in the head.Of course |
| knowledge. Why? It gets this rating because the | | | | not all experiences can be observed or learned. Life is |
| knowledge depth, complexity and richness in your | | | | an experience. But in the case where a mistake could |
| mind are far vaster than any other knowledge | | | | have been avoided with available knowledge - the |
| base.Ease of Understanding: Ranked 8th in Ease. | | | | mistake is a costly investment of resources. I'm sure |
| Making this the most challenging method of learning. | | | | you would agree for example- starting a business |
| Why? Self analysis takes a great deal of thinking. It | | | | without taking advantage of the countless business |
| also requires breaking down walls. Going deep into | | | | and marketing resources available, resources |
| your mind and understanding the knowledge can take | | | | developed by experts who have fought it out in the |
| a lifetime.CONVERSATIONCost: Ranked 2nd least | | | | same trenches; would be an unnecessary investment |
| expensive (Unless you buy expensive dinners. | | | | at the school of hard knocks. |
| *smile*) Why? Conversation generally doesn't require | | | | Take advantage of the abundant sources of |
| any money. Remember the saying though, free | | | | knowledge around you.Many of these sources were |
| advice is usually worth what it cost you.Density: | | | | not possible 100 years ago. A CD was unheard of. A |
| Ranked 7th making it one of the least dense forms | | | | DVD sounded like a disease. Books were scarce. The |
| of knowledge. Why? A conversation can carry on for | | | | only real way to get knowledge was directly from |
| hours covering the same topic or going on tangents. | | | | the person who had earned it - and highly successful |
| It's challenge to rank this because conversations vary | | | | people were in short supply. We live in a golden age |
| so much. Some conversations can be very deep and | | | | of information. We are blessed with mass distribution |
| great new insights can be gained. In most cases | | | | in a variety of mediums. Seize the moment. Make |
| however, conversation is the one of the least dense | | | | constant learning a regular part of your life.This article |
| learning methods.Ease of Understanding: Ranked 3rd | | | | is part of the James Rick Daily Vitamin by James |
| in Ease. Why? Because in a conversation you and | | | | Rick, a daily blog that merges our understanding of |
| another person or group are continuously giving each | | | | spirit with the physical world. James Rick is author of |
| other feedback. This makes a conversation an | | | | Full Potential, a revolutionary guide to mastering your |
| effective way to learn. A conversation is very easy | | | | life in stages. He is also a motivational speaker, |
| way to understand and be understood. | | | | entrepreneur, and CEO of two international |
| Conversation is one source of knowledge you really | | | | ventures.More can be learned at JamesRick. |
| have to evaluate for quality. Remember: ordinary | | | | |