Rapid Fire Learning | January 2007

Quick! What are 5 things you've learned so far in January, 2007?

Keia manawa - Seize the moment: This is a right here and now stream of conciousness exercise.

You've learned way more than 5 things, (trust me, you have) but the first five you can now think of are likely the ones that have made the biggest impression on you this month, and they are worth tracking, they are your JJL01.07 FIVE!

Mine are:

1. How to use Near-Time, a web-based, collaborative project management site (thank you Greg!)
2. That every MWA speech I do is one of a kind. Theoretically I have a "core speech" I must be hitting the 500 mark with by now, however in my case, "one of a kind" is far better anyway. I learned I mess myself up too much when I try to duplicate too precisely, far less flow.
   
3. That journaling can actually be a dynamite research tool (mahalo again Greg!)
4. That even though I LOVE teaching and do it near daily, loving it is not enough in doing it well. Must continually work at improving my methods.
5. A better way to use QuickBooks (thank you Craig and Lester!)

Share your 5 - Rapid Fire Learning can spark some community fires here! Feel free to add your links too, or trackback here from a Rapid Fire Learning list for January at your own blog.

5 days left to January as of this writing - Comments and trackbacks on this post will be closed at midnight on the 31st!

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Post Author; Rosa Say. Click her name in the category links for her full JJL index of articles.

Somewhat related to this; Learning Through Blog Forums
First post for 2007 (by Rosa); The Year of the Joyful Learner

Comments

[Andrew Hartley]

I've learned:

1) I need to improve my follow-through on goals and tasks that I have set for myself.

2) Sometimes it is easier to go with the flow at a job you aren't attached to.

3) I'm not attached to my current J.O.B.

4) Deluding oneself into thinking that something doesn't matter (even though it ABSOLUTELY does matter) causes stress and frustration.

5) I'm less focused on financial security (i.e. a secure job) that I thought I was.

This was an interesting excercise... thanks for it!

Andrew
www.crescendoholdings.com
www.koacocards.com
www.aviationofbusiness.com

[Rosa Say]

Good stuff Andrew; thank you for being the first brave one to respond!

Stream of consciousness folks; you're thinking too hard! Join Andrew and I and share your list! What have you learned this month?

[Greg Balanko-Dickson]

1) Think big and let loving, caring and committed people like Rosa and Toni help.

2) Step into your dream.

3) Do not over think it, just do it.

4) When in doubt see #1.

5) I am going to change the world of business.

[Blaine Collins]

1. Time away from work, off-line, with family and friends and occasionally alone, is refreshing, liberating, and renewing.
2. Home improvement projects enhance appreciation for one's surroundings, and leave a sense of productivity and accomplishment.
3. Too much holiday spending can lead to January remorse.
4. Microsoft Office's e-mail merge feature, while useful, lacks the capability for sending attachments along with personalized messages, which is an inconvenient limitation.
5. Cavanal Hill, located east of Fort Smith, Arkansas and considered the tallest hill in the world (because it is one foot too short to be designated as a mountain) looks like any other hill.

[John Richardson]

1. An easy way to make eye contact with people is to always make a mental note of their eye color. Works like a charm.

2. Stories stick, data slips.

3. Our minds can only visualize in the positive. IE... Can you picture NOT kicking a dog? (Which means we should always try to communicate in a positive way)

4. I love Creativity. I hate Tediousness

5. Smile and the world smiles with you

[Rosa Say]

Thank you to all who have responded so far!

Let’s please keep this going; it is fascinating to me that January is such an introspective month for most of you. We get bombarded with a lot of inputs, but the learning is about what gets retained, translated by how it may subtly influence how we behave. Our values kick in as instinctive regulators.

I wonder if January itself is a factor – it is our month of resolutions and ka lā hiki ola ke Makahiki (the dawning of a brand new year). It will be interesting to see what future months reveal.

Reading what all of you are sharing is such a gift. Your introspection is new learning intrigue for all of us – we wonder what our own journey would be if we travel down that road with you.

[Ron]

When you have an appointment, such as picking up a friend at the airport, always double check where he's actually flying in. Reconfirm the where, what, how, who, huh? Taking that extra 10 seconds could save you a 4 hour trip on the road.

Wherever you work, whatever you do, do it as if you own the business. If you play the game like an employee, you only sharpen your employee skills. Have fun being the best employee for the rest of your life. But on the flip-side, if you work like you are the boss, you see what needs to be done, you give it your all, you learn what it takes to make it. If you can be great under a boss, you can be great as your own.

See the black in the sea of red. In life, it's easy to focus on the negative, and the more you focus on it, the bigger it becomes. So take time to see the blessing in disguise, the pluses that you can take advantage of.

Marriage is a serious commitment. Do not take it lightly. (I'm still trying to get a firm grip on this idea).

You don't need anybody on this earth to do what you want to do. You do what you want and your supporters will be there.

[Rosa Say]

Great stuff Ron, bravo!

[Rosa Say]

Thank you to everyone who shared their Rapid Fire Learning in January.

Let this be but the beginning to the joyful and jubilant learning you track for yourself!