The Lifelong Learner
:: Do what you can, with what you have, where you are -Roosevelt ::
The Lifelong Learner
:: Do what you can, with what you have, where you are -Roosevelt ::
Here is a list of products that I discovered in 2008 and that I cannot live without. These are products that I use everyday, both at work and at home. Quite simply, I would not be able to live without them. Literally. 
Blackberry – internet on the goI can’t believe I have not started using it before. Perhaps because I did not get it from work. But internet on the go is here to stay. It’s so useful and practical. I started commuting to NYC on the train, what better way to convert the downtime to catching up on news, email, etc. Great tool. Great toy.
Picasa — great photo organizerI did not know I was hooked on it until I started using iPhoto on my Mac (Picasa was released for the mac just this month). I find Picasa so much better than iPhoto. Much easier to browse and I hate that iPhoto moves your images to its internal location. Picasa is just all you need to manage your “growing” photo collection.
Canon Xsi DSLR — great cameraI own a Canon Xsi and what a difference! I used to like those small digital cameras which take decent pictures. They’re very mobile, take them anywhere you go. But image quality is not that good. You only discover it after you use a DSLR. What a difference! And great fun as well. It’s cheap now as well ($500-600). Great toy!
Jungle Disk — Amazon Webservice — central storage of filesI had about a service like this for years. Now it’s a reality. Map your network drive to an external, internet-based storage. Now I can store my files and docs centrally, and access them on my Mac, at work, and on my PC. Great and simple to use.
Delicious – bookmarkingCentral storage of bookmarks is really useful. Accessing them by tags in your browser (Delicious Bookmarks extension for Firefox) is time saving. I can’t believe I stayed away from it for so long.
Rocket Dock — Mac-like docking station for WindowsIf you own a Mac, you know what I mean. It’s a great simplification tool and a productivity booster.
I just bought a MacBook Pro and I started using it for the 1-st time yesterday. First impressions? I like it. It has great looks and so far it’s fairly easy to use. It’s fast!
But it’s different! I am used to Windows and I’ll have to adjust and find ways to do some more complicated things.
Wireless It has a Wireless N Wi-Fi receiver. It’s much faster and can reach X-times as wide as G. It’s the next generation Wi-Fi — but it takes forever to actually get approved by IEEE. I also liked it when it discovered my home network right when I was configuring the machine for first time. I was on the network in no time. No technical expertise required.
Keyboard It’s just beautiful. I love typing using it. The backlight is something really special.
Installing Applications Seems to simple to be true. I’m a big confused on how things work. I was able to install Skype and Firefox with no issues but I’ll have to get more comfortable with the process.
Files – Hard Disk I’m a bit confused where everything is located. Do I need to know? Not for now. I’ll figure it out.
Users I setup two accounts on the computer. However, when I logoff, it seems that I have to shut down all applications. It can’t be true. I want my wife to login, do her stuff, etc, but I don’t want to close my open apps. It must be something I’m doing wrong.
Second OS I heard and have seen how you can run another operating system in parallel. I would love to use XP and Linux. Boot Camp allows you do that, but I think I might have to buy VMare to do that effectively. Will have to investigate about this.
Overall, it’s a thing of beauty. Great looks, elegant design. It’s a Mac!
How do you influence another person? How do you make him change? How do you get him out of this habit that’s killing you?
It’s not easy. But there are good ways and bad ways of accomplishing the task. I found this out by reading a very good book on communication skills, Messages. I extracted what I found the most useful information.
“Influencing others is an art that requires an understanding of the principles of change.”
INEFFECTIVE WAYS
Blaming, criticizing, or complaining.- your basic message is “you are bad or wrong.”
Threats.- “do what I want, or else…”
Pouting or withdrawing.- “you won’t have it, if you won’t do what I want”
EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES
Positive Reinforcement
1. Praise.Everyone is hungry for esteem and appreciation. You can praise past behavior that is similar to the changes you now want to reinforce.
2. Trading.“I’ll give you X if you give me Y.”They are effective because they acknowledge the other person’s needs and promise to provide something real as compensation for the desired behavior.
3. Building in rewards.Much like trading, but the reinforcement is woven into the desired behavior.”Come shopping with me. There’s a huge bookstore in the mall. You can browse around and see what new biographies they have.”
4. Verbal and nonverbal appreciation.Appreciation conveys the message that you are grateful, you are pleased, and you value what the person has done. It greatly increases the chance that the behavior will be repeated and you will continue to get what you want.
Negative Consequences
Negative consequences should be used as a last resort, when positive reinforcement isn’t working. They tend to create a backlash of anger and resentment.
1. Stop rewarding the person for behavior you don’t want.If you want somebody to be punctual, don’t wait for them while they’re still doing some last minute preparationsInfluencing others is bound to be frustrating when you consistently reward them for staying the same.
2. Design self-care strategies to meet your needs when the other person is unable or unwilling to make desired changes.“If a friend keeps borrowing things without returning them, a self-care strategy might be to insist that only one thing can be borrowed at a time.”
3. Identify natural consequences.“If someone is always late for your lunch dates, stop eating with them in restaurants.
Over time, is a cause of memory loss, according to Harvard’s Improving Memory publication.
Over time, people who don’t challenge their minds exhibit a greater degree of memory decline compared with people who remain mentally active. According to a 2005 study, people who held jobs that involved complex work, such as speaking to, instructing, or negotiating with people, had a lower risk of dementia than people whose jobs were less intellectually demanding.Most experts think it’s not the years of formal education or the type of occupation per se that benefits memory. Instead, a lifelong habit of learning and engaging in mentally challenging activities — like reading, playing chess, performing music, or acquiring new skills — is thought to help keep the brain in shape.
Scientists believe that intellectual enrichment and learning stimulate the brain to make more connections, increasing the density of synapses. As a result, the “educated brain” may possess greater reserves of cognitive ability — a deeper well, so to speak — and be able to sustain more neuronal loss. Researchers refer to this enhancement of skills or abilities as cognitive reserve. In addition to increasing neuronal connections, mental activity sets into motion a host of processes that keep neurons and their interconnections alive and well.
Reference
Improving Memory, Report from Harvard Medical School
This is a very good book about a remarkable man: Theodore Roosevelt. I am disappointed though. I did not get enough. I was ready to listen on, and whoops, the book ended. It ended when Teddy was around 40 years old, before he became the president. But I guess the book is called the Rise of Theodore R. for a reason.
This book was narrated in an excellent manner. I almost cried when he was explaining the black day in Teddy’s life.
There were many sections where I was hooked on listening. I wanted to listen even more. It was interesting how he made friends in South Dakota and converted people there from strangers to one of his strongest followers. It was great to hear about his work ethic in almost all political positions he held.
There were a few times, when I lost focus, but overall, the book is very interesting from start to finish.
I learned from this book that American politics was a big mess at the end of 19th century. Corrupted politicians; big party bosses controlling a lot. Teddy changed a lot.
Like I said, this is an excellent book. Great content. Excellent narration. I need more, though. I need to find a similar book on Teddy that covers his whole lifespan.
Having a good connection with you son or daughter is probably the most important part in being a good father. That means being able to communicate well with your child. How do you do it? I found some really good, common sense advice on how to do it well. Read on.
Awesome Dads Top Ten Communication IntentionsAn Awesome Dad in by no means perfect. But that itself is perfect, because imperfection allows us to really understand the personal evolution our children are going through with us. The definition of an Awesome Dad, then, is the father who stays in the game, shows up fully and sets powerful intentions to grow into. Here are some:
I listen with my entire being – and without judgment. I seek first to understand and appreciate what my children say. From that vantage point, I will build their trust in me and be most supportive.
I see others as equals, neither superior nor inferior to me. Every person is a unique individual, just like everyone else on the planet. (hee hee)! We each have our own journey and everyone we encounter is integral to our life’s objectives. Children are no less important and should be treated with equal respect.
I engage my curiosity completely. I truly want to understand and try to grasp all that is going on for my children. I want to see the world afresh from their perspectives and glean new insights through them. I ask questions without an agenda.
I consider all perspectives and choose consciously. In this world of infinite possibilities, I seek to understand where everyone is coming from and only then choose what resonates most. I share this process with those I love.
First, do no harm! I communicate to foster understanding and growth but never to hurt. “Sticks and stones…” I know my words can cut deeper, and the resulting wounds take longer to heal.
I tell stories that speak to the heart. When I speak from the heart, my words penetrate other’s hearts. Parables and personal stories are easy to accept and are rarely accusatory, though often funny and informative.
I articulate the nuances. I use a rich vocabulary to communicate distinctions that will help to raise awareness and expand my family’s appreciation of life.
I understand the power of my touch. From a gentle touch on the cheek, to a vigorous backrub, to wrestling on the floor, I communicate my love through the powerful medium of touch. And I know when to refrain as well.
I share what’s there. I discuss difficult issues that warrant open communication without fear. I believe open communication will lead to the greatest family unity, even though the journey may be difficult.
My actions are congruent with my values. I am keenly aware that my actions speak louder than my words. The best communication is when words and actions match perfectly. Values in action…
Copyright 2004 by CoachVille, Dovid Grossman and Ken Mossman
About The AuthorMy father was a very successful engineer. But he and I never got along, and we fought all the time. One day, when I was 17, I told him, “I always wanted a close relationship with you, but we don’t have it.” I watched as three tears squeezed out of his pained eyes. And he said, “I’ve always wanted that, too, but I just don’t know how to do it.” Since that day, we haven’t argued. I got it. I understood his love for me was really deep. A lot of fathers are in the same boat. They love their kids dearly. But they don’t know how to express this in a way that their kids understand it. Which means there’s great pain in one of the most important relationships in their lives. I offer adventure, mentoring and coaching programs for fathers to become Awesome Dads. The benefits are a lifetime of pleasure and pride with the most important people in their lives. coach@dovidgrossman.com
ReferenceAwesome Dads Top Ten Communication Intentions – Parenting Ideas
We are constantly being overloaded with information. It seems like we live in an Information Overload age. In any day, I receive more than a dozen emails, subscribe to over 50 rss feeds, read several daily news, read other less-frequent periodicals, and read other material. Isn’t that too much? I think so. It takes time to do all of that. Plus, a lot of it is not really that useful.
I have been changing a lot of my habits in this area lately. My desire is to be more productive and not be overloaded with information. Reading blogs like lifehack.org really helps – they’re loaded with good information. Other books, 4-hour workweek also had some good points in this regard. But it all comes down to “Information Diet” – having the discipline to cut the not-needed material.
In this article, Eight Tips to Find Your Information Oasis, which appeared on lifehack.org, the author gives 8 excellent tips on how to go on such an information diet. I am already doing a lot of them and I’m trying to get into a habit of doing most.
An information oasis – where you can get only the gems of the information without the noise – is the dream land of Information Age. It is the place where the information you consume boost your personal effectiveness rather than decrease it.But how do you get there? How can you find your information oasis in the midst of information desert? Here are eight tips:
1. Minimize your news consumption
News is probably the most noisy kind of information you could get. The reason is simple: 99% of what you read in the news today would not make it to the history 100 years from now. That implies that 99% of what you read in the news is actually not that important. There are simply too many details than you need. Reading the headlines is more than enough in most situations.
2. Read history in place of news
Rather than reading news, I believe it’s a good idea to read another kind of information which has much less noise: history. History has filtered 99% or more of the unimportant details to give you only the important. Furthermore, history also allows you to see the contexts of the events that happened.
Why is it important? Because contexts allows you to find patterns which in turn give you invaluable lessons of what to do and what not to do. Why should you repeat the same mistakes made by others throughout the history if you can just avoid it in the first place? News, on the other hand, gives you just details without contexts. You may read hundreds of pages of news without ever capturing the big picture.
3. Unsubscribe the feeds and magazines which are not essential
To find your information oasis, it’s important to reduce your information intake. Besides minimizing your news consumption, you should also unsubscribe the feeds and magazines which are not essential. Check your magazine and feed subscriptions, and assess the value you get from each. Is it really worth your time? Does it help you do the important? Or maybe it actually distract you away from the important?
4. Read quotes from the great thinkers
I love quotes because they are the kind of information that has the highest density of wisdom. In the same amount of time, you can get much more insights by reading quotes than by reading other kinds of information. Just go to quote sites like ThinkExist or BrainyQuote, browse the quotes by topics or authors, and internalize what you read there. This is among the purest kinds of information you could get.
5. For each reading, read no more than what is necessary
It is an important key to effective reading. Why should you let all the noise get into your mind if you can just get the gems? So whenever you read something, just read what is necessary and no more. That’s why it’s important to have a clear purpose before you read, especially for readings which require longer time commitments like books. Clear purpose helps you distinguish the necessary from the rest.
6. While reading, focus on getting actionable ideas
Another key to effective reading is focusing on getting actionable ideas. Actionable ideas are ideas you can act upon to improve your life. If it’s not actionable, the information might just take up space in your memory without doing anything useful for you. In other words, it might actually be noise.
7. Check your email no more than twice per day
Email is one of the main sources of information noise in the Internet Age. If you check your inbox again and again during your day, not only it introduces a lot of noise into your brain, it also distracts you from actually doing the important. It’s better if you allocate certain periods of time (at most two) during the day to deal with it so that the noise is isolated and the distractions are minimized.
8. Ruthlessly stop consuming information whenever the value you get is no longer worth it
Whenever you consume information, don’t forget that diminishing returns applies. Over time, the value you get from consuming the information is decreasing. Eventually it will reach a point where you can get more value by doing other activities than by consuming the information. To minimize noise, you should ruthlessly stop at this point. More than that and you are introducing noise into your life.
ReferenceEight Tips to Find Your Information Oasis, Donald Latumahina, posted on lifehack.org
This book started out great. It is spoken with a great call-to-action voice. I really liked the first hour or hour and a half. But after that, the material covered did not really interest me. I did not finish the book — as the author suggests. I do not have a plan to hire offshore assistant. I do not want to setup an auto reply to my email, etc. These issues might be applicable to an executive but not for a normal guy like me.
I highly recommend listening to the first hour: it’s a 5-star material. After that, I would just stop.
The author does have some great suggestions. For instance, keep applying to 80/20 principle to you business/personal life and concentrate the top 20%, top 10% on the things that bring the most reward.
Another thing that was interesting is the information diet. The author advocates stopping wasting time reading magazines/news. He advocates reading what really interests you. Tired of the book you’re reading, put it away!
One other thing, which I’m actually implementing, is to stop checking personal email the first thing you come to work. It puts you out of focus. I agree. I now check email during lunch time and at the end of the day.
It was interesting to hear all of the author’s business startups and bold moves.
An excellent guide to follow in your Lifelong Learning quest.
1) Always have a book.It doesn’t matter if it takes you a year or a week to read a book. Always strive to have a book that you are reading through, and take it with you so you can read it when you have time. Just by shaving off a few minutes in-between activities in my day I can read about a book per week. That’s at least fifty each year.
2) Keep a “To-Learn” List
We all have to-do lists. These are the tasks we need to accomplish. Try to also have a “to-learn” list. On it you can write ideas for new areas of study. Maybe you would like to take up a new language, learn a skill or read the collective works of Shakespeare. Whatever motivates you, write it down.
3) Get More Intellectual Friends
Start spending more time with people who think. Not just people who are smart. But people who actually invest much of their time in learning new skills. Their habits will rub off on you. Even better, they will probably share some of their knowledge with you.
4) Guided Thinking
Albert Einstein once said, “Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.” Simply studying the wisdom of others isn’t enough, you have to think through ideas yourself. Spend time journaling, meditating or contemplating over ideas you have learned.
5) Put it Into Practice
Skill based learning is useless if it isn’t applied. Reading a book on C++ isn’t the same thing as writing a program. Studying painting isn’t the same as picking up a brush. If your knowledge can be applied, put it into practice.
6) Teach Others
You learn what you teach. If you have an outlet of communicating ideas to others, you are more likely to solidify that learning. Start a blog, mentor someone or even discuss ideas with a friend.
7) Clean Your Input
Some forms of learning are easy to digest, but often lack substance. I make a point of regularly cleaning out my feed reader for blogs I subscribe to. Great blogs can be a powerful source of new ideas. But every few months I realize I’m collecting posts from blogs that I am simply skimming. Every few months, purify your input to save time and focus on what counts.
8 ) Learn in Groups
Lifelong learning doesn’t mean condemning yourself to a stack of dusty textbooks. Join organizations that teach skills. Workshops and group learning events can make educating yourself a fun, social experience.
9) Unlearn Assumptions
You can’t add water to a full cup. I always try to maintain a distance away from any idea. Too many convictions simply mean too few paths for new ideas. Actively seek out information that contradicts your worldview.
10) Find Jobs that Encourage Learning
Pick a career that encourages continual learning. If you are in a job that doesn’t have much intellectual freedom, consider switching to one that does. Don’t spend forty hours of your week in a job that doesn’t challenge you.
11) Start a Project
Set out to do something you don’t know how. Forced learning in this way can be fun and challenging. If you don’t know anything about computers, try building one. If you consider yourself a horrible artist, try a painting.
12) Follow Your Intuition
Lifelong learning is like wandering through the wilderness. You can’t be sure what to expect and there isn’t always an end goal in mind. Letting your intuition guide you can make self-education more enjoyable. Most of our lives have been broken down to completely logical decisions, that making choices on a whim has been stamped out.
13) The Morning Fifteen
Use the first fifteen minutes of your morning as a period for education. If you find yourself too groggy, you might want to wait a short time. Just don’t put it off later in the day where urgent activities will push it out of the way.
14) Reap the Rewards
Learn information you can use. Understanding the basics of programming allows me to handle projects that other people would require outside help. Meeting a situation that makes use of your educational efforts can be a source of pride.
15) Make it a Priority
Few external forces are going to persuade you to learn. The desire has to come from within. Once you decide you want to make lifelong learning a habit, it is up to you to make it a priority in your life.
Reference
15 Steps to Cultivate Lifelong Learning – lifehack.org – authored by Scott H. Young
