Monday, February 13, 2006
The Power Of “Not Yet” Thinking
The Power Of “Not Yet” Thinking
By Terry L. Brock
Have you noticed that learning and the ability to learn fast is really important today? Whew! Just when you get one technology down, they come up with another one! You have to learn incredibly fast. I don’t know about you, but sometimes it seems overwhelming with all the stuff we have to learn.
Yet, that is the way the world is working today and will into the future. Those that can learn---and learn fast ---- are those that will succeed.
Too often when someone is asked if they know how to do something the answer is more than just a “No,” it is said with a disdain towards changing. I’d like to suggest another analogy – borrowing from an example in a great movie.
Remember the movie, “The Matrix” from a few years ago? I’m not talking about the other two (not quite as good) but the original had some real power in it. There was a scene where Trinity and Neo had to go get the bad guys and needed to use a nearby helicopter to do it. Neo looked at Trinity and asked, “Can you fly that?” Trinity’s answer was classic. Her simple answer was, “Not yet.” At that point she jumped on her cell phone, called “the operator” (a person called “Tank” who had a lot of abilities to help them out) and asked him to download the program to fly that specific helicopter. The operator downloaded it directly to her brain and she was able to fly the helicopter. I won’t give away the story if you haven’t seen it but let’s just say that things didn’t go well for the bad guys after that!
“Not yet” is the answer that is so appropriate for many issues that you and I face in life. Someone might ask if you can use a certain software program. “Not yet” is a whole lot more positive answer than “No, I’m just no good with technology.” When you think about it, “Not yet” is very optimistic in nature. It has an undertone that you might not be able to do that task right now --- but could in the future. It has an inherent positive expectation that you will be able to do it at some point in the future.
For Trinity, in the movie “The Matrix” she was able to get assistance from “the Operator” whenever she needed it. She could have him install the necessary training and learning. Well, you and I might not be able to call someone on a cell phone and instantly have the knowledge to fly a helicopter (I haven’t seen that technology yet!). However, we do have tools and techniques to help us learn quickly.
Here are some techniques and tools that can help you to learn fast and make this work for you.
Have a persistent “Not Yet” attitude towards learning. Just because you don’t know something now doesn’t mean you can’t learn it in the future. It takes persistence to make it happen. In the real world – as opposed to the movies – it takes hard work and effort to get something done. Most people who are reasonably intelligent can earn a college degree, for instance. However, it requires time, money and lots of effort to make it happen. Persistence is a key factor in your ability to learn. When you can’t grasp something get help. That help can come in the form of…
Technical Resources. Find the audio CDs, the MP3s the videos, the online sources, the seminars, the books and the coaches who have the knowledge of how to do what you want to do. Be aggressive in your learning. Embrace lots of sources. Sometimes you’ll pay for something that didn’t live up to your expectations. Sorry. That’s the way things work sometimes. However, don’t let that experience spoil you from “continuing your learning download” to get the information you need. Persistently keep going after what you need to know through extra books, audios, videos, seminars, coaches and others. Don’t let one or a few bad experiences hold you back.
Embrace Tools Like Camtasia. This is a tool I’ve talked about before. It gives you the ability to make a movie of all the movements on your computer while someone talks recording the audio. It is an excellent tool to grab the knowledge, the skills, and the techniques of how to do something from those that know how to do it. If you have an expert coach who can help you, be sure to record the lesson.
Embrace Tools With Video. You can learn a lot by recording a video of what is happening,. A small camcorder that costs less than $100 (many are available today) provides you the ability to capture the essence of the task that a person does. This can apply to computer tasks as well as other physical tasks. Video record the expert doing the task slowly and meticulously to capture all that needs to be done. Ask questions about what to do under various circumstances. Review and practice. This is a way to gain deep knowledge of a content matter.
Read Voraciously. Most of the knowledge you need is out there someone in the form of books, magazines, newspapers and other material. Why reinvent the wheel when you can get someone who already knows how to do something to tell you – through their book? This is the smart way to learn.
Be Willing To Pay For Your Knowledge. People that have knowledge deserve to be compensated for making that knowledge available to you. Find the best for what you need and be willing to part with your capital to make a difference in your life. College education can cost a lot but it is well worth it. Books, audios and videos cost money but they can provide you the skills and resources to achieve the goals you want.
Remember that “Not Yet” thinking can help you achieve what you want, but you have to be willing to pay the price. If you’re willing to embrace “Not Yet” thinking you’ll soon be able to answer emphatically “Yes!” to more questions about your ability to do certain tasks.
Terry Brock is a marketing coach who helps business owners market more effectively leveraging technology. He shows busy professionals how to squeeze more out of their busy days using the right rules and tools. For more info call +44 (0) 151 630 2489 or by e-mail at info@linkagepoint.co.uk or through our website at www.linkagepoint.co.uk
Copyright © 2006, Terry Brock, All Rights Reserved Internationally. No portion may be reprinted or used in any way without prior written permission. Permission granted to Agnes G. Fitzgerald and the "Linkage Point" to use in regular publications.
By Terry L. Brock
Have you noticed that learning and the ability to learn fast is really important today? Whew! Just when you get one technology down, they come up with another one! You have to learn incredibly fast. I don’t know about you, but sometimes it seems overwhelming with all the stuff we have to learn.
Yet, that is the way the world is working today and will into the future. Those that can learn---and learn fast ---- are those that will succeed.
Too often when someone is asked if they know how to do something the answer is more than just a “No,” it is said with a disdain towards changing. I’d like to suggest another analogy – borrowing from an example in a great movie.
Remember the movie, “The Matrix” from a few years ago? I’m not talking about the other two (not quite as good) but the original had some real power in it. There was a scene where Trinity and Neo had to go get the bad guys and needed to use a nearby helicopter to do it. Neo looked at Trinity and asked, “Can you fly that?” Trinity’s answer was classic. Her simple answer was, “Not yet.” At that point she jumped on her cell phone, called “the operator” (a person called “Tank” who had a lot of abilities to help them out) and asked him to download the program to fly that specific helicopter. The operator downloaded it directly to her brain and she was able to fly the helicopter. I won’t give away the story if you haven’t seen it but let’s just say that things didn’t go well for the bad guys after that!
“Not yet” is the answer that is so appropriate for many issues that you and I face in life. Someone might ask if you can use a certain software program. “Not yet” is a whole lot more positive answer than “No, I’m just no good with technology.” When you think about it, “Not yet” is very optimistic in nature. It has an undertone that you might not be able to do that task right now --- but could in the future. It has an inherent positive expectation that you will be able to do it at some point in the future.
For Trinity, in the movie “The Matrix” she was able to get assistance from “the Operator” whenever she needed it. She could have him install the necessary training and learning. Well, you and I might not be able to call someone on a cell phone and instantly have the knowledge to fly a helicopter (I haven’t seen that technology yet!). However, we do have tools and techniques to help us learn quickly.
Here are some techniques and tools that can help you to learn fast and make this work for you.
Have a persistent “Not Yet” attitude towards learning. Just because you don’t know something now doesn’t mean you can’t learn it in the future. It takes persistence to make it happen. In the real world – as opposed to the movies – it takes hard work and effort to get something done. Most people who are reasonably intelligent can earn a college degree, for instance. However, it requires time, money and lots of effort to make it happen. Persistence is a key factor in your ability to learn. When you can’t grasp something get help. That help can come in the form of…
Technical Resources. Find the audio CDs, the MP3s the videos, the online sources, the seminars, the books and the coaches who have the knowledge of how to do what you want to do. Be aggressive in your learning. Embrace lots of sources. Sometimes you’ll pay for something that didn’t live up to your expectations. Sorry. That’s the way things work sometimes. However, don’t let that experience spoil you from “continuing your learning download” to get the information you need. Persistently keep going after what you need to know through extra books, audios, videos, seminars, coaches and others. Don’t let one or a few bad experiences hold you back.
Embrace Tools Like Camtasia. This is a tool I’ve talked about before. It gives you the ability to make a movie of all the movements on your computer while someone talks recording the audio. It is an excellent tool to grab the knowledge, the skills, and the techniques of how to do something from those that know how to do it. If you have an expert coach who can help you, be sure to record the lesson.
Embrace Tools With Video. You can learn a lot by recording a video of what is happening,. A small camcorder that costs less than $100 (many are available today) provides you the ability to capture the essence of the task that a person does. This can apply to computer tasks as well as other physical tasks. Video record the expert doing the task slowly and meticulously to capture all that needs to be done. Ask questions about what to do under various circumstances. Review and practice. This is a way to gain deep knowledge of a content matter.
Read Voraciously. Most of the knowledge you need is out there someone in the form of books, magazines, newspapers and other material. Why reinvent the wheel when you can get someone who already knows how to do something to tell you – through their book? This is the smart way to learn.
Be Willing To Pay For Your Knowledge. People that have knowledge deserve to be compensated for making that knowledge available to you. Find the best for what you need and be willing to part with your capital to make a difference in your life. College education can cost a lot but it is well worth it. Books, audios and videos cost money but they can provide you the skills and resources to achieve the goals you want.
Remember that “Not Yet” thinking can help you achieve what you want, but you have to be willing to pay the price. If you’re willing to embrace “Not Yet” thinking you’ll soon be able to answer emphatically “Yes!” to more questions about your ability to do certain tasks.
Terry Brock is a marketing coach who helps business owners market more effectively leveraging technology. He shows busy professionals how to squeeze more out of their busy days using the right rules and tools. For more info call +44 (0) 151 630 2489 or by e-mail at info@linkagepoint.co.uk or through our website at www.linkagepoint.co.uk
Copyright © 2006, Terry Brock, All Rights Reserved Internationally. No portion may be reprinted or used in any way without prior written permission. Permission granted to Agnes G. Fitzgerald and the "Linkage Point" to use in regular publications.
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