Knowledge is power. As is learning. As is having a growth mindset. I’ve mentioned many times that it takes so little to be above average anymore. Regardless of what field you’re looking at. From the dating and mating game to work related endeavors to health and wellness to intelligence to creativity, beauty, and a whole lot more. It doesn’t take a lot to stand out from the crowd any more.
There are tried and true beliefs and actions that stem from those beliefs that set apart those that succeed from those that fail. From those that make something on themselves in life and those that stagnate and do not. First off is having the right mindset, having the belief in yourself that you can grow and change, that you can become more. This is commonly called having a growth mindset now but has gone by many names throughout the years.
Without this belief that you can change, your mind will automatically discard any progress that you make. It’s the foundation upon which the rest of success rests. Believe that you can change, that you can become more, be more, and more. And then go out after it. Today I want to share with you a method to rapidly ascending through a skill or a job. This applies to everything from learning how to cultivate a garden to becoming a teacher to managing a restaurant to sales and more.
1-10-1 Method
Here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to select a subject that you want to achieve expert status in. Could be your job or a hobby that you want to be good at. I should note this method is limited and won’t work as well for physical hobbies as this method covers only the knowledge parts. Though it’ll help whatever hobby that you do. But regardless it’ll advance you on the path that you want to go down. I recommend doing this with only one subject that you can do a deep dive on.
The method involves selecting.
- One podcast
- Ten books
- One course
On the subject of your choice. In the six months you are going to go through each. You’ll quickly learn best practices, what the major theories and experience of your given skill or hobby is and a lot more. Here’s how to start go to Google or any decent search engine and type in some of the following.
“The ten best books about X.”
“Best podcasts about X.”
“The best X courses.”
And see what comes up. I’ll take a random subject, let’s say woodworking. Just by typing in the above I’m getting results such as.
“The 35 best woodworking podcasts.”
“69 Best Woodworking Books”
“Woodskills” and “Woodworking class online.”
All from about ten seconds on Google.
Now obviously I’d have to sort through the data that I’m getting and find a way to separate things out, to get the wheat from the chaff. But in a very short amount of time I could go from knowing jack about a subject to literally being one of the world leading experts. Not that I’ll be the best woodworker out there, that’ll take physical practice.
But I’ll certainly have many best practices and short cuts at my fingertips. I’ll be a more efficient and effective learning, bypassing people who only “learn by doing” and do take time to do the hard work on gathering and harnessing the knowledge of others.
The Advantage Is There For You To Use It
Others have worked long and hard for knowledge that they offer to you for a few measly bucks. Reach out and take advantage. Accelerate your learning. You can NEVER learn it all yourself or just by doing. One man’s experience means very little in the grand scheme of things. What works time and time again, across different times and places? Learn all that you can. By doing this you’ll stand out in your field. You’ll overtake salesmen who’ve been at the game a decade or more in two years time. You’ll be racing past people who’ve done things their whole life.
Because you work hard and you work smart. It’s not necessarily hard, but you do have to do it. Little things add up over time, that’s the compound effect. Do the little things right, consistently and your life changes. Day after day. That’s how life is made. That’s how champions are made and that’s how abject failures are made. Daily choices that add up overtime. Use this method. Pick one podcast, ten books, and one course to complete in six month’ time.
Record your progress as you do. Map out what you’ll have to do each day. Then do it. Maybe not mastery in six months but you’ll be way ahead of the average person doing your job or skill.
And that’s something.
If anything I said here helped you I’d recommend checking my books out on Amazon. And as always, thanks for reading.
-Charles Sledge
