Learning a new skill can be frustrating; It takes a lot of time, energy, and commitment. But once you learn a couple skills you realize it’s the same process, over and over again. Understanding this process can help you learn faster and more effectively.
In this article, we are going to talk about this process, and how you can use it to learn new skills.
The process of building new skills involves failure at some point. Nobody starts off the best in anything. They get there using the process— learn, practice, review, and repeat. You don’t build skills by quitting after your first failure or mishap. The process involves learning the skill you want to excel at, going out and practicing, reviewing your practice, learning about the things you struggled with and then going to practice again. This process done consistently over a long period of time will help you excel at anything.
Learning today is easier than ever because of the internet. Google and Youtube alone have countless articles and videos on almost any subject. With email you can reach out to experts and ask their advice and mentorship. Social media, online groups, and Reddit are just a few more places you can go to learn just about anything. The internet has made the flow of information greater than any other time in human history.
Jump on google and search for tutorials or “how to” videos about the skills you are trying to build.
A search on Google might bring up a Youtube result. Youtube is one of the greatest places on earth to learn. Second only to Google in search volume, Youtube is a treasure chest of knowledge. Search for experts, how tos, and tutorials. Most likely there are tons of videos on the subject you are tryin to learn about.
Facebook isn’t just for keeping up with what your neighbor had for dinner, It’s a great place to learn too. The biggest learning opportunities on Facebook are Facebook groups which are basically online groups on Facebook. FB groups are places where experts, beginners, and everyone in between gather to share knowledge, and ask for feedback. I’ve learned a lot and built my SEO skills from groups like SEO Lab
Use Twitter to chat with other experts and people who are associated with the skill you are trying to build. For example, I have learned a ton from SEM Rush’s Twitter feed. Every week they do Twitter discussions on a their hashtag #semrush. They cover everything from basic site SEO to advanced tactics that will help you build links and exploit SEO opportunities.
Reddit threads are a also a great place to learn. Redditors are viscous when it comes to self promotion and sales tactics so the information you usually find on reddit is just plain helpful. Reddits also a good place to ask questions and join discussions. You’ll want to check out threads that are associated with the skills and knowledge you are trying to build.
Once you find an expert you like learning from, try emailing them; most people are a lot more approachable than you think. In some cases they will be excited that you are interested in their expertise and will share valuable insights that, otherwise, would have taken you years to learn.
Practice what you learned. Start practicing as soon as possible because the fastest way to learn is to do. Putting your knowledge to the test in real world situations will show you where you need improvement. Reviewing your practice will help you understand what needs to be improved. And then, you can go back to learning, shore up the problem area, and go back to practicing.
Reviewing your practice is important. It helps you understand what needs to be improved. In the heat of the moment we often forget crucial details that are important to know if we want to maximize our learning potential. Reviewing practice allows you to look at things from a clearer perspective that aids in learning.
Getting good at things is easy if you have done it before and understand the process. It its simplest form you see (learn) and then you do (try). And you just keep doing that, over and over again. As long as you don’t get discouraged when you fail or don’t do as well as you want, you’ll eventually get good. As long as you look at those hiccups in the road as opportunities to learn and try again, then you will eventually achieve your goal at getting good at whatever it is you are trying to get good at.