I’m an avid learner.
I read blogs and emails, follow tweets and love hearing the latest great ideas. When running or driving you’ll often find me listening to podcasts or audiobooks via audible.com.
But in my pursuit to die empty, i.e. live with focus — intimately and daily connected to what’s really important, I am reminded of the words of Peter J. Daniels, Australian billionaire: “don’t be a wasteful information gatherer.”
But what does it mean to be a wasteful information gatherer?
The obvious answer is someone who takes time reading or learning anything that has no direct relation to their life goals.
I think that answer is a sufficient introduction. However in today’s over abundance of media and information, where all forms of content is often a form of marketing, we need to take this idea up a notch.
My latest way to gage what’s really wasting my time, is to check the distance between my hands and my head.
Or better put, how soon can I apply what I am learning?
The answer should be minutes or hours.
If the answer is days, weeks or longer you’re likely wasting your time.
(The only exception would be if you are studying daily for some type of test in the near future.)
Does this makes sense?
Take this scenario:
Say you run a small business and you love learning about the latest email marketing strategy or automation sequence. Therefore you subscribe to email marketing news from Nathan Berry, InfusionSoft and Marketo.
The question you have to ask yourself is: ‘Am in going to apply what I am reading today or in the immediate future?’
If the answer is no, then this reveals you don’t need to be learning or reading their emails right now. You only should be spending time learning something applicable to your present priorities. And those priorities are what you are doing now.
The second thing to ask yourself is:
“Am I lacking knowledge in this area or am I lacking action?”
I have a philosophy or three-step process for growing in any area.
1. Consistency > 2. Intensity > 3. Method
The simple translation is:
The consistent person will always beat the person who’s inconsistent, even with intensity and perfected method or skill. But the person who is consistent AND works hardest, even with poor technique will beat the person who has polished and perfected skills, but isn’t doing it daily.
So you may not need to perfect you skills via learning a new method if you haven’t been consistently applying what you already know.
The third and final thing to evaluate is:
“Am I reading/listening for motivation what I’m already motivated?”
We all love to be motivated and inspired in what we already love. And motivation is valuable. (that’s what I hope to be doing when I write my posts)
But this time should be minimal.
Reason being, I again think what most of us need is action over knowledge.
Just my opinion…
Note: the goal is to use the information as soon as possible. If you have to wait a week or two, you’re likely wasting your time because you’ll learn new concepts that’ll override what you learned.
Hope it makes sense and is actionable for you.
Create a great day!
– Arvell