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If you are like I am, I read a lot.  It's where I learn a lot from what other people have written.  It might be a blog. A book. An article. An eBook. 

But HOW do you remember what you want from the article?  

Here is my system, that I usually use. (I have to admit that I don't use this all the time, but am working on improving on this great habit.)  I use this when there is something that I am reading that I would really like to learn from.  

Here is my system ....

1. I really like to print out what I am going to read.  It's an essential element of my reading process.  But I usually print double sided and 2 pages per side to cut down on paper and ink.
2. I select a place and time when I will not be disturbed where I can devote my full attention to the reading.
3. I have a highlighter and a pen in hand.
4. When I start, I look at the title and ask myself, "What am I reading?".  This puts my mind in the right frame of mind, focused on that type of content.
5. Most reading is broken up into chapters, and often into subsections with headers.  Don't skip the chapter titles and header titles.  Just like the title of the book, read the headers and ask yourself, "what am I going to learn in this section / chapter?".
6. Read the chapter or section, paragraph by paragraph.  If there is an...

School of Hard Knocks.

We all go to this school. It's a self-study course that we all attend.  No admittance exam required.  Everyone is enrolled.  But graduating from the School of Hard Knocks is different.  We graduate class by class. Lesson by lesson.  And our studies are never completed.  There is always another lesson to be learned. Another class to attend.  Enrollment is mandatory, not optional.

But not all of us learn our lessons. Not everyone learns from the classes they are forced to take.  Graduating from these classes takes effort.  

There are several characteristics of people who are successful in this program.  Those who thrive in the School of Hard Knocks have confidence in their ability. They are willing to identify the mistakes they have made.  They are willing to analyze those mistakes for lessons.  They are willing to implement lessons they have learned to reduce those mistakes from occurring again. 

Graduate Hard Knock Studies

Moreover, some "graduate students" from the School of Hard Knocks go even further.  They share their mistakes with others.  They share the lessons they have learned. They help other people avoid the mistakes they have made. 

So how do you perform in the School of Hard Knocks?

Are you a life-long learner?

Are you a graduate student who shares their...