Reading And Learning Skills

I've coached executives across five continents, and here's the brutal truth: The professionals getting promoted aren't necessarily the smartest—they're the fastest learners. While everyone else is consuming content passively, top performers have cracked the code on accelerated learning. They don't just read about strategy—they can teach it back to you in 60 seconds. ✅ The Harvard Business Review's latest research confirms what I see daily: Professionals who can learn and apply new concepts 10x faster than their peers become indispensable in half the time. Here's the framework that separates rapid learners from information collectors: • Explain like you're 5 → Simplify complex concepts into basic terms • Visualize the process → Create mental maps of how things work • Break it into chunks → Divide big concepts into 3-5 digestible parts • Find the patterns → Extract rules and formulas you can apply elsewhere • Relate to real life → Connect every concept to situations you encounter daily • Use analogies → Compare new ideas to familiar concepts you already know • Break the myths → Identify 3 misconceptions and learn the truth behind them • Ask the critical "why" → Understand impacts & consequences, not just facts • Teach it back → Explain the concept to someone who knows nothing about it • Challenge it → Question common assumptions and identify potential mistakes • Simulate practice → Create scenarios to apply the knowledge immediately • Turn it into stories → Transform concepts into brain-friendly narratives While your peers are still highlighting PDF articles and saving LinkedIn posts they'll never revisit, you could be mastering new skills, solving complex problems, and positioning yourself as the go-to expert in your field. The professionals who master rapid learning don't just advance faster—they become irreplaceable. Coaching can help; let's chat. #coachingtips #careeradvice #professionaldevelopment

How to learn something fast when nobody else around you has the full context or the time to guide you? I face this challenge every time I start a new project. Navigating ambiguity and gaining historical context in a short period of time can be challenging, but are often required for product managers. Here are 5️⃣ strategies I’ve tried and worked: [1] Seek knowledge from multiple sources Reach out to different team members, stakeholders, and SME to gather their perspectives and insights. Each individual may hold a piece of the historical context, and by triangulating information from various sources, you can start forming a more complete picture. [2] Find the experts to do a “knowledge dump” & focus on building relationships Identify key team members who have the most historical context. Schedule a knowledge-sharing session with them and be a sponge. Establish mentorship or buddy relationships with these experts. Encourage open dialogue to uncover crucial information and gain a shared understanding. This is seriously the best 80/20 way to learn. [3] Conduct thorough document reviews Go through any available documentation, including research plans, reports, meeting minutes, and previous strategy docs. These documents can provide valuable insights into the project's evolution, decisions made, and key milestones. Look for patterns and recurring themes to identify critical aspects. Crunch on time? Turn on accessibility mode and let the documents “speak” to you during commute or ask in-house AI tools (security and privacy granted) to summarize them for you. [4] Be curious, ask questions, and take notes This sounds basic, but it’s actually very effective. The most basic questions are sometimes the most important ones and worth documenting to help create leverage for your new project or product area. These unfamiliar terms, acronyms, or concepts? Make an organized FAQ. Create a centralized repository where you record key research insights, milestones, important decisions, and other contextual information. This will serve as a reference point for you and others in the future and your eagerness to learn will help you shine and build credibility with the new team. [5] Embrace a learning mindset. Prioritize and adapt. Approach the ambiguity with a learning mindset, recognizing that you won't have all the answers immediately. Embrace chaos as an opportunity to learn and be open to adjusting your understanding as you gain more context. Seek feedback and validation from others to ensure accuracy. Identify the most critical areas where historical context is essential, such as understanding dependencies, risks, or ongoing challenges. Prioritize your efforts accordingly to address those areas first, while being adaptable and open to refining your understanding as new information emerges. #ProductManagement #Careers #Leadership

Your Literature Review is Sabotaging Your Success. 80% of doctoral students make this critical mistake—and it's keeping them stuck in endless revision cycles. Most students approach their lit review like this: "Smith (2020) found X. Jones (2021) found Y. Brown (2022) found Z." Then they're confused when their committee says it "lacks synthesis" or "reads like a book report." Here's the problem: You're cataloging individual studies instead of revealing what the field has collectively learned. The Game-Changing Shift: Stop writing WHAT studies found. Start writing what the FIELD knows. Your committee doesn't want a grocery list of findings. They want to see you thinking like a scholar who can identify patterns, gaps, and emerging themes across bodies of research. Compare These Approaches: ❌ The Grocery List (What Most Students Do): "Johnson (2020) studied social media and found negative effects on mental health. Williams (2021) also studied social media and found mixed results. Davis (2022) found positive effects in their sample." ✅ The Synthesis (What Committees Want): "The relationship between social media use and mental health depends on three key factors that emerged across 15 studies: type of use (passive vs. active), duration of use, and individual vulnerability factors (Johnson, 2020; Williams, 2021; Davis, 2022)." See the difference? The second example: -Identifies patterns across studies -Creates new knowledge from existing research -Shows YOU thinking, not just reporting -Demonstrates scholarly maturity How to Make This Shift: Instead of asking: "What did this study find?"  Ask: "What do these studies collectively tell us?" Look for: -Patterns across findings -Contradictions that reveal important variables -Gaps where knowledge is missing -Emerging themes that connect different studies Your lit review should read like a story about what the field has learned, not a bibliography with commentary. The Real Impact: -When you master synthesis, you: -Get faster committee approval -Demonstrate readiness for original research -Show you understand your field deeply -Set up your methodology naturally -Position yourself as a emerging scholar, not just a student Remember: Your committee has read these studies. They don't need you to summarize them. They need you to synthesize them into new understanding. Struggling with your literature review? The difference between reporting and synthesizing is often what separates students who finish from those who don't. What's your biggest challenge with literature reviews? Share in the comments—let's help each other level up. 👇 #PhDLife #DoctoralStudent #LiteratureReview #AcademicWriting #PhD #DissertationHelp #GradSchool #AcademicSuccess #ScholarlyWriting

12 tips to better retain what you learn. Use these to improve your memory: Whether you're: ↳Studying for tests ↳Trying to memorize a work presentation ↳Learning a new language ↳Or just wanting to remember someone's name or your grocery list It pays to have a great memory. Often, however, people see their memory as fixed. "I'm so forgetful!" they'll say. Or, "I'm bad with names." But the reality is: You can improve your memory with practice. Use these tactics to strengthen yours. 1) Teach It ↳To remember, you must first understand - and to truly understand, try explaining ↳Ex: Learning physics? Describe Newton's Laws in simple terms - if you can't, you've found a gap 2) Space Repetition ↳Review at increasing intervals, adding more space as you improve ↳Ex: Learning Spanish? Review the new words you learn after 1 day, then 3 days, then a week 3) Create Mnemonics ↳Turn less ordinary or more complex info into shortcuts - odder is often better ↳Ex: Memorize the planets with "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos" 4) Make It Ordinary ↳Connecting new ideas with ones you're already familiar with helps retention ↳Ex: Learning supply and demand? Think of Uber's surge pricing - when demand is up, cost goes up 5) Write It Down ↳Writing things down (by hand) boosts our ability to remember them ↳Ex: Forget names easily? Write them down three times after meeting someone 6) Say It Out Loud ↳Speaking information also reinforces recall ↳Ex: Using names again - Say, "Nice to meet you, Sarah!" to remember her name 7) Chunk Information ↳Break long info into smaller, digestible parts that are self-contained ↳Ex: Want to memorize a speech? Divide it into short, distinct sections 8) Use Memory Palace ↳Tie information to images for recall, placing things in familiar locations ↳Ex: Remembering a grocery list? Picture milk at your front door, eggs on the couch, and bread on the TV 9) Engage Senses ↳You know how sounds or smells sometimes trigger long-ago memories? Use it ↳Ex: Learning a language? Read, write, listen, and speak it in one session 10) Use Active Recall ↳Test yourself - or have someone else test you - instead of just re-reading ↳Ex: Studying from a book? Cover key parts and recall them before checking to see if you were right 11) Don't Multitask ↳Our inability to remember is often tied to a lack of real focus ↳Ex: Studying? Put your phone in another room to avoid distractions and let your brain prioritize one task 12) Sleep Well ↳Memory consolidates during sleep, and good rest improves our retention ability ↳Ex: Study briefly before bed to let your brain reinforce it overnight Have you used any of these before? --- ♻️ Repost to help others improve their ability to retain information. And follow me George Stern for more content on growth.

This is Paras Chopra. He's built 2 successful companies and bootstrapped one to $45M+ in annual revenue. Here are 11 helpful reading tips from him: 1) First thing you should introspect is *why* you read. For me, the point of reading books is to not remember the facts but to form useful mental models that I can deploy in my future thinking. 2) Clarity on your reason for reading will help you guide on how to get the most out of the time you invest in reading. 3) The goal of gaining personal insights and building mental models suddenly vaporizes common anxieties with reading books: It's OK to drop books in between, if you're not gaining anything from it. Remember: the point is not to finish books, but to learn. 4) It's OK to spoil books with pen and paper marks. In fact, I recommend marking anything of interest. Underlining is a cue for the brain to pay extra attention to the part that's being underlined. 5) It's easy to get fooled into thinking that you're learning when you're reading books. Reading != learning. Learning happens when you've digested and internalized the idea from many angles, and have made it your own. That takes an active effort beyond reading. 6) So what is to be done for learning from books? What works for me: summarizing key insights and ideas from the book in my own words. Just copy-pasting or typing underlined sentences is not enough. 7) I feel I haven't learned from a book until I'm able to explain to myself and others the key concepts and mental models contained in it as well as the author. It's a high bar, but that's what I aspire to for each book that I read. 8) Do not wait until the end of the book to write down your notes. Do it after each major section or chapter. If you postpone till the end, either you'll get lazy or forget/miss a major idea. Your notes create value for others too if you blog/tweet them. 9) All this sounds like a lot of work, and it is. But remember: the point is not to finish books but to build new mental models. As a thumb rule: spend as much time writing your notes (in your own words) from the book as you'd spend reading it. 10) Take your time in searching for challenging books. A simple heuristic to know whether a book was good: are you thinking differently about the world after reading it? If not, the book was mental junk food. 11) Last tip: with each new book, increase the difficulty level of the book. It's damn convenient for the brain to chew on 'How to do XYZ' books one after another. Majority of books in the business section belong to the easy category. Know that they have diminishing returns. - - - S: If you're looking for some good books to read I put together a list of the 100 most impactful books I’ve read. Get the list for FREE here: https://lnkd.in/eBFYc3xE

Still Stuck on Your Literature Review? Here’s the step-by-step workflow that takes you from blank page to publication-ready (Save this post) ——————————————— 1. Define Your Research Question   ➠ Don’t start searching aimlessly. ➠ Get crystal clear on your hypothesis. ➠ Make it specific, measurable, and relevant. ➠ Let your question guide every search and selection. 2. Develop a Search Strategy ➠ List your keywords and phrases. ➠ Choose the right databases (PubMed, JSTOR, etc). ➠ Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) for laser focus. ➠ Document everything for reproducibility. 3. Conduct the Literature Search ➠ Go systematic: search, collect, and organize with tools like Zotero or EndNote. ➠ Download full texts for in-depth review. ➠ Keep a log—you’ll thank yourself later. 4. Screen & Select Relevant Studies ➠ Review titles & abstracts. ➠ Exclude anything off-topic—be ruthless! ➠ Use flowcharts (PRISMA style) to show your process. 5. Extract & Organize Data ➨ Build a data extraction form: author, year, methods, findings. ➨ Summarize & spot trends or gaps. ➨ Spreadsheets and qualitative software are your best friends. 6. Critically Appraise the Literature ➨ How strong is the evidence? ➨ Assess sample size, bias, strengths, and weaknesses. ➨ Compare across studies—don’t just accept, analyze. 7. Synthesize the Findings ➨Group by theme, method, or outcome. ➨ Create a story with your data—use charts and concept maps. ➨ Identify gaps & suggest next steps. 8. Write the Literature Review ➨ Start with a clear intro—set the stage. ➨ Organize by theme or time. ➨ Discuss how your findings fit (or challenge) existing knowledge. ➨ End by highlighting key takeaways and future directions. 9. Revise & Edit ➨ Polish for clarity and flow. ➨ Double-check citations. ➨ Get feedback—from peers, mentors, even AI tools! 10. Update Regularly ➨ Science never sleeps, neither should your review. ➨ Keep tracking new research and update as you go. ——————————————— Pro Tip: ➠ Tag a friend who needs this workflow. ➠ Save for your next project. ♻️ Repost #LiteratureReview #GradSchoolTips #AcademicWriting #ResearchWorkflow #PhDLife #LinkedInGrowth

Reading is the language of wealth. For 3 years straight, I read every single day and became a millionaire at 24. 7 simple tips to build this 7-figure habit: 1. Treat reading like a video game It's not "I have to read," it's "I GET to read." Every book is a chance to level up your skills before the next big challenge. This mindset shift makes reading fun, not a chore. 2. Read to solve real problems Don't just read random books. Pick ones that address your current challenges. When I noticed my sales team struggling, I dove into sales books. Applying what you learn immediately helps it stick. 3. Focus on books you can use now Reading without application is like buying gym equipment and never using it. If you can't apply the knowledge soon, you'll likely forget it in six months. 4. Make your reading purposeful and timely When I read "Great Leads," it revolutionized our marketing approach. We shifted 70% of our time to ideation, resulting in better numbers in 6 weeks than the previous 6 months. One book can genuinely change the game for your business. 5. Create a reading ritual I set aside 30 minutes during evenings and weekends. It's non-negotiable, like brushing my teeth. Consistency is key. Small daily efforts (and the knowledge learned) compound over time. 6. Take actionable notes Don't just passively read. Engage with the material. Write down one action item from each chapter. Then implement it within 48 hours. Why read it if you won't act on it? 7. Share what you learn Teaching solidifies your understanding and helps others get on the same page. I discuss key insights with my team in our weekly meetings. It holds me accountable and spreads knowledge throughout the company. Reading is not about quantity, but quality and application. One book deeply understood and implemented is worth more than 100 books skimmed. It's the cheapest, most accessible form of mentorship available. If you enjoyed this and want more in-depth content like this: Join my newsletter to learn my business principles, systems, mental models, and scaling to $20M annual revenue 👉 https://lnkd.in/eVhbA8RE

🧠 Your memory is muscle, not magic—train it right and it will work wonders for your career. Here are 10 practical ways to sharpen recall and turn “I forgot” into “I’ve got this.” 1. Create vivid mental pictures When you meet new information, convert it into a colorful image or short movie scene. The brain files visuals faster than plain text. 2. Chunk, don’t cram Group data into bite-size sets of three-to-five items (phone numbers, project phases). Smaller packets travel through working memory with less friction. 3. Teach it to someone else Explaining a concept forces you to reorganize and simplify it. If you can teach it, you truly own it. 4. Leverage spaced repetition Revisit material at increasing intervals—1 day, 3 days, 1 week. Each “re-ping” strengthens neural pathways instead of building new, weaker ones. 5. Build memory palaces Place facts along a familiar mental route (your commute, childhood home). Walking that route later cues each item effortlessly. 6. Engage multiple senses Read it, say it aloud, write it by hand. Multisensory input gives your brain more entry points to retrieve the same memory. 7. Sleep like it matters—because it does Deep sleep transfers short-term data into long-term storage. Aim for 7–8 hours and protect the last 90 minutes from blue light. 8. Move your body A brisk walk boosts blood flow and neuroplasticity, priming the hippocampus for easier encoding right after exercise. 9. Reduce cognitive clutter Use external tools (calendars, to-do apps) for routine info. Freeing working memory leaves space for high-value learning. 10. Associate facts with emotions Tie dry data to a personal story, a joke, or a “wow” moment. Emotion is the highlighter pen of the brain. 🔄 Which tip will you try first? Drop a comment or share your own memory hacks—let’s help each other remember what matters.

📚 How to Craft a Solid, Well-Structured Literature Review 📝 A great literature review isn’t just about summarizing existing research. It’s about comparing, contrasting, critically evaluating, and synthesizing ideas to establish your own research foundation. Here's how you can master the process: Steps to Structure Your Literature Review . 1️⃣ Define the Scope - Identify the key research questions your review will address. - Establish boundaries for your review (e.g., topics, time period, methodologies). 2️⃣ Choose an Organizational Framework. - Chronological: Review the evolution of research over time. Useful for highlighting trends or shifts in understanding. - Thematic:Organize by topics or themes within your field. Ideal for breaking down complex areas into manageable sections. - Theoretical:Focus on comparing and contrasting theories or frameworks in your area of study. - Methodological: Compare how different research designs or methods address the same problem. 3️⃣ The 5C's of Literature Review - Compare: Show similarities between studies or findings. - Contrast: Highlight contradictions, gaps, or opposing viewpoints. - Critically Evaluate:Assess the validity, reliability, and quality of the studies. - Connect:Demonstrate how the studies relate to each other. - Synthesize: Build your own interpretation or argument by weaving together the insights. 4️⃣ Write the Review - Start with an Introduction : Explain the purpose of the review, its structure, and the scope. - Develop the Main Body: Use subheadings (themes, methodologies, etc.) and follow your chosen framework. - Conclude with a Summary and Research Gap: Identify gaps in the literature and justify the need for your research. 5️⃣ Revise and Refine - Proofread for clarity, structure, and flow. - Ensure proper citations and formatting. 🎯 Pro Tip: A standout literature review isn’t just a reflection of existing knowledge—it’s a demonstration of your ability to critique and synthesize ideas into a meaningful narrative that sets the stage for your own work. 💬 How do you approach your literature reviews? Share your techniques or challenges below! 👇

Most of what you learn today will be forgotten by next week. But here’s how to make it stick: Apply it, then share it. For years, I consumed endless content (Books, Podcasts, Trainings, you name it). It felt like I was learning a ton, but in reality, it was like pouring water into a leaky bucket. Now, whenever I learn something new, I follow these steps: 1️⃣ 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: Write it down. I create folders for different topics and store new info there. ↳ This helps me remember it longer. 2️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: Create an action item to put the learning into practice. ↳ Taking action cements the knowledge. 3️⃣ 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲: Communicate it to others in a succinct way (like here on LinkedIn). ↳ Explaining it to others forces me to master my understanding. As Einstein said: “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” That’s how I personally ensure knowledge sticks — what techniques do you use? Would you give this a try?