Posted on January 26, 2012 by Dave Crenshaw

Got a pile of seminar notes somewhere? You know what I mean…page after page of detailed scribbles that you have told yourself “someday” you’re going to review. How often have you truly been able to read through those notes, let alone do something about them?

In this brief video, you’ll learn the four simple steps you can take to actually get value from your note taking and, more importantly, get lasting results that benefit your life and your career.

 

Action Steps:

  1. Watch this video and ask yourself: When I attend conferences or seminars, do I take action on the things I’ve learned, or do I just take notes?
  2. In the next seminar, conference or company meeting you attend, follow this simple four-step system to help you successfully take action, not notes:
    • Listen for Actions: Ask “How can I do something about this?”
    • Highlight Actions: Call attention to actions with an open box or other method.
    • Process Actions: Review your actions and decide What, When and Where for each item.
    • Take Action: When the time comes, do it!
  3. Share your perspective or ask questions on this page.

 

Principles to Learn:

  1. The shorter the distance between you learning something new and you taking action on it, the more successful you’ll become.
  2. By putting an open box next to that action or anything that calls attention to the action, you make it easier for the next step, which is processing actions.
  3. When you do something about what you’ve learned, you’ll internalize it much faster than reviewing or memorizing it.

 


This post was sponsored by Dave Crenshaw’s Coaching Programs. Forget resolutions. Get results! Choose from three coaching packages custom-fit to your needs. Visit http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com/coach

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  • Sandy

    Dave, AMAZING video, and thank you for this simple, yet brilliant, tip. Too many times – read ‘every time’ – when I go to seminars, etc, I do EXACTLY that, I take notes and think, consciously, or subconsciously, that my job is done – at least until review time. Then when I DO review, I go, ‘Yeah, that’d be a cool thing to do…’ Actually doing it? Sometimes yes, sometimes no… Again, thank you.

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      You’re welcome, Sandy! Be sure to put this into practice at your next meeting, seminar, or conference.

  • Angy

    Thanks! and great timing for me personally as I’ll be at a conference next month and I can put this knowledge to work.  Love it! Angy

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      Ha, you’re right, Angy! This is great timing for all you studio owners. My suggestion: try to come away with just ten or so clear action steps. Although you’re sure to learn more than that, if you can just take away ten clear actions, you’ll get your best results from the event. Enjoy!

  • Michael Mensah

    Thank u so much MR. CRENSHAW.This has been revealing. It has always been my practice to jot down points, reviewing and or memorizing it. 

    I totally agree with these steps and its amazing how much energy we put into jotting down notes and doing less listening with little or no action at all.
    I do appreciate the knowledge i have gained from this video.

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      Thank you, Michael! I hope all is well for you and your business in Ghana.

  • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

    Oops! Just caught an error @ 2:05 I meant: “Where it’s home is…” Those of you familiar with my productivity training and books probably already caught that. Sorry!

  • http://twitter.com/MegginMcIntosh Meggin McIntosh

    Outstanding, Dave.  Simple – but that’s why it would work!!  Love this!  I’ll be teaching people this method in my workshops – and crediting you, of course!  I cite you all the time :)

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      Thanks Meggin! Feel free to show this video to your peeps during your workshops.