It is not the easiest thing in the world to learn a new skill whether you are young or old. However, if you want to earn more money, you must keep learning. I learnt new technical skills in my thirties ie how to sew and make hats. I can tell you that it was not an easy thing to do.
Since then, I have gone on to learn more skills. Yep, you can never stop learning.
So, in this blog post, I will share with you 4 tips that will made it easy for me to learn new skills.
- Always keep an open mind.
- At the beginning, be prepared to fail.
- Develop the habit of practicing what you learn.
- Stay humble.
1. Always keep an open mind.
When you start learning something new, there is a possibility that you know something about the skill you are about to learn. You should not let that stop you from learning new concepts or methods.
The best thing you can do if you have any earlier knowledge is to find out how to use the earlier information you have to make your learning process easier.
I was in this situation years ago when I went to fashion school. (😊 one of my technical skills is fashion designing). I previously learnt how to sew from a local tailor, so I know how to cut and sew.
However, in fashion school, I had to learn pattern making. At first, it was quite confusing, however, when I let go of the earlier knowledge I had about sewing, I was able to learn pattern making.
There were other ladies in my class who had learnt how to sew before coming to fashion school. They could not learn new skills because they kept questioning the instructor.
2. You should be prepared to fail.
The first time that you do something, it is not going to be perfect. When a child starts to walk, he will fall down several times before he can stand properly. The same thing happens when you learn how to do something for the first time.
When I started sewing, the first outfits I made without the supervision of my tutor were not good (to put it mildly). Many people laughed at me, and I could have stopped learning at that point.
However, I learnt from my mistakes and made better outfits. I improved and really got good at my craft. So, you should look beyond your first attempts. You cannot be perfect the first time. It takes rounds of practice to get it right.
Recommended reading: 51 Business ideas that you can start with 2 million Naira or less when you retire.
3. Develop the habit of practicing what you learn.
Thirdly, you should develop the habit of practicing what you learn as soon as possible. I kept using pieces of fabric from the shop to practice concepts that I learnt each day. Sometimes, I have to buy fabric just to use in practicing.
Simply put, the best way to learn is practicing the new concept again and again.
Another reason you need to practice concepts that there are various levels of expertise in a skill. If you master how to use the basic concepts fast, then the next levels will not be difficult for you to learn.
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4. Stay humble.
The last tip I will share in this article is that you should stay humble. Why? Well, your instructor is likely to be younger than you. The person might even be on what you will consider a lower social class than you.
For example, if you are learning how to rear snails. Your instructor may be a farmhand. If you are snobbish, it is likely that the instructor will only teach you the basics as per your agreement.
However, if you respect your instructor, there is a possibility that the person will show you secrets of the trade that you can only learn after years of practice.
I had this experience when I learnt how to sew in a local market near my office. The expert tailor shared sewing skills with me that would have taken me years of practice to learn. I am sure that one of his reasons for sharing was that I respected him.
So, once you have made up your mind to learn a skill, make sure you obey the rules your instructor gives you. For example, resumption time, using your phone etc. Remember, it is just for a brief period.
Conclusion
It is not an easy thing to learn a skill at any age. However, whether you succeed or fail in business depends on the skills that you have.
Therefore, it is necessary that you spend time improving yourself. You may think that it is challenging work. Nope. It is fun when you start practicing.
Remember, you do not have to go for a physical class before you learn something new. You can learn by attending online courses (paid or free). Another way you can learn a new skill is reading books.
If you are interested in getting more tips on how to start and grow your business, join us in our Facebook community https://web.facebook.com/groups/smartretirementbiz I look forward to answering your questions there.
