You’ll get the most from any of our personal learning courses when you go through it four times. It may seem like a lot, but based on how the human brain works, it is the absolute best and ultimately the easiest way to develop the expertise you want.

You’ll be building awareness during the first time through, moving toward familiarity with the second, accumulating knowledge and skills in the third, and developing expertise in the fourth. It is a natural progression that gives you the most benefit.

Step 1 – Review the Materials to Develop Awareness (15 minutes)

• Separate the written materials, audio and video sessions, and other support materials to get an idea of what you have. This will make the course less daunting and more approachable. You might find a “Quick-Start Guide” along with a course manual.
• Skim the written materials (no more than five minutes). Check out the table of contents, sequence of lessons or sessions, purpose of the course, promised benefits, and anything else that excites you about the contents. Be superficial and move quickly.
• Determine the recommended sequence for going through the course. Does the course recommend beginning with an audio session or a video or does it suggest reading materials?
• Plan your first few moves. Your best success will come from breaking your study sessions into smaller chunks of about thirty minutes to an hour. It is amazing how easy it is to find small bits of time during even the busiest schedules.
• Get out your calendar! Write in what you will do on what days. It is so easy for life to get in the way of your personal growth unless you make your new course a priority and get it scheduled into your life.

Step 2 – Blast Through (and Don’t Try to Do Any of It) To Develop Familiarity

• Full speed ahead! Listen to the audio sessions in sequence, but don’t bother to do any of the exercises. Or, start by listening to parts in an order that feels more interesting to you.
• If there is a video, watch it, but don’t worry about understanding it all. Just enjoy.
• If there is a Paraliminal session, meditation, relaxation exercise, or guided-imagery process and you have the time to enjoy it, go for it! Watch the video portions and feel free to do anything you want as they play, but DO NOT STOP to do things “right.” Keep it moving.
• Don’t try to cram your listening into one session. Give yourself time. Allow your brain to absorb and integrate the material. This will make the next steps all the easier.

Step 3 – Do It All To Develop Knowledge and Skills

• As you go through the course this time, do the exercises!
• Go easy on yourself as you learn. Think in terms of baby steps and a childlike curiosity. The goal is not to know everything and perfect new skills. Don’t worry about doing everything the right way. The goal is to playfully develop new skills. Take your time as you do the exercises.

Step 4 – Apply What You Learn To Develop Expertise

• Put what you are learning into action throughout your day. Go back through parts of the program to better understand any points or concepts where you need clarity. Do the exercises so that you get better with them. Be sure to do the exercises with real-life applications and benefits in mind.  Play with skills that don’t quite feel natural and you’ll find yourself developing the expertise you want.
• Stretch your skills into new areas. Go beyond the basics into greater possibilities. Consider, “What if…” and explore how to achieve bigger dreams. Don’t wait until you have fully developed your expertise. You’ll make huge progress when you leap into the greater possibilities sooner than later.