Ready for a mindblower?
The human brain can store 2.5 petabytes of information (1 million gigabytes). That means if your brain was a DVR, it could record continuously, 24 hours a day . . . for 300 years. (Scientific American)
Knowledge in Nanotechnology is doubling every 2 years. Clinical knowledge is doubling every 18 months. On average, human knowledge is doubling every 13 months. IBM says that when the internet is fully built out, human knowledge will be doubling every 12 hours! (Industrytap.com)
Whoa, right?
I bet you’re feeling pretty smart right about now. I mean, think about how far we’ve come technology-wise in last few decades. In the early ‘80s nobody even had a computer on their desk. Before 1955 we didn’t have microwave ovens. Now every one of us literally have our own “tricorder” type cell phone, and people go home from heart surgery the next day!
Humans are awesome, aren’t we? Yay for us. But here’s the other side of the coin . . .
We forget 50 to 80% of what we learn every day . . .and we lose 97% after 30 days
Ouch. Now you are probably worried about the robots taking over. We hear fears of it every day.
So, what can learn from this crazy juxtaposition of truths? On the one hand there is this explosion of knowledge happening, and in order to keep up in our fields and in our careers we need to stay abreast of it. Yet our biology isn’t built to retain it naturally.
What do we do about that?
We need a brain upgrade, and that’s where training comes in.
I’m a Project Manager and trainer, so of course I’m a huge believer in the importance of training. But that’s not just because it’s part of what I do, it’s because I’ve seen what it can do.
Training, done properly, shores up the brain against its tendency towards forgetfulness. A good trainer will bring the right material to the classroom; deliver it in an effective, engaging way; provide activities where that knowledge can be used; assist learning retention with the use of mnemonics and other strategies; repeat core concepts; quiz you till you get it and more.
As trainers, I promise we want to make sure our training works and works great, because we know that training is a large cost for businesses, and it has to be worthwhile for them to continue to invest in it.
We want you to get that robot brain and continue to stay relevant in your field.
But we’re only half of the equation
You, the student, are the other half. To absorb and hold onto knowledge that is going to keep you relevant, there are a few things you have to do, too. Skin in the game, right?
1. Make training a priority.
That means setting aside the time to really be present during your training sessions without feeling a pull to do other activities (i.e. meetings, emails, wrapping up projects). If you aren’t plugged in, you can’t receive the mega-download of amazingness your trainer wants to deliver to you!
2. Review the material you’ve learned.
If your trainer gives you an assignment, do it. Look over your notes. Explain what you learned to someone else at the end of the day (your spouse will love to hear all about it, I promise.)
3. Apply your newfound knowledge to the real world.
If you can use what you learned right away, do it! Not only will it solidify those new neural pathways, you’ll look like a superstar.
Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
But of course, that was 1986. Now it’s knowledge that’s moving fast. And growth. And opportunity.
Don’t let them pass you by.
Check out some upcoming opportunities to “upgrade your brain” with our Featured Classes!
About the Author
Brian McBrayer, PMP®, is a Project Manager with Solarity, helping our clients achieve their strategic goals by assessing their current situation, defining their desired future state, and then acting upon an approved plan to help them reach their desired outcomes.
Before joining Solarity, Brian was a Project Manager with Tenmast Software, based in Lexington, KY. He is a member of both the global & local chapters of the Project Management Institute (PMI)®. His experience includes project management, sales management & organizational leadership in the software, public safety, & food industries.
Brian has a degree in Marketing from Morehead State University. He is happily married and has two grown sons.
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