| It is 31 December 2007 -- the last day of 2007. It is | | | | In the beginning of a career -- say you are starting |
| that time of the year again -- a time of determination | | | | an online business -- gathering information is very |
| and mental pledge -- a time to meet people and | | | | appropriate. But since new information is released |
| share New Year resolutions. | | | | every second and money-making opportunities are |
| On the same day last year, people I met eagerly | | | | created everyday gathering and digesting information |
| inquired about my New Year resolutions. Then they | | | | could become a never-ending feat. So take only |
| would wait impatiently for me to finish so they could | | | | what you need and leave the rest behind. You can |
| get their turn to explain what theirs were. Some | | | | always come back later for more. Let us get going. It |
| resolutions were about money and some were about | | | | is time for action. |
| happiness. Our resolutions were simple and | | | | Make Research Short And Snappy |
| straightforward. But now things seem to change. | | | | Research is definitely necessary before embarking on |
| Beware of Information Overload. | | | | any project. At the initial stage you would gather |
| These days you and I may have been bombarded | | | | enough basic information to bring you into action. It is |
| with so much information that it is easy to become | | | | important to make this stage short and snappy. Don't |
| confused and lose the big picture. I know people who | | | | worry, you can always come back for more later. |
| would take days, weeks or even months just to | | | | When you start taking action unexpected problems |
| make a simple decision. Their reason was that there | | | | may be encountered. It is a sign that further learning |
| were too many things to consider, too many views | | | | is necessary. The good news is that learning at this |
| to analyze, too much information to ponder over. | | | | stage is very satisfying and efficient because it is well |
| This is the information era. Information continually | | | | focused. You have your problem as the pivot. Every |
| comes to you without you asking. If you are not | | | | research would then be an attempt to solve this |
| selective you could be hit by an overwhelming | | | | problem. It is problem-oriented. You may quickly scan |
| condition -- the information overload -- whose | | | | and skim because you already know what you are |
| symptoms include confusion and inability to take | | | | looking for. It is a matter of finding it. |
| action. | | | | Later on when you have gained proficiency and have |
| We hear people say that a little knowledge is a | | | | begun to get results learning would still continue but |
| dangerous thing. It prevents us from making the right | | | | the best teacher at this stage would probably be |
| decisions. Now the opposite is also true -- too much | | | | your own experience. The problems you encounter |
| information also prevents us from thinking straight. | | | | may be unique. Problem solving at this stage would |
| Paralysis Due To Analysis | | | | be done more or less on your own. |
| Who says you need to know everything to take | | | | Take Action |
| action? Do you remember the two brothers who did | | | | Knowledge is power. That is true -- but only if you |
| not have knowledge in certain areas because they | | | | have the right knowledge. That is true too as long as |
| did not finish high school -- or so the story goes -- | | | | it does not keep you from taking action. You must |
| but later became gurus of flight technology? They | | | | realize two things. One, it is impossible to know |
| are the Wright brothers. | | | | everything there is about business before you start. |
| Nobody doubts the extraordinary capacity of the | | | | Two, some things just cannot be learned except |
| brain to store information. Unfortunately when it | | | | through experience. To learn to swim you have to |
| comes to focusing, the brain could do only a few | | | | get into the water. Videos and ebooks won't do you |
| things at any one time. If you focus more on | | | | any good if you do not take action. |
| information gathering and analysis, then you would | | | | May your New Year be filled be action. |
| have less focus on action. | | | | |