Learn More Now10 Simple Steps

to LearningBetter, Smarter,

and Faster

M A R C I A L . CO N N E R

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Praise for Learn More Now

Leaders at all levels will benefit from Marcia Conners amazing book ofstrategies, exercises, and stories to maximize learning. When the excitementof learning permeates organizations, people feel valued, talented, and ful-filled. This book is a must for your reading list this year.

Ken Blanchard, Chief Spiritual Officer, Ken Blanchard Companies

We learn so naturally as children; everything we do is about learning. Aswe mature, many of us lose touch with this innate approach to learning.Marcia Conners book provides a roadmap to reawakening the naturalprocess of integrating learning into our daily lives.

Kathy ODriscoll, Human Resources Director, Microsoft

Learn More Now combines ease and simplicity with surprising depth. Itseasy to learn what Conner is saying, yet her insights are remarkably deep,allowing for some major shifts in approach. Learn More Now makes learn-ingfrom books or work or conferences or family or life itselfricher,deeper, and, best of all, both fun and easy. Conner made me see old thingsin new ways, offering simple tactics to make lots of gains in learning. Withthe tremendous pace of life, Learn More Now is like a twenty-point tune-upthat improves the efficiency of the most important tool we haveourminds.

Daniel Granholm Mulhern, Leadership Consultant and First Gentleman of the State of Michigan

Learn More Now is a very practical, hands-on resource that has enabled meto develop a much better understanding of how I obtain knowledge and skilland has provided me with best practices for dealing with individuals of dif-fering approaches. The content of the book is very insightful and includesgreat workbook-style exercises that facilitate learning by doing. Learn MoreNow coaches individuals towards increased self-awareness and provides tipsand techniques for building personal capabilities important to individualand business success. Learn More Now is interesting, fun, and filled withwonderful quotes that provide good learning tidbits. Application of whatIve learned through reading Learn More Now will provide me with arepeatable, successful process for future growth and development.

Karen Kocher, Vice President of CIGNA Technology Institute, CIGNA

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Learn More Now is a treat for everybody interested in learning smarter.Finally, a publication that genuinely respects learner diversity as much as itoffers tangible ideas for dealing with it. Marcia L. Conner is a true learningchampion. In Learn More Now she walks the talk by sharing her immenseknowledge about her vocation in a language that resonates with learning spe-cialists as much as novices in that field. Learn More Now presents the com-plexity of human learning in simple language. Trust the author, take heradvice, stay with her to give your learning journey the boost you deserve.

Learning can be a challenging task; talking to clients in the past, I havealways emphasized that there is no shortcut to learning. Learn More Nowproves me wrong. Learn More Now will become an indispensable companionon my own learning journey.

Gunnar Brckner, former Chief Learning Officer, United Nations Development Programme

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Learn More Now10 Simple Steps

to LearningBetter, Smarter,

and Faster

M A R C I A L . CO N N E R

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Copyright 2004 by Marcia L. Conner. All rights reserved

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New JerseyPublished simultaneously in Canada

Illustrations by Kavita Bali, Urban Peacock (www.urbanpeacock.com)

Design and production by Navta Associates, Inc.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmit-ted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scan-ning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 UnitedStates Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, orauthorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax

permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and the author have usedtheir best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties withrespect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically dis-claim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Nowarranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials.The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. Youshould consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor theauthor shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, includingbut not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

For general information about our other products and services, please contact our Cus-tomer Care Department within the United States at (800) 762-2974, outside the UnitedStates at (317) 572-3993 or fax (317) 572-4002.

Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content thatappears in print may not be available in electronic books. For more information about

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:Conner, Marcia L., date.

Learn more now : 10 simple steps to learning better, smarter, and faster / Marcia L.Conner

p. cm.Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 0-471-27390-2 (pbk.)1. Learning. 2. Cognitive styles. I. Title.LB1060.C655 2004370.15'23dc22

2003017819Printed in the United States of America10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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Wiley products, visit our web site at www.wiley.com.

(978) 646-8600, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for

http://www.copyright.comhttp://www.wiley.com

This book is dedicated to the memory of Douglas C. McBride (19521996)

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Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

1 Find Your Motivation 5

2 Learn Your Nature 33

3 Engage Your Body 57

4 Open New Pathways 77

5 Attend and Observe 99

6 Mind Your Gaps 119

7 Get Together 139

8 Jump In 161

9 Pace Yourself 175

10 Optimize Your Environment 195

Bravo! 213

Recommended Resources 215

Index 227

vii

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Acknowledgments

The path I followed to write this book seems similar to the route we eachface when embarking on any big journeyapprehension, wonder, curios-ity, attention, exhaustion, and eventually joy when we can recognize ourlearning and everyone who illuminated our way.

My heartfelt thanks to the people who directly and indirectly, person-ally and professionally, introduced me to timeless ideas, spurred on orig-inal thinking, generously told me what they really thought, and createda space for me to flourish. I am especially indebted to those who sent asteady stream of love and belonging no matter how isolated I becamedoing the years I devoted to this work.

Specifically, Brenda Wilkins tenderly asked the right questions. DavidMacKenzie brought forth an underlying energy. Ellen Wagner tena-ciously reminded me to clear my meanings. Gretchen Lee introduced away to say what I felt. Susan McGinnis elegantly evoked associations asshe read the full manuscript.

Kellee Sikes, Joel Getzendanner, Judee Humburg, David Grebow, andBill Owen equilibrated my perceptions early and often. Martha Spruiten-burg, Clark Quinn, Joann Ward, Gunnar Brckner, Alan Zametkin, KenKousky, John Kirkham, Dean Alms, and Vicki Halsey drew me towardgrand concepts beyond my horizon.

Jimm Meloy, Rich Persaud, Brook Manville, Estee Solomon Gray,John Seely Brown, Michael Carter, Eric Vogt, Tom Hill, Verna Allee,Eilif Trondsen, Dave Forman, Elliott Masie, Tom Hurley, Rob Harris,Mike Savage, Jack Morris, Kirk Fleming, Ron Shevlin, Susan Bernstein,and Marc Rosenberg dared me to look from emergent directions. BobBruner, Debbie Fisher, and my colleagues at the Darden Schools BattenInstitute offered pivotal advice at precisely the right moments.

Susan Rundle, Rita Dunn, Bob Filipczak, Michael Dertouzos, John

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Ratey, Richard Eyre, and Sandra Conn, through their writings and a fewpriceless conversations, challenged me to offer fresh perspectives.

Debra Young, Beth Garlington Scofield, Melinda Lee, Kelly Mecham,Will Luckert, Elizabeth OHalloran, Plum Cluverius, Leanne Gallagher,Ginger Sall, Steve Tennant, Marjorie Pingel, Kathy ODriscoll, and JimClawson gracefully cared for my inner self. Susan McNaughton, JodiSheinis, Polly Slater, Denise LaRue, Julie Ray, Cami Smith, Ann Betts,Jeanne Schmidt, Alicia Vause, Alan Van Winkle, Shelly Sweet, SandraMacKenzie, Lisa Nichols, Mark Cavender, David Goldsmith, and ToddGreenstein had miraculous faith in me.

Jay Cross, Barb Stuart, Rhonda Rosenof, Hal Richman, Allison ScottMajure, Sandy Vilas, Vince Wilk, Toni Boyle, Damian Zakakis, BillCumming, Kevin Bruny, Cheryl Emory, Greg Roberts, and the LLLIreview network cheered me on like guardian angels.

Harlan Cleveland, Doug Englebart, Michael Schrage, Elizabeth Teis-berg, Charlotte Lobe, Carmen Zeider, and Shirley McArdle serve as rolemodels and sources of ongoing inspirations.

Amy Halliday, Ann Longknife, and Maya Porter showed me how tosimultaneously unravel and tighten my words so that you can followalong. Kantha Shelke nurtured the final chapter with aplomb.

My parents, Ann and Bob, taught me how to be brave during un-bearably difficult times and modeled for me lifelong learning. My in-laws,Jo Ann and Charlie, lovingly took large responsibilities off my shouldersand helped me feel truly at home.

Jim Levine saw the potential and courageously pursued finding thesewords the right home. Tom Miller at John Wiley and Sons inspired meto get down to the examples, overcome obscurity, and say what I mean.Hope Breeman patiently kept me on schedule and had a gift for answer-ing my endless questions.

The notion that I could write a book grew from a potent conversationwith two extraordinary gentlemen, Wayne Hodgins and Doug McBride,almost a decade ago. Without their compelling vision and their unwa-vering commitment to learning, I might not have ever stopped to writeany of this down. I am stronger because Wayne continues to be an atten-tive friend, an uncompromising critic, and a loving cheerleader.

One night my husband, Karl, listening to me give myself a hard timeover the wording of a sentence, whispered, Be gentle with my wife, thisbook is her baby. If thats so, he helped bring her into the world. Dur-ing the gestation, he built a house for us to live in, endured months ofdriving to and from airports, and persistently straightened out what really

x Acknowledgments

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mattered. Without his tender and insightful understanding, this bookwould not exist.

Finally, I am grateful to the hundreds of people who have helped lightmy passageway. Although many names are mentioned in these chapters,I couldnt include stories from all of the learners who over the yearsrecounted for me their adventures. I am indebted to everyone who hasever taken the time to help clarify my message by introducing me to theirpersonal style.

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Learn More Now

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