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More Tales from the Dunes - by Andrew Houston
#6 New Beginnings
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Greetings fellow academics
Wow! 2010, it is the start of a new decade, how exciting is that. Just a thought and nothing really to do with this blog but I remember sitting in primary school, I must have been 8 or maybe 9 at the time thinking damn (well actually I don’t think that word was in my vocabulary may have been gosh!) I’ll be 40 when the year 2000 hits!
Anyway! Back from the world of dreams. I thought it might be interesting to look at the relationship between success and those pesky resolutions we dream up in time for the new year and wonder what happened by the end of January. How many of us make these resolutions? If we ask that question then the next logical one is how long did you keep to it? A month? Was it two, or perhaps it was even longer than that?
Most of us through one medium or another have heard people say the definition of insanity is: To make the same mistake over and over again expecting a different result. It is a handy little saying to be sure (although contrary to popular belief it is not the definition found in the dictionary). Well here’s a thought how many of us make ambitious resolutions many of which are the same ones as last year and then stand back in amazement and confusion when yet again we don’t stick to them?
I thought I knew how to study!
If a particular action, thought process or style of studying isn’t working then we must change the method in which we approach it. This I am sorry to say is written with regret and personal experience. Over the last 32 years, I have completed a BSc in Avionic Engineering, BTech in Avionics, an HND in Electrical & Electronic Engineering and a City & Guilds in Marine Radio & Radar. I knew how to study right? Wrong! I thought I knew how to study! How wrong could I have been? You see, the subjects above all conformed to a particular genre where basic principles if followed would get you there in the end.
This new learning experience in Management crept up behind me and went BOO! Suddenly all my previous methods of study were of no use yet my approach stayed the same. I have deferred twice now as I didn’t feel ready to take the assessment and what led me to that was I did not change my approach in any way.
New beginnings
I have now totally changed my method of study, still around 3 hours a day just broken down into smaller bites that are easier to swallow. Things are going a lot better. So if you are planning that diet for the New Year or your resolution is to exercise more or whatever it is you have chosen to try again this year, try coming at it from a different direction and breaking the same old routines that have never led to the success that is undoubtedly waiting for you!
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