In some of my recent reading, I’ve stumbled across mentions of our “snacking” culture towards information. Many of these articles/blogs talk about how we are snacking on information instead of really learning about any one topic in depth. We do not dive deep into a topic or concept. We just take small bites of information as we need them.
Most of the articles/blogs I read attributed this to high amounts of information available to us online. We are overloaded on any certain topic so we can only skim many different sources to get what we need. We do not have time to plow through all of it, so we just grab what we can quickly.
I started thinking about how we do this with learning, too. We just take a small bite to get what we need for the moment. We do not get what we need to solve something long-term because we do not delve deep enough to get the big picture.
As a trainer I see this almost every day. What many people want are the “Hints and Tips” and not the explanation about why something works the way it does. Sometimes when I have the time to sit and explain how something works within the software, the person is amazed at how much this helps. They are able to see the big picture of how the software works.
I think that it is important to make sure that when you schedule training try to take a little extra time so that the trainer can explain why things work certain ways. That small amount of time (maybe just 30 minutes) can help you really grasp what is happening in the software. The next time you have an issue or problem occur, you can probably understand it better because you truly see why the software operates the way it does.
So, next time you plan your training, make sure to reserve a little time for some a big meal instead of just a snack!
Over the past few weeks, I think I have been living at my computer for way too many hours each day. This has caused me to develop kinks, knots and pains where I usually don’t have them. Have you experienced carpal tunnel issues or pain from hunching over the computer keyboard?
I have a confession to make. I used to be VERY organized. I kept up with most everything and rarely missed sending a card for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Even my computer pictures and files were all easy to locate. Now, a three-foot, cute little boy has knocked me off of my organization pedestal. He’s worth every gray hair I’m getting, though! 
Last week, I blogged about what to do if you missed Administrative Professionals Week. This week, I’d thought I’d be more proactive and remind you in advance of another important day…Mother’s Day. Every year, my husband and I search and rack our brains trying to come up with ANYTHING that we can get our mothers. 
Last week was Administrative Professionals week. I baked some cookies and brought them in on Wednesday. Everyone I encountered said the same thing, “Administrative Professionals week is this week??” Even though Administrative Professionals Week is one of the largest workplace observances, I’m guessing that many other people forgot, too.
On one of my grocery shopping trips the other day, I went to the refrigerated section to purchase eggs. I am usually in a rush so don’t even look at the selection. I just grab and go. This time, I looked over the eggs that were available. 
Last week, I wrote a friend of mine an email for her birthday. I started thinking about how long we had been friends…over 32 years! I met her when we moved to Texas when I was just a little kid. My sister and I walked around in our neighborhood and asked if there were any little kids to play with at each house. We met Krista on our second day in Texas.
Recently I was reading a survey of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) conducted by a very well-respect staffing and recruiting firm. The survey found that the CIOs listed technology skills as the area where their staff needed the most improvement.
Last year I read a book by a friend and former colleague about how to work like your dog. This past week I spent time with extended family, who have a great, fun-loving dog. Their dog, Ellie, reminded me of that book. Ellie, is such a wonderful, friendly dog, who really enjoys life. She started out as a normal crazy puppy that jumped on everything and was a bit out of control. With some time, training, and natural maturity, she has become a fantastic addition to their family. 
There has been a theme across several blogs and articles I’ve read lately. I’ve noticed it in some of the news stories, too. Corporations are keeping their “useful” employees with more benefits and/or increased pay. It costs the corporation less to retain their best people versus hiring and training new ones. 