As I was busily rearranging the hotel ballroom where my seminar was to be held, a man arrived, marched to the front seat, sat down, folded his arms over his chest and said in a demanding voice, \u201cThis better be good!\u201d<\/p>\n
I was quite certain that he was about to be disappointed.<\/p>\n
During the break at the same class, another man rushed up to me, eyes glowing, and said, \u201cI can\u2019t believe what is happening. I wasn\u2019t even supposed to be here tonight. I came to take notes for a friend who couldn\u2019t make it. Already, I have thought of several businesses I could start!\u201d<\/p>\n
Every class I teach has a variation of this theme. While the information is the same, some people leave with nothing and others leave with more than they expected to get.<\/p>\n
How can you be the one to get more out of the classes and seminars you attend?<\/p>\n
Having spent a lot of time on both sides of the desk, here are a few tips I\u2019ve garnered:<\/p>\n
\u00b0 Be responsible for what happens in the class.<\/strong> Do you realize, for example, that you can help the leader do a better job? By nodding, smiling, responding, you can encourage\u2014or discourage\u2014the person leading the class.<\/p>\n Nonverbal communication is strong in a classroom. If you frown or appear indifferent, you may have a negative impact on the person teaching the course. By supporting the teacher, you\u2019ll get a better class. No kidding.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Come ready to learn.<\/strong> Leave your problems and worries outside the room and let your sense of adventure take over. For a few hours, suspend your resistance and be open to the ideas and information you\u2019re receiving.<\/p>\n \u00b0\u00a0Pick the best seat in the house.<\/strong>\u00a0 Arrive a bit early and select the best vantage point you can get. Make sure you can see and hear what\u2019s going on. The farther to the front that you place yourself, the fewer the distractions.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Take two sets of notes.<\/strong> Make one set factual (i.e. important points given in the lecture) and another of ideas that you get during the course of the lecture. In other words, begin applying ideas to your life immediately.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Be a regular student. <\/strong>Of course, expanding your knowledge can be fun and interesting, but there are larger benefits. Seminars and classes can strengthen your self-confidence, motivate you, awaken ideas and thoughts that have been dormant.<\/p>\n You may even transform your life. Only Cinderella changed hers with a magic want. Modern versions of the story such as My Fair Lady<\/em><\/strong> and Educating Rita<\/em><\/strong> rely on education to perform such miracles.<\/p>\n Take your self-education seriously. And while not all classes and seminars will be equally powerful, you\u2019ll still receive the rewards that come from keeping your curiosity alive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As I was busily rearranging the hotel ballroom where my seminar was to be held, a man arrived, marched to the front seat, sat down, folded his arms over his chest and said in a demanding voice, \u201cThis better be good!\u201d I was quite certain that he was about to be disappointed. During the break…<\/p>\n