This advice was not even born in our era of digital glut and disillusionment. It was given by an elderly gentleman who lived in the 19th century to his teenage grandson , who is now in his fifth decade.
Today this man is the "grey eminence" of the business world - one of the most interesting people I have ever met.
He helped develop devices that are now sold under well-known brands. Today he works only when he feels that he has to offer to others.
He is immersed in monitoring stock prices that threaten corporate crises. Sometimes , when he's interested enough , he writes speeches for the world's biggest corporate executives and politicians , his words are worth six figures.
He reads exceptionally much , and also writes fruitfully.
Novels. But just for fun: at the end, he deletes them.
He sees no point in being published , and does not seek publicity in general.
Among his friends are the most influential people on the planet - from businessmen and politicians to actors and other representatives of the arts. But if you google his name , and you will find only a couple of lines.
I first met him for coffee at his house., while discussing the strategy of a political non-profit organization in Africa.
There was a lively discussion at the table.
Home owner, making coffee, said practically nothing.
But in those few cases, when he joined the conversation, his short question or remark invariably clarified exactly what, what really mattered, brushing aside unnecessary controversy, clogging the discussion. It was real skill. , how to watch the conductor of the london philharmonic orchestra, reshaping a student band from a small town.
So when he gave me advice, the best who i ever received, I was all in attention.
If you can only do one thing , do it
He was still a boy and just going to high school. his grandfather , admonishing grandson, said the following:
After every lecture, meeting or any other important experience spend thirty seconds - no more, nothing less - and write down the most important points. If you always do this,” his grandfather told him, “then this alone , without any repetitions, will help you remember and learn everything.
Grandfather's advice was not in vain. Our hero used it in any of his affairs and undertakings. , and he still had plenty of time, to experience life to the fullest. He later shared this advice with his sons. , who also succeeded.
I have tried this method for several months.
And here's what I found out:
This is not a summary. I don't think , What, if during the meeting you take notes, then you are spared the need for a thirty-second generalization. This experience is completely different from the usual records. , which you do, so as not to forget important points. Quicker , this is an interpretation, setting priorities and decisions.
It's hard.
Decide, what matters most, really difficult. It's very easy to say to yourself , that you remember everything, find an excuse, to avoid that short brain sprint, a kind of hundred meters for your brain.
Details are a trap.
We often think, that allegedly "remembered everything." And it's hard for us to force ourselves to weed out unnecessary details. , to identify those points., which are really important.
The path to perfection lies through the art of tidying up.
You must act quickly.
In a couple of hours you will be able to remember the facts, but miss the nuances. And without them, you can be wrong , defining, what is really important. It could be the tone of voice of your interlocutor , or at first glance a simple assumption, that ignited a spark in you, or the shadow of someone else's idea, influenced your thoughts.
You learn to listen better and ask questions better. Once you get used to the thirty second rule, you will be able to better concentrate on the subject of a conversation or discussion. It's like being able to bring out the pure melody in a cacophony of sounds.
Since you start to listen with more attention, you ask the right questions, that really lead to the right answers, which makes your thirty second review even more useful.
You are more capable of helping others. Because a thirty-second summary helps you get to the heart of , it becomes clear to you, what is important to other people. This rule will help you understand your opponent's point of view and balance your interests.
This does not surprise me: when I interviewed different people, involved in charitable activities, I was amazed at that, that many of them unconsciously use the thirty-second review technique, to focus on the issue, how to make your help more effective.
With experience this becomes easy. Each time it becomes a little easier for you to isolate the main thing , you find it increasingly rewarding and even begin to enjoy the process of separating the wheat from the chaff.
Author: Robin Scott, social entrepreneur and writer