4 Tips for the Learn-As-You-Go Method of Productivity

As anyone who reads this blog regularly knows, I am a natural planner. I love it. Organizing, researching - these things are my lifeblood. But, as I mentioned in a recent article, planning can be the comfortable phase of productivity so it's easy to get wrapped up in it. The real work comes in the "doing" phase.

So while I love planning, I've learned to embrace the "just do it" technique, more accurately described as the Learn-As-You-Go method of productivity. In fact, this blog is a product of it. If I had spent all the time I would have liked to in the planning stages of this blog, it wouldn't even be started yet. It was such a big project - and something I knew nothing about - I knew that if I didn't just get on with it, I would get overwhelmed and give up. I had to jump right in and let myself sink or swim. I hoped that once I got moving on the project, inertia and the drive to see it through to the end would keep me afloat.

I've found that there are four critical tips to bear in mind when using the Learn-As-You-Go technique. I'd like to share them here but I can also tell you that this is a delicate art. These tips will help you but your process will only be perfected in the moment as you work with it.

1. Experiment and Don't Fear Failure

You can't be afraid of trying anything and everything when you're using this method. You have to test things out and see what works and what doesn't. Research won't ever take the place of good old fashioned experimentation. Recognize that you may lose a few dollars along the way, you may spend a significant amount of time testing a method or a resource only to find it is completely wrong for your needs, but nothing is wasted.

When I first started this blog, I used a free hosting service and in about two weeks, I realized that was the wrong move. I needed my own domain name, my own hosting service, and a completely different platform for the kind of blog I wanted to build. I spent weeks working on the old one only to basically scrap it and start over. Was it a waste of time? Not completely. By the time I got the new one set up, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. The old one had helped me focus my idea in a way I never could have done on paper. I needed to tangibly create it to know what I wanted and what I didn't want.

2. Track Success and Failure

When using the Learn-As-You-Go method, every failure is a significant lesson. It's a step in the right direction because you've eliminated something that doesn't work. As Thomas Edison said when inventing the light bulb, "I didn't fail ten thousand times. I successfully eliminated, ten thousand times, materials and combinations which wouldn't work."

In order for failures to be truly useful, you have to track them, analyze what went wrong and why, and understand how to avoid making the same mistake in the future.

3. Expect Frustration

Just the concept of "Learn-As-You-Go" implies ignorance at the start. I don't know about you, but for me, ignorance is frustrating. When I don't know what I'm doing, I get impatient and annoyed with myself. When I was starting this blog, I almost gave up multiple times out of sheer frustration. I felt like I didn't have the capability to do it. That's just crazy! It's important to keep in mind that Learn-As-You-Go can be an emotional process. Don't beat yourself up for not knowing things - that's what it's all about! Take it slow, focus on patience, and don't let mistakes or small frustrations make you want to give up. It's all a part of the process.

4. Ask for Advice

One of the things I wish I had known when starting this blog was how open and helpful other bloggers are. If I had realized this, I would have sought more advice from them. As it happened, I had quite a few wonderful mentors along the way who popped up and offered advice at the perfect, crucial time.

If there's one thing to learn from this it's just a reminder that people are almost always willing to share advice. If you appear to be willing and receptive, they will share everything they know with you. Don't be afraid of asking others what they did and how they did it. Sure, not everyone will be helpful. But it doesn't hurt to ask. And the advice you get will probably be miles better than anything you'd read from a book. Firsthand experience offers a totally personal perspective. And if you're seeking the advice of people you respect and admire, you know you can trust their opinions.

A Question of Time

So what is more time efficient: thorough research, establishing a concrete plan and then executing it? Or jumping in with both feet and using the Learn-As-You-Go method? Well, it all depends on the project and the person. For me, Learn-As-You-Go is much more effective for projects that appear overwhelming at first. With starting this blog, I couldn't really wrap my head around all the different little pieces and I never would have figured out some of the technical details without just stumbling my way through. So, while I've made a lot of mistakes and spent more time than most people would consider rational, I still think it was faster than the alternative. In reality, the only alternative would have been to read a bunch of books and articles on blogging, carefully weigh the pros and cons of the different technologies, create a detailed plan for the creation and launch of the blog, and then execute those wonderful plans. More than likely, I would have needed a solid Plan B and C along the way, as even the best laid plans....well, you know the rest. I feel certain that for me, with this project, a plan would have only complicated matters. While the process was somewhat messy and frustrating as I stumbled around learning along the way, it was overall a better use of my time.

The Learn-As-You-Go method isn't for everyone. People who are hands-on learners are much more inclined to find this a helpful technique. If you learn well by reading and researching, you may find the trial-and-error nature of this method frustrating. For many of you, this technique will work well for some projects but not for others. Give it a try and see how it feels. And if you're an expert in this technique, please add your tips in the comments section below!