Breakfast Thought: Retention of New Knowledge and Skills

Looking at this chart derived from the research by Hermann Ebbinghaus, published in Havard Business Review, we can see that just after 6 days, 25% of us forget what we had learned and back to ground zero. Isn't it a waste to go for a course, paying a few hundred and even thousands of bucks to pick up some new skills. After a month or so, we totally forget what we had learned and back to the life we used to have. Not only this is a waste of money but also a trap for us all to not able to grow from one point to another. So what should be the way that will turn this situation around?

I saw Patrick Bet David posted this chart on Linkedin and thought of putting some of my thoughts and action plan to it. I think there are a few ways for me to get the new skills embedded in me rather than leaving me after a month or even in a shorter period of time:

1. Writing a summary of what I had learned and what I had linked, thought about with the new knowledge and skills I picked up in the course. (The summary should be done within 3 days after the course so that most of the knowledge can be preserved and translated to written form. This could allow me to refer back when I need some reference on the knowledge gained.)
2. For a month, do at least 4 write up about the knowledge or skill gained, once per week and put the action plan into my personal calendar and reminder. The write up will be posted on Steemit and also Linkedin account.
3. Look for the next course of action to implement the knowledge or skills into my daily life. If it is a knowledge, then continue to dig deeper into the topic and link up the knowledge with other topics (make mind map and to share the mind map from time to time). If it is a skill, translate the skill into a task that needs to be done daily, weekly or monthly so that it will slowly accumulate and turn into a built in skill of mine.
4. Most importantly, share the experience and journey of building up the pyramid of the knowledge and also skill sets.

Thus far, I realized that I learned better when I keep practicing and doing rather than just talking about something. So it is important for myself to be aware about this and plan ahead on what I should be doing to get myself to the next level. I do not want myself to be stuck at the same level for a long period of time and it is best to review on that monthly to keep my spirit high.

Image Source: Harvard Business Review