Do You Have "Information Overload"?

15 years ago

Good sound advice.

Learning is good. Learning on purpose is what makes your life great. I once had the problem that I would read read read about any old thing and think that i was making progress just by reading. What you need to do is read and learn on purpose. Only read or learn something that you can put into action right away!

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jrgattison

15 years ago

Originally Posted by janicelou

Good sound advice.

Learning is good. Learning on purpose is what makes your life great. I once had the problem that I would read read read about any old thing and think that i was making progress just by reading. What you need to do is read and learn on purpose. Only read or learn something that you can put into action right away!

Thanks for your words of wisdom.

I still run into the issue of reading and not applying the things I've read at times. As I am preaching to everyone that reads this, I am preaching to myself as well. We have to pay attention to what we are doing in life and ask ourselves "What am actually doing with my time and energy?"

Then we can bring ourselves under accountability and realize we have to "learn on purpose".

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Jeffrey Betman 15 years ago

Good points. All this information overload can serve as a distraction from actually getting work done and being productive.

Great 7 day strategy.

When I read, I try and take one good idea and put it into action. I make a note in front of the book/article/newsletter on what I am going to implement.

Jeff
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HIPMama 15 years ago

OMG....YES!!! Yes Yes! I am guilty of it. I recently did a blog post about time management along with a video due to this very reason at shellyhobbs.com. After many years in the corporate world, one would think I would have many lessons learned from managing a team, etc... But, when working for myself and taking in so much information, it can be challenging to keep moving forward in a direction that gains results.
I finally decided about 4 weeks ago to pick 2 things, stick to them, write down all of the tasks I will do daily related to them and it has been incredible for my business. I see incredible momentum coming from it! Good post...thank you!
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kmids

15 years ago

with ADHD, this is hard for me. But i work at it every day.

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xInd 15 years ago

Originally Posted by kmids

with ADHD, this is hard for me. But i work at it every day.

Pick 5 things and work on 3 of them every day. Make sure you always work on at least one of the ones you didn't the day before. Cycle through them evenly for 2 weeks. Rinse and repeat with new items when old ones are finished. Stick with your sites/projects as long as you can, but most importantly see them through to finishing your results and reaching for your goals. Use an exit strategy for when one thing really rubs you the wrong way after you try it so that it is not wasted time, that includes getting the thing up there and doing it's thing so you can sell it off or ignore it for a while productively.
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Tuffy22

15 years ago

Best advice I've read all week! It's hard to accept that trying to learn to much can be a person's biggest obstacle/distraction. I know I've spent days reading to exhaustion, only to find myself at the end of the day asking: "What did I accomplish today?" Thanks for the wake up call.

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laurencewins

15 years ago

I am going into hospital next week and have borrowed a small laptop. I am going to spend the time reading books on my pc so I can take action on some of them I have too many to even go through right now so I know what you mean by having too much to be able to focus properly.

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jrgattison

15 years ago

Originally Posted by laurencewins

I am going into hospital next week and have borrowed a small laptop. I am going to spend the time reading books on my pc so I can take action on some of them I have too many to even go through right now so I know what you mean by having too much to be able to focus properly.

I'm not sure if the hospital has WiFi accessible but do you think that maybe instead of just reading the books that you can pick one that seems most relevant and put it into action while you are there.

Hope all is well with you and I'll keep you in prayer.

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jessicalynn

15 years ago

Originally Posted by laurencewins

I am going into hospital next week and have borrowed a small laptop. I am going to spend the time reading books on my pc so I can take action on some of them I have too many to even go through right now so I know what you mean by having too much to be able to focus properly.

Originally Posted by jrgattison

I'm not sure if the hospital has WiFi accessible but do you think that maybe instead of just reading the books that you can pick one that seems most relevant and put it into action while you are there.

Hope all is well with you and I'll keep you in prayer.

If you're going to be in the hospital for a few days you might consider investing in an e-reader and load it up before you go. I know for some of them you can put pdfs on them as well as e-books. That way you can save your eyes and you won't need wi-fi!

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andy moore

15 years ago

I would agree that the only way to combat Information Overload is to just STOP. Stop right now. The symptoms are completely obvious and some have been mentioned on here already.
Reading so much stuff and not absorbing it or acting on any information. Flitting from one thing to the next. Starting some task but never finishing it. Trying something new and getting confused or coming to a halt due to technical dificulties. We've all been there.
The only answer has already been mentioned the gentleman who very kindly started this thread. Focus, focus and more focus. One thing at a time. Not five, not three. But one. One skill at a time. Learn one skill at a time. Once learned, you can move on to the next skill. You only need to learn it once.
Focus on that one thing that needs doing only. Shut out everything to learn that one thing. Yes, everything! Sit there till you learn it. Stay up til 0300 if you have to. If you get stuck ask someone. Do not pass Go and do not collect $200 until your focus is 100%. Try it. It works...!

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jrgattison

15 years ago

Originally Posted by andy moore

I would agree that the only way to combat Information Overload is to just STOP. Stop right now. The symptoms are completely obvious and some have been mentioned on here already.
Reading so much stuff and not absorbing it or acting on any information. Flitting from one thing to the next. Starting some task but never finishing it. Trying something new and getting confused or coming to a halt due to technical dificulties. We've all been there.
The only answer has already been mentioned the gentleman who very kindly started this thread. Focus, focus and more focus. One thing at a time. Not five, not three. But one. One skill at a time. Learn one skill at a time. Once learned, you can move on to the next skill. You only need to learn it once.
Focus on that one thing that needs doing only. Shut out everything to learn that one thing. Yes, everything! Sit there till you learn it. Stay up til 0300 if you have to. If you get stuck ask someone. Do not pass Go and do not collect $200 until your focus is 100%. Try it. It works...!

That is awesome right there. "One thing at a time. Not five, not three. But one. One skill at a time. Learn one skill at a time. Once learned, you can move on to the next skill. You only need to learn it once."

Use that advice to prosper!

A friend of mine recently is having some struggles with making a decision to work more at his JOB or focus on getting his clothing company going. He stated that he had problems MULTI-TASKING so he didn't know if he could do both. I told him you are not MULTI-TASKING. When you are at your JOB you focus on your JOB. When you are building your business you focus on building your business. Plain and simple!

By the way I'll paraphrase a portion of what Jim Rohn said, I have to work on this stuff too!

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Spinna

15 years ago

The problem is not information overload, the problem is filter failure!

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laurencewins

15 years ago

I have a USB internet access so I don't need actual wi-fi as such.
I am taking in some real books as well.
I thought about getting a reader but I don't know how much time I will actually spend online.

I have been sorting some of my stored books into one folder that I will access form my USB stick I will also take in with me.

I am planning to try and put something into action but haven't chosen which one yet.

I am not stressed about this visit because it is an IV infusion which is going to give me an increasing pain killer and they will slowly decrease and wean me off morphine for the chronic severe pain I have been in for ages.

@ jrgattison. So it isn't surgery, thank goodness.

But thanks for your kind words.

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Crystal_Jobs

15 years ago

Originally Posted by jrgattison

FOCUS is the new buzz word and I want you to join me in creating the life you desire by getting results and improving on the way you handle that devil.

I agree with you 100%. I just ripped this out of a blog post for Small Business Owners

"People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the other hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I'm actually as proud of the many things we haven't done as the things we have done."

Steve Jobs

I think it's food for thought,

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Kaysa

15 years ago

Information Overload its an illness we must erradicate forever.

Common Symptoms
- Trying to know everything, watching everything and almost doing everything at the same time.
- Having a lot of programs on your PC, that you haven't take them to the end.
- Not knowing what to do.
- Being desperate, because anything seems to fail.
- Not being Self-disciplined.

How to cure it
- Start to take action at just one thing at a time.
- Don't procastinate important things.
- Realize that there's always be some new "big thing" all the time.

As state in this thread I must agree, its better to get Focus on something to beat this illness.

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Mary McLean

15 years ago

This is so relevant!
I have just written a book and have the first part of it ready to give away to anyone who wants it!...
Sorry, but I stuffed up my Aweber account the other day when I swapped the book for one on list building...but if you care to go here to the link below, there is no opt in required for 24 hours, just grab it!

Hope it helps. It's how I cured overwhelm and information overload!

Best wishes

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jrgattison

15 years ago

This is what a community does for us. It shows the power of people joining together to help each other overcome. Society tends to magnify the bad that is going on being ignorant to the fact that there are places like this that offer help to the issues we deal with on a daily basis.

I used to wish that I had people in my circle that were growing and living with passion but I've come to find out that we need to seek those people and we shall find them. Even though we start threads with the intention to give, we don't realize that we receive over and above that which we give.

I want to say thank you all for your input and support and keep on giving and you shall receive what it is that you need.

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caseylau

15 years ago

thanks for sharing ur thoughts.....

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jrgattison 15 years ago

Speaking for everyone that has given their thoughts you are very welcome. I am not certain how new you are but rest assured you have people in this forum that will give you help and encouragement. All that we ask is that you focus and do something with the information that is given you.

Please work like you've never worked before to create the life you desire. Then when you've achieved that move on to another challenge and don't stop working on something that stretches you. Also I must inject this here: Your long-term success involves people. Whether you provide a product or a service, bottomline is it involves people and you have the responsibility to serve people well. If you do so you will live well financially and on the inside. Just my opinion.

There I another thread going on about what does success mean or something to that extent. Check it out.
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SweetCarroll9

15 years ago

It's certainly so broad that it can cook your mind. It's such a huge topic, there's so much to learn and I've certainly found myself thinking "How do I keep any of this in? Never mind ALL of it!?".

It's so important to remember the bigger picture at the end. And that with the help of others you can make it, just don't get overwhelmed. Break everything down, don't try and learn too much at once. I find it's better to be a master at one thing than a novice at ten.

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jrgattison 15 years ago

Let me ask another question on this topic. Do you guys feel that we use the concept of information overload as an excuse for us, or other people, not taking action when really there is something else that needs to be taken care of?

I was talking to a friend of mine today who has started a clothing line and I have been telling him things to do but he just won't do them. I started looking at the thing of me giving him too much information so I started telling him specifics. This guy still isn't doing anything.

I have been there with him through another business endeavor a few years back where he set up a beautiful store but after setting it up and getting the accounts he needed he sat there and watched TV all day.

What's up with that?
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cashtree

15 years ago

Thanks I needed this thread, there's so much information it's hard not to spend months just reading, I did recently launch a new site and have taken steps to join an affil network, apply for google adsense, signup for cpa networks(though when the guy called today I didn't answer, I think i'm gonna wait on cpa)

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footbag_man 15 years ago

due to filter failure you are facing that kind of problem, so you must have filter first.
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Mr Bill

15 years ago

Maybe if you guys stopped writing stuff that was so damn interesting we'd stop reading it!

I'm reminded of someone reacting to the "evils" of consumerism who said...

"If you want us to stop buying new things, stop inventing cool sheit!"

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Alan Chin The Sniper

15 years ago

It's simply just stop reading it . LOL !

Well, all those courses that have been offered and have been made, which is all workable or else it is just a rehashed stuff , but still just take ONE method or ONE courses , follow it , think about it, modify the strategy, and you still can profit !

INFO OVERLOAD : You are ready to kill it if you FOCUS on ONE.

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AlwaysAwa

15 years ago

Love this thread just the right time for me as well

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herrendonald

15 years ago

great share,,,,

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setiyawanheri

15 years ago

Now I don't...But 2 years ago I do..Get information overload usually for newbie or some people who enter to a new business at the beginning..

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WakondaMarketing

15 years ago

Information Overload. Ahhhh. Those 2 words suit me best. Imagine seeing countless and infinite loads of information online and you do not know which ones will do you good and which ones can harm you.

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tk226

15 years ago

unerringly a valuable point. We really need to overcome the tendency to become jack of all trade. Gaining one particular skill and exploiting it potentially increases what we want that is 'sales'.

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Mary McLean

15 years ago

Yes, just when you think you have mastered it,
something comes in and side swipes you.

This is when the discipline you've gained, must be
deployed to keep you on mission.

It's that important!

Kindest

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onlinebizgiant

15 years ago

Excellent post warrior. Personally I did this mistake for months. I was running from one program to another with a view to make money fastly. But later i realized that without Focus, we will reach nowhere. I corrected my mistake and start making good profit through IM.

Originally Posted by jrgattison

Hi warriors. If you answered yes to the question Do You Have "Information Overload"? I want you to do me a favor.

Stop It!

Stop thinking in the way you're used to thinking. Stop doing in the way you're used to doing. Stop being the way you're used to being and Please, Pretty Please Stop embracing "Information Overload"!

I want you to take a moment to make the decision right now not to buy another product, not to read another new ebook, not to watch another new video and not to do what you have been doing for the next 7 days.

I want you to make a 7 day commitment to change your life forever.

What I want you to do is to take one recent course or ebook or program that you already have and focus on it for 7 days straight at least 1 hour per day. Put the steps in action and get busy with it. I don't care if it's an ebook on selling snowboots to people in Hawaii. Stop telling yourself things won't work before YOU get proof in the form of YOUR OWN PERSONAL RESULTS. If you can't choose which one to start with then you can just make a list of which ones you have and "eenie, meenie, mynie mo" to pick one.

I am going to promise you that if you kick "Information Overload" in the butt and send him on his way today, it will keep getting easier for you to kick him in the butt next time he comes and try to mess with you.

FOCUS is the new buzz word and I want you to join me in creating the life you desire by getting results and improving on the way you handle that devil.

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RazvanRogoz

15 years ago

Information overload ...

What an interesting topic.

Information overload comes not only from reading, but also from TV, social peers, your phone, your email.

I don't consider reading and studying a bad thing. For example, I have the habit of studying daily for 30 minutes.

It's not much, but I keep it consistent. What I don't consider useful is looking for information just for information sake. If you are a salesman, buy a sales book and start reading. Period.

But I don't see any reason for spending 2 hours of your day surfing lifehack.org, warriorforum.com (the info here is very useful, but if you're spending more time on WF than working, then you are on the wrong path), wikipedia, your guru's blogs, etc.

Also, information overload comes in two different flavors. Let's say you are a copywriter.

If you read every book about copywriting, eventually you won't know what to write or what to do. You'll get so much input that you'll be paralyzed.

On the other hand, when it comes to self-development and motivational, it's hard to get a burnout. You hear about the same things again and again. You don't learn new things but rather condition your mind.

You are doing the same thing as Army recruits do. Every day they sing cadences to condition their mind and bodies. The same can be applied using motivational material.

Therefore, my conclusion is as follows:
-> Don't study too much technical info. You'll get into the paralysis of analysis.
-> Motivational and self-help materials usually help, as long as they are not touchy, feely, new age. If you would rather listen to the "Secret" than "Psychocybernetics" than yes, I doubt you'll get far away in life. But if you're listening to good stuff, stuff from Stephen Covey, Dan Kennedy, Napoleon Hill (to some extent), Chris Howard, then you can't go wrong.

Razvan

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kimberly6000

15 years ago

Great post! I agree, I do feel overloaded from way too much researching and reading, I need to stop for now and focus on one aspect and make it an action.

Open to advice!

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silentsal

15 years ago

Wow! There's some great advice in this thread! Thanks to jrgattison for starting it.

Information overload has been affecting me for some time. I can't stop checking my email and buying WSOs. I try to only buy products that will be immediately useful to me, but I'm buying so many I just can't keep up with them all, despite my best intentions.

Sometimes my head feels fit to explode from all the information and I am paralyzed by indecision. This leads to a significant amount of procrastination on my part. Most days I get to the end of the day and wonder where on earth my time went, having accomplished a bit fat nothing.

I'm going to try and go cold turkey as suggested by the OP...

Yikes I'm starting to sweat and twitch already...

Anyway, I thought you guys might appreciate this youtube video that I found a few months ago, all about procrastination... And then I'm going to devise a cunning IM plan of action and stop procrastinating... Probably :rolleyes: Enjoy!

Procrastination (Tales of Mere Existence) -...

Sally

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kenshin193

15 years ago

When I lost focus or information overload...I will write down all the task on paper...this will release it and make it organize...I will set the due date for each task to complete...this the best way that I applying now

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Do You Have "Information Overload"?

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