1. You are not afraid to say “I don’t know”

Pretty quick learners accept that they do not know it all. They keep their minds open and are willing to ask questions and quiz for answers to know more. While some are reluctant are hesitant to show their ignorance on a subject, quick learners are not.

2. You use the Pareto principle

Quick learning has productivity attached to it. According to Vilfredo Pareto you get 80% of your results from 20% of the things you do. Quick learners make use of this principle by focusing on the fundamental and the most used items in a series of difficult tests. They don’t chase after the whole bunch at once but major their strength on the most necessary ones first.

3. You are able to visualize it

When dealt with problems, quick learners are multidimensional. They take advantage of how to deal with it with all their senses. They visualize it by taking advantage of their mental powers to drive solutions and learning.

4. You simplify

Quick learners know that difficult problems do not need a difficult approach. Many great minds from Thomas Edison to Henry Ford and even Steve Jobs looked for ways to address challenges with simple solutions. They simplify and immerse themselves in their goals to find the easiest and simplest way out of a hole.

5. You take action

After all is said and done, at the end of the day it is up to you to take action. If you are learning a new language you really cannot make so much progress if you do not speak the new language, whether you get it right or not. Quick learners learn by doing and taking decisive action.

6. You are selective

You do not go after all the possible explanations or solutions to a problem. Rather you take your time to broadly consider those that are worthy of your attention and assessment. Through this you are able to go after the most promising solutions available.

7. You use Parkinson’s Law

Tim Ferris, author of The 4-Hour Work Week points out that much can be gained by combining the use of Parkinson’s law and Pareto’s principle to achieve solutions and learn faster. While Pareto’s principle means streamlining to get more out of your time, Parkinson’s Law means you limit the time for learning so as to gain only the most important things. Quick learners only allocate enough time to grasp only the most important part of a topic and waste no time on the less important parts.

8. You know when to stop

Quick learners know when to stop and not to proceed. If something is not going in an answerable pattern, they retreat. They understand the law of diminishing returns and focus on only things that provide a return on their investment.

9. You know how to anticipate the future

What becomes old and stale is of no use to a quick learner; rather they have to be able to adapt and anticipate future trends and situations. You can focus on the future and how you can apply every topic you are learning to it.

10. You understand that many questions have no answers

Through selection you already have a sense of not going after the wrong questions or topics. You already know that when a question is complicated and has so many threads attached to it, there probably is no solution for it.

11. You can explain it to a kid

After immersing and absorbing yourself in a topic, you can communicate your thoughts and opinions on the subject matter (even to a kid).

12. You are positive

Quick learners do not show any negative attitude to learning what is important to them. They are positive even when they are faced with setbacks and challenges.

13. You can seek the opinions of experts

You know there are people who are better than you on a subject. Nobody learns so much without dedicating themselves to the tutelage of a master! Featured photo credit: http://www.photopin.com via photopin.com