The 25-50-25 Formula for Overcoming Information Overload
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“Information overload can reduce a person’s ability to focus as much as losing a night’s sleep.” –Glenn Wilson
Everything I do, on this blog, in my articles, teleseminars and information products, are all geared toward helping you to make sense out of the often-confusing world of publishing.
I’m aware that it can sometimes feel overwhelming, what with all the information on publishing there is to know.
Today I read an excellent article by Bob Bly in the Early to Rise newsletter, and I thought I’d pass part of it on to you.
Bly provides a simple guideline for getting unstuck from the information overload trap in what he calls the “25-50-25 Formula for Success.”
He writes:
The rule says there are only three ways to learn a process (e.g., how to start an Internet business) or a skill (e.g., copywriting): studying, observing, and doing. The 25-50-25 rule says that to master a skill or process, and put what you learn into practical action, you must divide your time as follows:
No more than 25 percent of your time studying - i.e., reading books, going to bootcamps, attending workshops, listening to recordings in your car.
No more than 25 percent of your time observing - watching what successful people in your field are already doing. If, for example, you want to become a direct-mail copywriter, this means reading and analyzing the direct mail you get in your mailbox.
At least 50 percent of your time actually DOING the thing you are studying and observing. For example, if you want to sell information products on the Internet, you are spending 50 percent of your time creating your first product… designing your website… or building your list.
The idea is similar to Michael Masterson’s Ready, Fire, Aim approach. He says that you should take action right away, and then learn as you go.
Acquiring business knowledge is a worthwhile activity. But without action, that knowledge is worthless to you.
[The] worry that, by not reading everything, [you] may miss a “nugget” of information is accurate: You will never know everything there is to know in your field, or even most of it.
But so what?
You don’t have to know everything - or even most of what there is to know - to succeed in most endeavors.
For example, there are hundreds of strategies for making money on the Internet. But you can make a six-figure annual income online using only a few of them, even if you never bother to learn the others.
In freelance copywriting, there are many top writers who write only one type of promotion. Or work in one narrow niche. And they make a fortune doing so.
When we were kids, our parents and teachers told us to study, study, study. But I see many people today much more enamored with studying and reading about marketing and entrepreneurship than actually doing.
Well, I understand that. Reading about marketing is fascinating - and fun. But the money is in the doing, not the reading.
Follow the 25-50-25 rule, and you’ll be doing - and making money - at least half the time.
[Ed Note: Freelance copywriter Bob Bly is the creator of The Direct Response Letter, the author of more than 70 books, and co-creator of ETR’s Direct Marketing Masters Edition program.
Learn specific strategies for how to take action on all your business and personal goals with ETR’s Total Success Achievement program. It’s not too late to sign up and learn how to make your longest-held dreams come true. Click here to learn more.]
This article appears courtesy of Early To Rise, the Internet’s most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com.