Want to Learn It? Teach It.

photo-1450107579224-2d9b2bf1adc8Several times in my life, I’ve been in a position where I’ve been asked to teach something that I’m really not an expert at. It’s always a challenge, and usually ends up paying off in pretty good dividends.

I’ve always been bit of a computer geek. Not really when it comes to programming, but understanding apps. I had a spreadsheet application back in 1986 called Lotus 1-2-3 and then I learned Microsoft Excel.

I worked at a community college back then and knew a guy that ran the testing center. One day he asked me if I’d be interested in taking a new test for the Excel certification program. They have to validate new tests by having a certain number of people take them. So I said, sure.

I ended up passing the test, which meant I got the certification for free. I would have never considered myself an expert, but here I am with the certification. The college ended asking me to teach a class on Excel.

My students and I basically learned Excel together, just by going through the course book. I ended up becoming an expert through teaching.

The very core of Shortcut Content is telling your stories and sharing your expertise. You end up teaching people what it is that you’ve learned while running your business. Over time, you end up becoming even better at what you do, because you’ve taken time to teach someone else.