3 Kinds of Information Consumers
There seems to be a few categories of information consumers in our world…
In no particular order…
Group one is made up of passive consumers of information.
This group simply allows whatever happens to float in and be absorbed…
Commercials, breaking news, messages from friends, tweets, Facebook status updates, ads on Facebook, etc. The list can get really long.
The common trait shared by “Passive Information Consumers” is that of having no real strategy or plan in place to limit, control or use any of the information they consume. The effect of this “M.O.” can be really dangerous because it all happens on a subconscious level. (Make note of “Subconscious” as we’ll get back to that in a second.)
The next group is made up of the “Info-Overload Complainers.” These people knew at some point how critical somewhat accurate, up to date and timely information is to their business, life and career. But, along the way they became frustrated with “keeping up.”
Their frustration usually manifests itself in the dangerous attitude of… “I can not take in any more information because I still haven’t done anything with the information I got last month. I must cut off or limit the supply so I can ‘get caught up!’”
The real problem with group number two is the assumption that “information stays the same.” Here’s what I mean…
You learned something new last month. No big deal whether you acted or implemented on what you learned for now. (Implementation of information is a skill in and of itself.) But for you to assume the info will remain static and wait for YOU to implement is crazy. Things change fast! Your decision to “cut off the flow if information” until you act is foolish. By the time you act on a piece of info it most-likely has changed. But…
If you stayed current and did not stress about “implementing” by cutting off the flow – when you finally do take action – your results will be much better. Your implementation is based on “current” information not old information.
I agree, we all have to implement more. We have to implement faster, sooner and test things quickly. Only after fast implementation can we make fast course corrections. Implementation will always be a battle. Even if you are a master implementer and get things going at the speed of light – you’ll still feel it’s not fast enough. The key is to keep moving.
If you fit into group number two I feel really bad for you. You are stuck in a rut. Stuck because you have not implemented. And stuck because you’ve cut off the flow of much-needed current information. If you’re not careful you’ll slide into group number one!
The final group are the true players, consumers, and implementers of information. If you’re in this group you realize how vital quality information is to your business, life and career. You know there’s ideas and knowledge out there for you to absorb so that you can make better decisions.
You understand information effects you on a subconscious level and eventually influences your actions and behaviors which lead directly to your results. This knowledge is the reason you take a proactive approach to control the flow of information in your life. Chances are you spend at least one hour per day consuming information that contributes to the enhancement of your business and personal life.
The information you consume can be broken down into categories. Some is relevant to developing skills that increase your worth to your business and company. These skills, as they are learned and quickly implemented, are often responsible for positive outcomes.
You also consume “news” related to your passions and your business. You take a proactive approach to news that can impact your personal life. You act on a certain percentage of this info every day and you let other info stew for a while.
Group number three does not bitch and complain about information overload. They are grateful to have what they need to make the right choices. If you’re in group number three you also take comfort in the knowledge that all of this information is stored by your subconscious and will eventually come out to serve you in some way.