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Imagine the next time you are visiting your mechanic; you witness him using his high-tech diagnostic tool for your car, as a hammer. Wouldn't you ask, "Isn't that a valuable piece of technology that could be put to better use?"

I mean, perhaps the tool works well as a hammer, yet it is capable of so much more, so I think that the mechanic would want to get the most out of it, and leave hammering for a hammer, right?
Now, take a moment to think about your "high-tech" devices, for instance; your computer, the software and any peripherals. They are designed with features and functions that for the most part can make your life easier, if you know how to operate them well. 
 
Take for example, Microsoft Outlook, sure it handles email, yet did you know you can manage tasks and appointments with drag and drop features too? Now consider what can be done with Excel. That simple list of vendor contacts you may have, can be mail-merged to mass mail out letters, emails or labels. 

These two examples are just simple features and there are many more to explore. If we never get to use these features or see them in action, we are not even in a position to consider our options. What I have found is that once someone knows what their devices and software are capable of, they can discover doors and solutions never even considered before.  

So, you may ask, where to start, to learn more? 

One of my first suggestions is to open the software you use the most, or one in which you may have seen or heard others use a lot which you feel will serve your needs best. 

Open the “Help” file, then go to the “Table of Contents” and explore.
For devices such as phones and other peripherals, find your manual and do the same.

I know for some, terminology and jargon can seem unfamiliar and intimidating, but don’t let that stop you. We can’t possibly all “know everything” can we? I know business professionals that are experts at what they do yet don’t know half of what their software can do to make their work easier.

When you are exploring, try a few things out that you never did before. Use the experience to get familiar with the style of direction that the information provides so when using again you will be able to go faster. 

The last bit of advice I have is to give yourself a little time to learn something everyday and schedule time to review terminology as well.
 
To your ever increasing productivity!
 


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