Learn Software Design and Development Skills
Have you ever needed a particular program for your computer, only to find that no software designers have created it yet? Of course you have. There must have been at least one time when you needed to do some strange operation on your computer, but there was no tool available to do it. However, had you been proficient in the world of software design and development, you may have found instead that you could create that program yourself in as little time as a few hours (depending on the complexity of the program, of course). There has never been a better time to learn how to become a software designer, so why not discover the amazing world of software programming right now?Why do we need to speed read? Aren’t we under enough pressure at work already?

If this is your premise, then think again. Speed reading is not about forcing you to work harder. On the contrary, by enabling you to triple your reading speed, it is much more about helping you to handle your time and your workload efficiently. In this article I’m going to address some of the key questions that surround this approach.

Information Overload
The most common reason that people want to learn how to speed read is because of information overload. Today’s corporate executives have to take in, absorb and recall more information than ever. Most of this data arrives in written form – through minutes, reports, proposals, brochures texts and emails.

However, speed reading should not be seen as a reactive technology. Many participants on our courses report that one of the main drivers for them is to be able to find a way to read those books that have been sitting on their shelf for too long or those magazines that come every week that they never seem to have time to open. These managers and executives recognise that knowledge is the fuel of career success and, in this respect, speed-reading is a step forward in efficiency - providing people with a real edge in a competitive world.

The Mechanics
When asked, most people assume that they read in a smooth left to right motion across the page. However, when we read our eye movement is not smooth at all. Our eyes have to stop at regular intervals in order for us to take in new data and this means that we actually take a series of small jumps as we read across the page. These jumps are known as fixations.

Fixations are the key determinant of our reading speed. If you take a long fixation, reading each line word by word, you will be a slow reader. If you skip back over words or re-read whole paragraphs, as most people do, this will handicap you further. The skills therefore are these: to spend less time on each fixation and to learn to take in more words with each fixation.

Distinctions
There are two quite separate aspects of speed reading that are helpful to distinguish:

1. Reading better: Speed reading is not only about improving reading speed. It also includes a number of techniques which help you to read more efficiently and adapt your approach to what you are reading. For example, if you have a large report to read then to start with you will probably need an overview. In this case one good technique is to power browse:
• Look briefly at the cover of your document and see what it tells you about the subject.
• Look at the table of contents to understand the flow of the document.
• Run through the document briefly – one or two seconds per page should do. Make a note of how it is put together and what parts interest you.
• Highlight those parts that you want to explore in more detail.
• Finally do a quick review and Mind Map (http://www.mind-mapping.co.uk) what you have just browsed.
2. Reading faster: The second aspect of this approach is improving your reading speed and here again there are a number
   Little Frugal Changes Can Save Money
   Too many people simply assume that a penny saved is just a penny saved and nothing more. But save enough of those pennies and you will have a dollar, ten dollars or even a hundred dollars.And the best part of saving a penny is that it doesn't take a great sacrifice on your part. You are just talking small frugal changes, not cutting out everything from your life.Frugal living isn't about sacrifice. It is about spending less and getting the same amount or more. It is about cutting the costs associated with your everyday living. Will turning off a few lights around your house take a huge sacrifice on your part? No. And after a while it becomes a habit. And your e
   ver. Most of this data arrives in written form – through minutes, reports, proposals, brochures texts and emails.

   However, speed reading should not be seen as a reactive technology. Many participants on our courses report that one of the main drivers for them is to be able to find a way to read those books that have been sitting on their shelf for too long or those magazines that come every week that they never seem to have time to open. These managers and executives recognise that knowledge is the fuel of career success and, in this respect, speed-reading is a step forward in efficiency - providing people with a real edge in a competitive world.

   The Mechanics
   When asked, most people assume that they read in a smooth left to right motion across the page. However, when we read our eye movement is not smooth at all. Our eyes have to stop at regular intervals in order for us to take in new data and this means that we actually take a series of small jumps as we read across the page. These jumps are known as fixations.

   Fixations are the key determinant of our reading speed. If you take a long fixation, reading each line word by word, you will be a slow reader. If you skip back over words or re-read whole paragraphs, as most people do, this will handicap you further. The skills therefore are these: to spend less time on each fixation and to learn to take in more words with each fixation.

   Distinctions
   There are two quite separate aspects of speed reading that are helpful to distinguish:

   1. Reading better: Speed reading is not only about improving reading speed. It also includes a number of techniques which help you to read more efficiently and adapt your approach to what you are reading. For example, if you have a large report to read then to start with you will probably need an overview. In this case one good technique is to power browse:
   • Look briefly at the cover of your document and see what it tells you about the subject.
   • Look at the table of contents to understand the flow of the document.
   • Run through the document briefly – one or two seconds per page should do. Make a note of how it is put together and what parts interest you.
   • Highlight those parts that you want to explore in more detail.
   • Finally do a quick review and Mind Map (http://www.mind-mapping.co.uk) what you have just browsed.
   2. Reading faster: The second aspect of this approach is improving your reading speed and here again there are a numbe
      Develop a Who's Who in Your Network
      You’ve heard the saying, its not what you know, but who you know. In business, this statement could not be truer. Getting to people who can influence and get results in your network is essential towards your success.Getting people “in the know” as they say can help your business to grow quickly. These people in this business are the proverbial net of contacts that are part of your select group that helps you.Many of these people are influential in the community in some way, and you should make sure you guard them away from people you do not trust. These are people you should touch base with regularly to get feedback and information on happenings in the business
      world.

      The Mechanics
      When asked, most people assume that they read in a smooth left to right motion across the page. However, when we read our eye movement is not smooth at all. Our eyes have to stop at regular intervals in order for us to take in new data and this means that we actually take a series of small jumps as we read across the page. These jumps are known as fixations.

      Fixations are the key determinant of our reading speed. If you take a long fixation, reading each line word by word, you will be a slow reader. If you skip back over words or re-read whole paragraphs, as most people do, this will handicap you further. The skills therefore are these: to spend less time on each fixation and to learn to take in more words with each fixation.

      Distinctions
      There are two quite separate aspects of speed reading that are helpful to distinguish:

      1. Reading better: Speed reading is not only about improving reading speed. It also includes a number of techniques which help you to read more efficiently and adapt your approach to what you are reading. For example, if you have a large report to read then to start with you will probably need an overview. In this case one good technique is to power browse:
      • Look briefly at the cover of your document and see what it tells you about the subject.
      • Look at the table of contents to understand the flow of the document.
      • Run through the document briefly – one or two seconds per page should do. Make a note of how it is put together and what parts interest you.
      • Highlight those parts that you want to explore in more detail.
      • Finally do a quick review and Mind Map (http://www.mind-mapping.co.uk) what you have just browsed.
      2. Reading faster: The second aspect of this approach is improving your reading speed and here again there are a numbe
         How to Write News Releases that Get Noticed
         What do you do with junk mail? Are you like me? I toss this stuff without opening it – unless I see some benefit. Publication editors do the same. They toss news releases that don’t demonstrate a benefit to their audience.What’s the difference between a release that gets used and one that hits the editor’s circular file? Here are seven easy tips for writing releases that get picked up rather than thrown out.1. Make sure it’s newsworthy. What’s newsworthy, you ask. To be newsworthy your topic needs to be timely, of interest to the publication’s audience, benefit-oriented, and substantive (that is, not self-serving, hype or fluff.)2. Write a powerfu
         her. The skills therefore are these: to spend less time on each fixation and to learn to take in more words with each fixation.

         Distinctions
         There are two quite separate aspects of speed reading that are helpful to distinguish:

         1. Reading better: Speed reading is not only about improving reading speed. It also includes a number of techniques which help you to read more efficiently and adapt your approach to what you are reading. For example, if you have a large report to read then to start with you will probably need an overview. In this case one good technique is to power browse:
         • Look briefly at the cover of your document and see what it tells you about the subject.
         • Look at the table of contents to understand the flow of the document.
         • Run through the document briefly – one or two seconds per page should do. Make a note of how it is put together and what parts interest you.
         • Highlight those parts that you want to explore in more detail.
         • Finally do a quick review and Mind Map (http://www.mind-mapping.co.uk) what you have just browsed.
         2. Reading faster: The second aspect of this approach is improving your reading speed and here again there are a numbe
            Massage Therapy
            There are a wide variety of different massage styles available, including the widely known Swedish or Classic massage style, deep muscle therapy, and trigger point therapy, all of which are used therapeutically to promote circulation in the body, loosen tired and sore muscles, and to prevent or eliminate pain.Often the terms “massage” and “massage therapy” are used interchangeably – however, the two are in fact somewhat different services according to practitioners of massage therapy. While “massage” may be aimed solely at relaxation, massage therapy tends to be approached from a more therapeutic position, as an augmentation or in some cases replacement for more invas
            ly at the cover of your document and see what it tells you about the subject.
         3. Look at the table of contents to understand the flow of the document.
         4. Run through the document briefly – one or two seconds per page should do. Make a note of how it is put together and what parts interest you.
         5. Highlight those parts that you want to explore in more detail.
         6. Finally do a quick review and Mind Map (http://www.mind-mapping.co.uk) what you have just browsed.
         7. Reading faster: The second aspect of this approach is improving your reading speed and here again there are a number of techniques to learn. However, one extremely useful example is to use a guide such as a pencil, a cursor or even your finger to underline the words as you read. Your guide is your pacesetter and keeps your eyes moving along the line smoothly. On its own people find that this one technique can sometimes double their reading speed because it simply helps them to improve their focus.

         Beliefs and Attitudes
         So reading speed is all to do with the way our eyes take in information - is that right? Not wholly. When it comes to speed reading, our challenges stem as much from our beliefs as from our physiology. For example, do you believe that you can read more than one word at a time, maintain comprehension when you are reading faster and recall more of what you have read when you are reading faster?

         These benefits are all within reach, if you practise. And this is the real issue. We all have bad habits. For example, most people back-track every now and again to make sure they have understood what they have just read, even though research shows that it makes little or no difference to comprehension. We need to challenge such long established patterns, be willing to try out new techniques and be motivated to practice. However, changing our behaviour is not just a question of willpower. We need to create a positive attitude towards our subject. If we are in a negative frame of mind we will find that we absorb very little of what is in front of us. But if we can engage with interest, enthusiasm and creativity then we can, quite literally, transform our effectiveness as readers.

         So, should you be learning how to speed read? Is it worth your time? If you are among the 90% of people who feel that they are suffering from information overload the real question to ask is can you afford not to?

         To view PDFs of the other articles in the series please visit:

         Tricks of the Trade – The Ultimate Aide Memories: http://www.illumine.co.uk/pdfs/online%20PR%20article_tricks%20of%20the%20trade_0805.pdf

         Tricks of the Trade – Mind Maps: http://www.illumine.co.uk/pdfs/PR-article-tricks-of-the-trade-mind%20maps-0805.pdf

         REF: IT100506