The GoalTribe Blog

Do you have a big, juicy goal – but have absolutely no idea how to achieve it? Don’t know what steps to take? Need some special knowledge? You’re in luck! Never, in the history of the world has it been easier to learn how to do something.

Knowledge is absolutely never a reason not to keep driving toward your goal. In fact it’s very common for a goal plan to begin with nothing more than a period of research and exploration. Thomas Edison had no idea how to make a light bulb when he set out to do it. Sir Edmund Hillary had a lot to learn before he set out to climb Mount Everest!

The first step is to get excited and get curious! You’re about to expand your personal power. You’re about to solve a mystery. You’re about to learn how to do something you were totally incapable of doing before. How cool is that!?

Here’s What to Do
If you’ve got a goal, with no ideas for an action plan. Just start your plan with one or more of the following actions (you can flesh out the rest of your goal plan later.)

1. Visit the Library – And ask the librarian how to learn what you need.
2. Consider college or university libraries
3. Consider big city libraries
4. Consider specialized libraries from trade organizations or other groups
5. Search the Internet: try google.com
6. Check HowTo Sites: Try eHow.com , wikiHow.com, or howtodothings.com, LoveToKnow.com, or ExpertVillage.com
7. Ask for help on the Internet: Try answers.yahoo.com or Answerbag.com
8. Ask Your Network –“Who might know a little bit more than I do about how to do this?”
9. Who might know someone who knows someone who knows how to do this?
10. Keep asking each person if they know the right person to talk to and within a couple steps you’ll be talking to an expert
11. Don’t be afraid to approach people you haven’t talked to in years, or barely know. Just ask. Nothing bad can happen.
12. LinkedIn.com – The top professional networking site. Once you’re on and connected to your professional network, you can post questions to be answered.
13. Leverage Social Networks – Post your question on Facebook, MySpace, Hi5.com or whatever other network you’re a part of.
14. Visit the Bookstore – Bookstores aren’t just for buying books. They’re great for researching too. Ask for help finding the right section.
15. Browse multiple books to expand your knowledge. Ask for help searching all books in print. If you find a book that’s perfect, consider buying it – or maybe go get it at the library.
16. Ask a College or University professor – Ask friends for an introduction, call the institution and ask to be referred to the right person, or find professors by their website.
17. Ask Experts – via email, phone or take them to lunch. Don’t be afraid to ask!
18. Contact an Author – email an author with your questions, they may answer.
19. Take a Class or Two –Check community colleges, adult education, or universities for classes.
20. Take an Online Class – Many universities are offering accredited classes online now.
21. Forums – The web is filled with specialized forums on all kinds of topics. Find the right one for you at: directory.big-boards.com, or forumdirectory.freeforums.org. Then first search to see if someone has already answered a question similar to yours. If not, then feel free to post the question for the community to answer. Check back in a few days to see if you received a reply.
22. Hire research help: These days you can hire someone to look things up for you online. Try shorttask.com or elance.com
23. Ask 10 People in Next Hour: Just get on the phone and start calling people at random and ask them what steps they would do to try to achieve your goal.
24. Read a Children’s Book: If the subject you’re trying to learn seems really really difficult, try reading an explanation that is meant for young adults. It could be a how to book, a text book or a children’s encyclopedia or a children’s website. This can often give you the basics of a difficult subject to help you step up to more complex explanations.
25. Ask a Kid: These days, especially when it comes to technology or emerging culture, young people often are more knowledgable than adults. Consider them part of your knowledge network and don’t be too proud to ask them to tutor you.

A couple of other great resources:

How to Learn (Almost) Anything - The Litemind Blog
Smash Fear, Learn Anything - TED Talk by Tim Ferris (I HIGHLY Recommend TED Talks.)

You’ve got a goal. Now begin the learning phase. Be courageous. Keep trying. You can learn anything!

What are some ways you’ve figured out how to do something?

Do you have a story of going from ignorance to mastery by hunting down the right knowledge? Please tell us about it in the comments.

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