Have you ever wondered why, when you really want to learn something, the information
just doesn’t seem to stick?
Maybe you sit through meetings, listen to guest speakers, tune in to podcasts, or even take online courses — and still walk away feeling like you didn’t retain as much as you hoped. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Most of us never stop to identify how we learn best.
One of my favorite quotes sums this up beautifully:
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
— Benjamin Franklin
This simple line captures the reality that we all absorb information differently — and that what works for one person may not work at all for someone else.
During my career, I discovered something important about myself…
- I learn best when I’m listening while taking notes — but that’s only part of it. I’m
also a very tactile learner. - I need to write things down, try them myself, make mistakes, adjust, and then do it
again. - That full process — listen, write, do, correct — is how information truly sticks for
me. It’s hands-on, and it’s how my brain makes sense of new concepts.
One of my sons, on the other hand, learned in a completely different way. Throughout
school, he created flash cards and memorized them. That method worked beautifully for him. I, on the other hand, do not have that gift!
Everyone learns differently — and that’s the point.
As design professionals, we’re constantly learning: new products, updated building codes, technology tools, project workflows, business development, client communication… the list goes on.
The challenge isn’t finding information — it’s figuring out how to absorb it in a way
that feels natural and effective.
So let me ask you:
- Have you identified what works best for you?
- Are you a listener? A reader? A note taker? A hands-on doer? A visual learner? A
discussion-based learner? Something else entirely?
Understanding your own learning style can transform the way you grow in your career, take courses, or even run your business. And at bcd-IT University, everything I create is designed to support the real learning habits of busy professionals like you — not just the “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Take a moment today to reflect:
- What is your learning style?
- And how can you start using it intentionally?