Developing strong observation skills in college pays off both in the classroom and in your future career. In the Classroom and on Exams An observant student attends every class and takes thorough notes, paying close attention to the specific points a professor emphasizes. Because exams are almost always drawn directly from lecture content, these notes become an indispensable study tool. I'm constantly surprised how many students overlook this simple, high-yield strategy. In the Workplace Observational skills allow you to assess your surroundings, understand the current operational context, and identify pressing problems. Rather than relying solely on theoretical models, which can sometimes misguide your efforts, an observant employee uses real-time context to ask the right questions, form solid hypotheses, and make practical decisions. Theory provides a foundation, but direct personal observation is what drives success.
Introduction. Wisdom often carries over through maxims, aphorisms, proverbs, and truisms. They are often stated vaguely, in ways that resonate differently with different readers but carry a similar message. Most are a single sentence, sometimes two. They tell us, guide us, and sometimes suggest wise but honest responses to happenstances, prospects, and events. Of course, the major tomes of Aristotle, Plato, Aquinas, Kant, and others can require years of study to profit from. Many well-known maxims come from their writings. You want to be wise, the pride of your family, or the pride of the workplace. How to do this is a good question, but one that has a ready answer. You simply invent it. Here we give methods with examples, some cooked up at home and many from the literature. We call it do-it-yourself DIY) wisdom. One convention: If I’ve found the maxim, say in books of quotes, it is displayed in quotes; if it is my construction, no quotes are used. Do It Yourself Wisdo...