Have you ever taken a learning course? If so, you may have noticed that the advice often revolves around taking notes in class or studying a textbook.

Unfortunately, most learning advice focuses on formal learning situations such as courses or educational books. But most of our learning doesn’t happen in a classroom. It happens in unstructured real-world settings: at work, in our day-to-day life, or while doing a personal project.

How do we make sure we learn effectively in these situations?

Life doesn’t come with a step-by-step manual. There’s not a textbook saying, “Here’s how to do this specific report for this specific purpose in this specific industry.” There’s no course called, “Where should you ask for help and what specific questions to ask when you’re stuck on that specific task.”

Usually, we use a mixture of trial and error and memory to improve. Often, we just do stuff the best we can and hope for the best. When we do try to plan, we often don’t factor in what we’ve previously learned. Instead, we base our plans on ideal outcomes, not on what we’ve learned works and what doesn’t.

So, how can you get better at learning on the job? How do you get smarter about your creative process? How can you avoid repeating the same mistakes in your business as an entrepreneur? How can you improve your fulfillment process to deliver better and better services to your customers each time?

Have any ideas? I’d love to hear them. Drop them in the comments box below.