What can I learn right now in just 10 minutes that could be useful for the rest of my life?
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It’s a valid question and one well worth asking in our modern lives. After all, we are happy to get all the help we can but lets be honest, who has that spare time to go to those life courses (and well… admit to going to them)? The question was posed on the social questions and answer site Quora (not to be confused with Yahoo Answers which is mostly for teenagers and answered by their ilk).
So here was the question and its elaboration:
What can I learn right now in just 10 minutes that could be useful for the rest of my life?
Any trait, or small trick, or life-hack, anything, other than some trivia or fact. Something one can learn in 10 minutes or so (and perhaps with a bit of practice every day, can excel at it), but it must be useful for the person for the remainder of his or her life.
The top answer, and rightly so, was given by Abhishek A Singh, although he also admits that he found them courtesy of Reddit, which labels itself as the “Front page of the Internet”. We in turn have decided to share the answers with you, our fellow surfers of the net and wanderers of this this adventure called life.
1. Primacy and recency: People most remember the first and last things to occur, and barely the middle
When scheduling an interview, ask what times the employer is interviewing and try to be first or last.
2. If you work in a bar or in customer service of any kind…
…Put a mirror behind you at the counter. This way angry customers who approach you will have to see themselves in the mirror behind you and the chances of them behaving irrationally lowers significantly.
3. Once you make the sales pitch, don’t say anything else
This works in sales, but it can also be applied in other ways. My boss at an old job was training me and just giving me pointers. I was working at a gym trying to sell memberships. He told me that once I got all the small talk out of the way and presented the prices, that the first person to talk will lose. It didn’t seem like a big deal but it actually worked. Often there were long periods of awkward silence as the person tried to come up with some excuse, but usually they bought.
4. If you ask someone a question and they only partially answer, just wait
If you stay silent and keep eye contact they will usually continue talking.
5. Chew gum when you’re approaching a situation that would make you nervous like public speaking or bungee jumping
If we are eating, something in our brain reasons ‘I would not be eating if I were danger. So I’m not in danger’. It has helped me to stay calm a few times.
6. People will always remember not what you said but how you made them feel
Also most people like talking about themselves so ask lots of questions about them.7. When you’re learning something new, teach it to a friend
Let them ask questions to you related to it. If you’re able to teach something well, you can be sure that you’ve understood it very well.
8. If you get yourself to be really happy and excited to see other people, they will react the same to you
It doesn’t always happen the first time, but it will definitely happen next time.
9. The physical affects of stress – breathing rate and heart rate – are almost identical to the physical effects of courage
When you’re feeling stressed from any situation immediately reframe it : Your body is getting ready to be courageous, it will NOT feel stressed.
10. Pay attention to people’s feet
If you approach two people in the middle of a conversation, and they only turn their torsos and not their feet, they don’t want you to join in the conversation. Similarly if you are in a conversation with a coworker who you think is paying attention to you and their torso is turned towards you but their feet are facing in another direction, they want the conversation to end.11. Fake it till you make it ; confidence is more important than knowledge
Don’t be intimidated by anyone, everyone is playing a role and wearing a mask.12. If you pretend to be something for long enough, you will eventually become it
13. Not to be creepy, but if you want to stare at someone unashamedly, look directly past them and wait for them to try and meet your eyes
When they fail to do that, they’ll look around (usually nervously for a second) they won’t look at you again for some time. This is your chance to straight up stare at this person for at least 45 seconds.14. Build a network
Become their information source, and let them be yours. Even grabbing a beer with a former colleague once a year will keep you in the loop at the old office. Former coworkers might have gotten a new position in that office you always wanted to work in, great! Go to them for a beer, and ask about the office. It’s all about connections and information.15. If you are angry at the person in front of you driving like a grandmother…
Pretend it is your grandmother, it will significantly reduce your road rage16. Stand up straight
No slouching, hands out of pockets, and head held up high. It’s not just a cliche — you literally feel better and people around you feel more confident in you.17. Avoid saying “I think,” and “I believe” unless absolutely necessary
These are phrases that do not evoke confidence, and will literally do you no good.18. When feeling anxious, clean up your home or work space
You will feel happier and more accomplished than before.19. Always buy the first pitcher or round of drinks
You’d be surprised how long you can drink on the phrase “I bought the first one.”20. Going into an interview…be interested in your interviewers
If you focus on learning about them you seem more interesting and dynamic. (Again, people love to talk about themselves.)21. Pay attention parents: always give your kid a choice that makes them think they are in control
For instance when I want him to put his shoes on I will say ,”do you want to put your star wars shoes on or your shark shoes on?”Pro-tip: In some cases, this works on adults.
22. Your action affect your attitudes more than your attitudes affect your actions
As my former teacher said “You can jump and dance FOR joy, but you can also jump and dance yourself joyful.”23. When a group of people laugh, people will instinctively look at the person they feel closest to in that group
24. If you want to build rapport or gain someone’s trust quickly, match their body posture and position
If someone is sitting with her legs crossed cross your legs. If they’re leaning away from you lean away from them. If they’re leaning towards you, lean towards them. Mirroring and matching body position is a subconscious way to tell if someone trusts you or is comfortable with you. If you’re sitting with your arms crossed and you notice someone else is sitting with her arms crossed, that is a good indicator that you have/are successfully built/building rapport with that person.
25. The Benjamin Franklin Effect (suggested by Matt Miller)
The pencil one may seem far-fetched but I find the basis of it (the Benjamin Franklin effect) is very useful and extends far beyond pencil borrowing. This knowledge is useful in the world of flirting too. Asking a girl in your class if you can borrow a pencil or her notes or to explain the homework will make her more likely to like you than if you let her borrow your stuff or are the one to help her. Even just asking a girl to buy you drinks (facetiously) leaves a much bigger impression than offering to or actually buying a girl a drink.
The best part is it kills three birds with one stone: you get the advantages of the favor itself, the person subconsciously likes you more, and it makes them more open to future favors and conversation.
If you have any further tips add them in the comments.
