Teaching Yourself New Tricks
I would imagine most people use only a fraction of the capability of their software. Either manually performing tasks that could be automated or just assuming that the program can't do the function they require. Or they call the IT support desk to ask if it's possible. The IT support desk doesn't always have the answer, but can usually figure it out. In the information technology industry, the moment you stop learning is the moment you render yourself obsolete. We have to adjust and learn new technology constantly, from hardware and software that changes from day to day to new programming languages and methods of application. The No. 1 key to learning new things about your computer and software is to learn to track down information quickly. The first place to check when you have a problem is the program's help function. You may not find all that much troubleshooting in help, but you can often find easy-to-follow steps for performing a given program function. Admittedly, many programs' help functions leave something to be desired, but, thanks to the Internet, there is a tremendous resource of information available at our fingertips. Everyone knows about Google and other search engines, but not everyone has used the Google Groups search. This option allows you to search 20 years of archived Usenet newsgroups. You can often find responses from people with the exact same problem or question as you. Keep reference books on hand for the software you use and refer to them. I recommend checking book reviews online and perusing the books before purchase. There are different types of references and, depending on how you like to learn, you might prefer one approach, such as a step-by-step guide, over another, such as a more academic volume. Don't underestimate the benefit of training classes. Even the beginner classes can give you a solid foundation in understanding an application or operating system. Remember, computers and software are tools to help you do business. Don't be afraid to experiment and learn about how to make them work for you.
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