Challenges posed by recent economic and market shifts, though predicted for some time, have instigated chaos in the lives of many business professionals and factory workers alike, not to mention just about everyone else who is paying attention. Instead of embracing change and allowing it to fuel creativity and activity, many people allow the very thought of it to cripple them through fear, indecision and inactivity.

Instant world-wide communications have allowed even the smallest changes and the biggest ideas to spread immediately across continents. A new piece of information, transmitted to the world in an instant, can forever change a market, a medical approach, relationships, jobs, products, services or the very need for a product or service. Entire factories and manufacturing processes can be rendered obsolete overnight. Many have been caught off-guard and are not prepared for this escalation and frequency of change.

Many people are entering or re-entering the workforce ill-equipped and under-skilled for the constantly evolving career positions becoming available in our modern economy. Time is at a premium. How does one solve the dilemma of needing to read and study a variety of materials to enable one to be a contributing and valuable employee, while finding little free time to prepare for such a career shift? There is an urgent need to accelerate the learning of new skill-sets, but how does one accomplish this feat?

What if anyone could learn new material faster than they have ever dreamed possible? What if people could digest change easier and more quickly? Could that have an impact on careers and earnings? Could learning be the solution to the fear of change? If so, then, the ability to learn faster simply makes even better sense.

What does everyone want? We want stability. We want security. We want to get ahead. However, we fear change. In light of these observations, we must diligently seek to maximize every learning opportunity, for therein lies our ability to earn more income, gain career stability and to get ahead.

Unfortunately, there have been very few accessible tools to enable an increase in our learning rate. The educational establishment has been teaching in the same manner for many years, even though the real world has been demanding an upgrade. In my 18 years in the formal education system, not once was any mandatory or elective training offered in goal setting, effective study habits or speed reading. Those wanting more options have been paying a premium for customized educational services through private companies. What other solutions are available?

E-books, for instance, are proliferating at an astounding rate. Everything from fiction to technical manuals is available in this exciting format. Most persons are generally in a hurry, busy with a variety of family and work related tasks, with little time available for reading lengthy, conventional, “fat” books. E-books provide a practical alternative offering the tremendous benefits of value, time savings and convenience.

Audio books are another great source of information allowing us to multi-task. While busy with another activity, we have the ability to listen to the latest advancements in our field, personal development or even learn a new language. There are a variety of available formats: the dinosaur cassette, CD’s and now the MP3 player. I have been listening to audio books for years as I drive, taking advantage of “drive-time university” to further my knowledge and gain information instead of feeding my brain useless material from the radio. Part of my daily workout is a lengthy, brisk walk each evening, where you will find me with my CD player “velcro’d” to my sweatshirt feeding me nutritious “brain food” from a variety of authors and speakers. You can do it too.