5 Secrets to Success using Video Content

Ever since the days when families all over America were glued to the old black and white television sets with the rabbit ears on top to catch a local broadcasting signal, people have become more and more enthralled with video content.

Sites like YouTube, DropShots, and similar web locations gets millions of visitors each month, and the sharing of video content has come a long way from the days of being stranded in front of the family black and white TV.

There is a ton of self improvement and personal development video content that can quickly and easily become part of your success plan, and here are 5 ways to get the most out of that powerful medium.

1) Focus on what you are watching

It seems unusual to have to say it, but the truth is that many people don’t focus whenever they are watching something. Oh sure, they are looking at it and listening to it, but their mind is actually thinking about something else, and they are pretty much just sitting there in “reactive” mode.

As you are watching, pay attention to the content that is being delivered and be sure that you are actively listening and internalizing the information. Most of us have been programmed by decades of watching television and video to just think of it as an entertainment medium, so using it as a tool for education and empowerment is going to require more than just a passive level of attentiveness.

2) Remember the content by using your ears as well as your eyes

You can radically increase your level of retention by engaging as many of your senses as possible while you are watching quality material.

Look closely at the details of what you are watching and mentally “record” as much as possible. Look at what speakers or presenters are wearing, make a note of their appearance and distinguishable characteristics, and even pay special attention to the background setting of whatever you are watching. All of those things will help to cement in your brain the information that you are being exposed to.

In addition to using your sense of sight, increase your level of retention by listening very closely. Listen not just to the words themselves, but to the voices, music, or other audio cues that are given. By combining a close attention to detail with regard to both sight and sounds along with a strong focus on the information itself, you will remember much more than if you hadn’t mentally captured all of that information.

3) Take plenty of notes, but keep them short

Taking notes while watching something has the obvious benefit of giving yourself something to refer back to later, but it is also an additional tool that will help you to retain the information. By utilizing your sight, your sense of touch, and your mental capacity all together in unison, it is often the case that we remember things that are written down much more effectively than if we had just made a mental note of them.

However, that being said, keep your notes short and to the point. Your eyes, ears, and your intellect are already busy if you are successfully practicing steps 1 and 2 from above, so don’t overtax yourself by trying to write long, drawn-out notes. Just jot down key words and phrases. You can go over your notes later on to expand upon them and to give them more in-depth consideration.

4) Take your video content with you

Although the idea is to focus as much as possible on whatever you are watching, that does not mean that you need to sit at home to do it. Alternatives to parking it on your couch include watching video on iPods, laptop computers, or portable DVD players.

Take advantage of the portability that is allowed by today’s technology and get your video content in an environment that is most conducive to your particular style of learning. If your house is not an ideal learning environment for you, then take that video content to the library, to a park, a local coffee shop, or even to your place of business to watch during your lunch break.

NOTE: Be sure to move your learning opportunity to an environment that is conducive to learning for you. Personally, I can get engrossed in a video on my iPod or my laptop at a coffee shop, but if I try to watch it at home, I am too easily distracted by other responsibilities. Make note of what works best for you, and then make it happen.

5) Take advantage of the LIMITLESS options

There is no end to the amount of quality educational and empowering video content that you can get your hands on, so don’t cut your learning short by not taking advantage of all that is out there. A brief list of video learning opportunities includes all of the following:

• Do a keyword search at Amazon.com for DVD content
• Go to iTunes.com and checkout their video podcasts
• Do a keyword search at YouTube. You can often find bits from longer videos, or even get your hands on some free full-length content as well.
• Search for weekend seminars that include your favorite speakers. Even if you can’t go to the seminar itself, many such events sell recordings afterwards.
• Check out a free trial at The Success Training Network. Their video library includes quality content from over 50 top trainers, and it is available online 24 hours per day.

The bottom line to all of this is that video content is an excellent source of information in your quest for professional or personal growth. However, like all tools, you need to make a conscious and consistent effort to get the most out of this valuable medium.