Five Action-Oriented Success Strategies for Adult Learners

Five Action-Oriented Success Strategies for Adult Learners

By Jim Flores, Ph.D.

As an adult learner, you have tremendous demands on your time. You understand the importance of earning your college degree, but the stress of coping with daily life takes a toll on you. Outside of balancing your work and family responsibilities, you have piled another major activity onto your already hectic schedule, making it increasingly difficult to take control of your life. However, as a facilitator and student myself, I have developed several strategies that place me in the driver’s seat of my personal, professional, and academic activities. Over the past decade, I have used these strategies to earn several master’s and, recently, my Ph.D. There is no time to waste! Let’s get started!

Success Strategy #1 — Prioritize Your Schedule

If you wake up each day without a written schedule, you are asking for trouble. The most successful people in life are those who think on paper. They take the time to write things down and place a priority on those items that are most important to them. I recall reading that steel king Andrew Carnegie once paid today’s equivalence of $1M to a consultant who gave him the following advice: Write down the three most important items that you must work on today and don’t move to Item #2 until Item #1 is done, and so on. Carnegie noted later in life that that advice was the key to his enormous success.

Success Strategy #2 — Embrace Technology

In some of my classes, learners express the phobia they experience when it comes to using computers. The fact is that your success as a student largely depends on your ability to use the latest software and hardware. At minimum, you should be proficient with the Microsoft Suite. Further, make sure you can touch type at least 40-wpm, and preferably 50 or more. If you lack a computer skill, I highly recommend going through the tutorial offered by the software program or to purchase a step-by-step “How To” book. I remember blocking out several Saturday mornings to go through software tutorials. In just those short sessions, I became proficient. However, to master these programs, it is critical you use them often. For those of you fortunate to have company training opportunities, never pass up a class. Here are the programs you should reach expert-level status: Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. From my experience, students often struggle with MS Excel, so make sure to allocate time to learn this powerful and useful program.

Success Strategy #3 — Become a Reader

I am often surprised that many college-level students experience difficulty writing coherently.
Until we develop the ability to write in a persuasive, professional, and clear manner, our future opportunities are limited. Over the years, I have made it a habit to read as much as possible, including articles, scholarly writings, self-development books, dissertations, and so on. By engaging our mind in reading activities, we expand our vocabulary, and that alone improves your writing ability. I recommend you make it a habit to read at least 30 minutes per day. When reading, pay special attention to how the author structures an argument and the words used to communicate the message to you. Instead of being a passive reader, think critically and form a counterargument. When speaking, I also make it a habit to use coherent and clear sentences. In short, the more I am aware of my communication skills, the more I excel at writing.

Success Strategy #4 — Practice Humility

In my experience as a college educator, it never fails to have a student claiming to possess exemplary writing skills, even rivaling Charles Dickens and Shakespeare! We sometimes receive angry feedback from students who earn a substandard grade arguing they are “A” students. While I understand that pursuing an “A” is the ultimate goal, the fact is that subjects vary and students are not always proficient in all areas. I recall a situation where one student became upset when I provided constructive feedback on an essay, and much of it pertained to lack of clarity and poor grammar. Instead of accepting the feedback as a way to improve her writing, she closed the learning door and focused on how she could prove me wrong. Students must remember that they are attending college with the aim to develop new skills, and feedback from the instructor provides that learning opportunity. In short, we maximize our learning chances when we are humble and receptive to feedback from faculty members who are committed to helping us elevate our academic performance.

Success Strategy #5 — Visualize the Goal

When pursuing my B.B.A. at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, it seemed like the end was too far away. Even though I was taking 18 hours per semester, I had a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, I persevered and completed the degree requirements. Since that accomplishment, however, I have taken a different approach to my studies. While I remain focused on doing well in each class, my attention is directed on how I can use the degree to further my career. Further, I think about how the skills I am learning in each class are applicable to a current employment activity. This visualization motivates me to stay on course and view my learning in an action-oriented manner. Not surprisingly, the results are tremendous!

About the Author

Dr. Jim Flores has earned a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems and the following master’s degrees: M.B.A. with Finance and Marketing / Management concentrations, M.S. in Computer Information Technology, M.S. in Management, M.A. in Human and Organizational Systems, and M.S. in Nonprofit Management. He has taught online and onground collegiate classes since 1992. Further, he is founder of WebcastLearning.com, an organization committed to helping adult learners earn an accredited online college degree. His podcast program, "The Nuts-and-Bolts of Online Learning," provides step-by-step information on how to excel in any distance learning program. Further, his book, "How to Become a Proficient Online Learner: Powerful and Practical Strategies Designed to Help You Earn a 4.0 GPA," provides easy-to-implement strategies for online learners. For more information, visit WebcastLearning.com.