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| The Trials and Tribulations Of Learning A New Computer Skill
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It all started several years ago when I walked out on a well-paid job of 11 years. I needed to
get another job fairly quickly. My monthly mortgage repayments were pretty hefty. Something
I hadn't thought about during my dramatic exit. |
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I eagerly poured over the job columns in the newspaper. Yikes, every job required Microsoft
Word. To get another job, I needed to learn a new computer skill. So what? There are loads of
people "in the same boat" in this ever-changing world. If they can do it, so can I. |
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First, I had to decide how! Group classes didn't work for me. At one, I got left behind -
simply because I didn't grasp one little point and wasn't brave enough to admit that I,
apparently, was the only one who hadn't "got it". At another, I actually knew more
than others and felt frustrated listening to stuff I already knew. One-on-one training would be
better, but too expensive. |
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My computer-whiz niece offered to help. She sat in my computer chair, took control of my mouse
and went zap, zap, zap. All kinds of things appeared and disappeared on the screen at a fast
rate. During all this activity, I stood behind her chair feeling quite dazed. Finally, she said
with a smile "That's how you do . . . whatever it was she was trying to teach me (I still don't
know)". Her smile was replaced by an incredulous look when I said that she had lost me after the
second zap. Needless to say, I didn't pursue her kind offer any further and, as a result, we are
still the best of friends. |
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What I really wanted to do was to learn at my own pace and at
home. I decided to try the manual that came with my computer. At this stage, I was blissfully
unaware of the terrors ahead. |
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I successfully started Microsoft Word and, then, clicked a
couple of things. All of a sudden, I had a box on my screen that I couldn't get rid of. What do
I do now? The manual didn't help. I was stuck and too scared to click anything else. I
eventually rang a computer help line company I found in the Yellow Pages. Chris, the guy
who answered, said to click the Cancel button in the box. I felt really stupid. Why didn't I
think of that? |
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Over the next 4 weeks, I spent a small fortune ringing Chris
(the computer help line company charged by the minute) and he started treating me like a long
lost friend. I just felt more and more stupid as most of the solutions were as simple as
clicking the Cancel button! I remember thinking, thank goodness, he's the only witness to my
stupidity! |
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Eventually I discovered the Undo button. What a find! I could
now undo any action I had taken. This made me feel heaps better. Then, an amazing thing
happened. As I was able to do more and more things, thanks to Chris and the Undo button,
I started to feel excited by what I was achieving and CONFIDENT. I still made mistakes (plenty),
but I didn't feel scared. Nor did I ring Chris. I was CONFIDENT that I could work it out on my
own. And I usually did. |
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I went on to learn many new computer skills and they all
featured some Microsoft Word tools and menu commands AND an Undo button! And, guess what,
I became so thrilled with Microsoft Word that I went on and created three tutorials for
computer novices. |
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About the Author
Georgie Farmer is the creator of Nail It Now "Wow, I can do this" Microsoft Word
Tutorials: Getting Started (CONFIDENCE Builder), Microsoft Word Is Easy When You Know HOW and
Tabs, Tables, Tips and Tricks. These tutorials are specifically designed so that you get an immediate
thrill and CONFIDENCE and can be found at http://www.nailitnow.com.au/word/index.html |
Copyright © 1998-2014 Nail It Now. All rights reserved
34 Tucker Avenue, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia
Phone: 61 3 9646 9511; email: georgie@nailitnow.com.au |
Tutors, Tutorials, Training, Tips, Education |
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