Memory, attention, and learning are cognitive skills that play a pivotal role in our daily lives. From making small decisions to solving complex problems, our ability to remember information and think critically can significantly impact our success. In this article, we will explore the secrets to enhancing these essential skills, drawing inspiration from two legendary figures: Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, and Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple.
Jeff Bezos’s Leadership Techniques
The president, CEO, and visionary behind Amazon has always emphasized the importance of efficiency. He acknowledges that a robust team is crucial for making connections and envisioning a brighter future. Bezos admits that consistent failure leads to consistent growth.
- Experimentation: When thinking about Bezos, the words that may come to mind are “successful” “innovative” and “businessman”. However, he didn’t earn this reputation overnight. Bezos thinks outside of the box and isn’t afraid to fail- he is an experimenter and risk taker. Research shows that learning new skills and continually improving yourself shows an impact on cognitive function. Being wrong, they understand, isn’t a sign of stupidity. It’s a sign of curiosity, openness to new information, and ultimately smarts.
“If you double the number of experiments you do per year, you’re going to double your inventiveness.” – Bezos
He advises his employees to experiment, fail, and experiment again to create the ever- evolving culture of Amazon. Bezos may just be able to take credit for his team’s mature cognitive skills by encouraging experimentation and failure.
Steve Jobs’s Approach to Learning
Steve Jobs, the iconic co-founder of Apple, was known for his relentless pursuit of knowledge. He believed that continuous learning was key to personal and professional growth. Here’s how Jobs’s approach to learning can inspire us:
- Birds Eye View Theory: “A lot of [what it is to be smart] is memory. And a lot of it is the ability to zoom out, like you’re in a city and you could look at the whole thing from the 80th floor down at the city. And while other people are trying to figure out how to get from point A to point B reading these stupid little maps, you could just see it in front of you. You can see the whole thing.” – Steve Jobs, Academy of Achievement Speech in 1982. Steve encourages the audience that being smart isn’t about what you retain in schooling, but how you handle view situations, and what experiences got you there.
- Stay Curious: Steve Jobs maintained an insatiable curiosity about the world around him. He sought to learn from various fields, not just technology, which enriched his cognitive abilities and creativity.
- Experiences: From the same speech, Jobs also said, “You have to not have the same bag of experiences as everyone else does, or else you’re gonna make the same connections and you won’t be innovative… You might want to think about going to Paris and being a poet for a few years. Or you might want to go to a third-world country – I’d highly advise that.” Jobs implies that improving your intelligence is about stacking experience and applying lessons from good sources. You can only zoom out if you know what you are looking at. It’s hard, but it’s worth it.
Five Simple Habits to Boost Your Memory and Cognitive Skills
Now that we’ve explored the success and failure technique of Jeff Bezos and the outward experiences approach of Steve Jobs, let’s distill their wisdom into five practical habits that you can incorporate into your daily life to enhance your cognitive abilities:
- Practice Mindfulness: Spend a few minutes each day in quiet reflection or meditation. Mindfulness exercises can improve your focus and memory.
- Read Widely: Expand your reading list to include a variety of subjects. This broadens your knowledge base and enhances your ability to connect disparate ideas.
- Stay Organized: Use tools like calendars, to-do lists, and note-taking apps to keep your thoughts and tasks organized. A clear mind is better equipped for memory, productivity, and critical thinking.
- Explore Regularly: Whether it’s physical activity, traveling to a new city, or meeting new people, these types of activities boost blood flow to the brain, improving cognitive function and memory.
- Challenge Yourself: Step out of your comfort zone and tackle new challenges. This encourages adaptability and keeps your cognitive skills sharp.
Memory and cognitive skills are vital assets in our journey towards success. By drawing inspiration from the experimentation technique of Jeff Bezos and the learning mindset of Steve Jobs, and by incorporating the five simple habits mentioned above into your daily routine, you can boost your cognitive abilities and achieve your goals.
Remember these words from Steve Jobs: “Stay hungry, stay foolish.” Embrace lifelong learning, and you’ll continually enhance your cognitive skills, just as these visionary leaders did.
Start today and watch your memory and cognitive skills effortlessly reach new heights.