Man: A Learning Machine. The Myth of Learning Disabilities.

According to Stats Canada, learning disabilities are on the rise, and not only among children, but among adults as well. But I have a secret for you. Are you ready? Learning disabilities are a myth. Ya, you heard me. They do not exist.

People are learning machines. We learn all the time. Take one of these kids who is diagnosed with a “learning disability” by an “expert.” At school, he will tend to have poor concentration, poor marks, and may even be disruptive in class. Send him home and he can learn how to play a video game in seconds, he can do things with a computer that adults did not even know were possible, and he can tell you everything that has happened in his favourite TV series for the past 4 seasons to the last minute detail. Most of these kids have exquisite athletic abilities as well. So what does this demonstrate? These kids are exquisite learners. They can do incredible things in certain contexts, and simply need to learn to apply their strategy for learning to other contexts, such as school.

This week an article I wrote on this subject was published in the West End Times. Good luck finding a copy – I have looked everywhere! But the full article in available here.

Consider the modern child, growing up surrounded by computers and television with information changing and shifting every few seconds and designed to provide maximum emotional and psychological impact. Our children are bombarded by massive amounts of stimulation. Their brains have been programmed virtually since birth to demand this kind of stimuli. And then we send them to school… where they are bored to tears!

They are not the victim’s of a learning disability, but rather a teaching disability. Our school system has failed to adapt to the times – teaching methods have barely changed in hundreds of years! On top of that, teachers who face students with problems in class have failed to learn to be flexible and adapt to the learning styles of the kids.

Seth Godin, one of the most celebrated marketing minds today has set out to wake people up. His video, “A Vision of Students Today” is a real eye-opener. Thanks to Mitch Joel of Twist Image for sending me the link! Great timing Mitch!

We need to take a new approach to teaching and learning. Teachers need to stop teaching and make sure learning is happening. “Learning disabilities” are feedback – they are a signal that what is being done in schools is not working.

The Formula for Success

A=n (n-1)/2. That just might be the formula for success. Or maybe not. But there is one you know. It might not be quite as simple as that formula there, but it’s simple enough that we can use it have almost anything we want. Really. Don’t believe me? It’s true that the formula for success and fulfillment has always been a jealously guarded secret. Until now. Success and happiness are far easier to achieve than most people think they are. Want proof?

In high school I was known as the "prince of darkness." Ya, me. I was a pretty unhappy kid. I felt alone, stuck and frustrated and it seemed there was no light at the end of the tunnel. Sound familiar?

Well, things have changed a little. In an article that appeared recently in the Montreal Mirror I was described as a “highly articulate, happy, happy Westmount resident.” I won’t comment on the articulate part, but I have to say, the rest is true. I am happy, happier than I have ever been. I am doing what I love, traveling the world and pursuing my passion. I’m earning more than ever before and I have practically everything I want. Who would have thought?

So how did I go from depresso to Mr. happy and successful?

That’s a great question. One day something snapped. Something made me realize that if I was so good at feeling bad, if I had mastered that skill, I could be just as good at feeling good. I decided that day to make a solid commitment to finding out how. And I did it.

When I look back sometimes I think I was a pretty stupid kid. I spent so much time down and depressed, wishing there were solutions to all my troubles. What I didn’t know is that there were solutions all along. I just hadn’t found them. Now, I have a new commitment. It’s up to me to help others find the solutions they’re looking for, the answers that they didn’t know (or believe) existed.

I have spent the past 13 years obsessed with uncovering the secrets to happiness and empowerment and since I’m not quite done yet, I figured I would invite everyone else out there on this journey. And I want your help in making this blog the best resource for unlocking the keys to personal fulfillment and success. Stay tuned for the how to’s of achievement, specific tips and techniques you can use, reviews of the most impactful books and movies, and perhaps a few interesting surprises. Let me know what you want to know about or find out how to do and be sure to comment on the postings. A blog is nothing without the interaction of its readers!

Check out my next post: Man: A Learning Machine. The Myth of Learning Disabilities.

Learn more about me and my latest invention, Mindworks Coaching.

Learn about NLP.