Instructions Help with Life!

In Middle School, I learned about reading instructions from an exercise a teacher handed out to calls. The exercise had like over 100 questions, and the first thing it said was to read everything before beginning. I didn't read that part, or at least didn't pay much attention to it, and went heads-on to completing the assignment.  There was a grade, you see, for passing the exercise and completing it before the time was over.

I then began wondering why a few other people had finished their exercise and was playing around. The questions were getting hard and harder, and taking me time to solve them. How did this people finish it so fast? I began feeling very stupid.

Time was up! And I barely finished answering the questions. Then the teacher told us how she had stated to "Follow Instructions Carefully," and pointed something out to us.

Somewhere on the 3rd statement of the instructions, before the 100 questions, was for you to only write your name and ignore the rest of the questions. I just saw the questions and went at it!

And I wasted time and energy with frustration because of that.

That was a BIG learning lesson for me about instructions.
And that is the basis for most achievements I see.

Knowing the Rules.

Back when I did contests, and every contest while growing up after that teacher's exercise, I LIVED for those who didn't follow the rules. It just increase my chances for being in the finalist group.

And people not reading instructions is increasing. There's just so much more to read these days with more PCs in the household and the internet.

For equipment I purchase to use, I read instructions, but for Terms of Service on facebook, twitter, free email...well.... I mean, I just got a pop-up on my cell phone on something changing on Words for Friends and to ACCEPT the terms after reading them...didn't do it. I just clicked ACCEPT. All those TERMS just read like blah blah blah to me.

However, 15 years ago, I would use the HELP menu for Microsoft Office applications and then when problems came up, I would show people how to get things done. Someone ask me, "Are you Microsoft Certified or something?" I had to laugh. "Nope, I just read the instructions," I told him. That got me moving up the ladder...just because I read instructions. I make it a point to read the HELP menu. If it wasn't for that, I couldn't do most of the software stuff I do today.

Following instructions...I don't think people realize how it really helps you out in life to get ahead.

It's really helped me :)