I am passionate about training, both getting as much training for myself as possible, and making sure that people on my business team receive the absolute best training possible.

The training I pursue for myself is a matter of continual personal growth and development. I can always get better. There\'s alway more to learn that can help me be more effective as a human being, both in my personal and professional life.

The training I provide and pursue for my team is to help them be all they can be and develop their full potential. It\'s also a matter of retention. I know that if my team is growing personally, they\'re going to become stronger and more successful in their business, and thus will stay, even when the going gets tough.

Following is how I approach training my team and how I mentor and coach other home business entrepreneurs who are interested learning from me and my experience.

First, it\'s important to understand that we all process information in a wide variety of ways not just one.

* Some people are more visual in how they learn.
* Some need to discuss things with other people.
* Some need a very logical presenation of the material to be learned.
* Some need lots of written material to read.
* Some love lectures and learning via the spoken word
* Others just need time to \"go inside\" and think about it, or meditate on it.
* Others need some kind of physical activity -- acting something out, or something that gets them up out of their chair.
* For some, music helps them learn -- put what you\'re teaching into a song and they\'ll get it instantly (remember how you learned the alphabet years ago)?

A DIFFERENT KIND OF MENTORING, COACHING, & TRAINING

If we\'re concerned to really reach everyone with the training, consulting, mentoring, and coaching we are providing, we need to understand their personal type, but it\'s got to be \"multi-modal\". Research has shown that the more different ways we learn something, the more we really learn it and understand it!

This is based on the Harvard reseach conducted by Dr. Howard Gardner in the mid-1980s. It\'s called \"Multipe Intelligences\" or, as I\'ve called it in books I\'ve written, the The 8 Kinds of Smart.

You see, we\'re all VERY intelligent but not in the same ways. When we were in school, there we two main ways of being smart that were valued: verbal/linguistic intelligence (a.k.a. Word Smart) and logical/mathematical intelligence (a.k.a. Number Smart). If you were strong in these areas you likely did very well in school.

However, not everyone learns best via these two favored intelligences. Please reread the bullet points above to get a feel for other ways we are smart. Gardner\'s research documented that there are at least eight intelligences-- eight ways we learn, understand, process information, yes at least 8 Kinds of Smart!

SO WHAT ARE THE 8 KINDS OF SMART?

1. ImageSmart (visual-spatial intelligence) -- uses the sense of sight and being able to imagine and visualize an object, including making mental images inside our head.

2. LogicSmart (logical-mathematical intelligence) -- uses numbers, logic, scientific reasoning, and calculating to help solve problems and meet challenges.

3. WordSmart (verbal-linguistic intelligence) -- occurs through written and spoken words, such as in essays, speeches, books, informal conversation, debates, and jokes.

4. BodySmart (bodily-kinesthetic intelligence) -- uses physical movement and performance (a.k.a. learning by doing) to understand.

5. SoundSmart (musical-rhythmic intelligence) -- learns through sounds, rhythms, tones, beats, music produced by other people or present in the environment.

6. NatureSmart (naturalist intelligence) -- the knowing that occurs in encounters with animals, plants, physical features, and weather conditions of the natural world.

7. PeopleSmart (interpersonal intelligence) -- uses person-to-person relating, communication, teamwork, and collaboration with others.

8. SelfSmart (intrapersonal intelligence) -- the knowing which comes from introspection, self-reflection, and raising questions about life\'s meaning and purpose.

So here\'s the short and skinny of it. You should work to set up a teaching-learning environment that incorporates the The 8 Kinds of Smart -- not just lectures, conference calls, and stuff to read.

At a minimum, go for \"webinars\" where at least you can get something visual happening during the training. Give people a chance to interact with other people, to ask questions, and hear stories. Give them time to think on their own, to reflect on the training and find what\'s important to them.

You probably won\'t find this approach in the the training you get from your company but I can show you how to \"multi-modalize\" it so it\'s more in sync with different way your team or business partners learn best. And, I promise you you\'ve got all eight intelligences on your team and in the participants you\'re training in one form or another.