Copy This!

A true story points to a universal truth about human beings: we learn best by imitation.

President Calvin Coolidge once invited friends from his hometown to dine with him at the White House. Unsure of their table manners, the guests decided to imitate the president. They watched closely to see which utensils he used, what foods he ate and when. Their strategy seemed to succeed until coffee was served.

Coolidge poured some coffee into his saucer. They did the same. He added sugar and cream. His guests did, too. Then the president bent over and put his saucer on the floor for the cat!

Like Coolige's hometown guests, we, too, seem to learn best by imitation. Kids learn by observing parents when they are young, and by copying their peers as they grow older. They learn by observing television and movie characters as readily as the lives of actual people.

Adults learn best by modeling a personality trait or skill in another which they want to adopt. Practically ANY trait or skill can be learned: find it in someone and copy it. And the best part is -- you can do it today.