Practice Makes Permanent

On a computer, the keys to success are right in front of you.

As The Tech Daddy for the past 32 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with numerous clients. One question that always pops up is, “How did you do that so fast?!” or “What did you just do? It happened so quickly I didn’t see it.” While I appreciate the admiration, the truth is there’s no secret sauce. All I did was, many years ago, learn the computer keyboard shortcuts that all computers use and then… use them! And you know what? You can do the same thing, and all it takes is a little practice. Soon, you’ll become a certified Computer Speed Demon.

Did you ever learn how to play the piano? If so, it’s the same concept here: practice, practice, practice … until muscle memory takes over and you’re no longer thinking about where your fingers are. The same applies to computer keyboards, especially if you’re a touch typist. The real magic happens when you can use a computer without ever having to look at your hands on the keyboard; adding in ‘shortcut keys’ launches you into the stratosphere! In other words, if you can keep your hands on the keyboard as much as possible and away from a mouse, trackpad, trackball or other pointing device, you’ll get far more accomplished in far less time.

This post will discuss keyboard shortcuts, how they are accessed, and how you can learn to use them for yourself. These principles apply to both Macs and Windows PCs, although some of the details may be slightly different. Ready to go to warp speed? Engage!