Assess personal goals and previous methods of study.

I want my clients to get outside of the academic bubble. I take a real, practical approach, with a coaching mindset. Let's work on multiple strategies to win.

Change the environment and learning method. If we're primarily sitting, let's get up and walk around. If you've been sitting there and listening, let's turn things tangible. Let's put something in your hands (i.e. a frying pan when learning how to cook) and make you a more active participant.

I want to embed my clients with the right kind of foundation. For instance, those who are afraid of public speaking might think the end goal is to have ZERO fear. But let's be honest; I still get nerves from time to time. A "zero" target isn't realistic and only sets you up for failure. To build proper confidence, you need the right kind of markers and the right kind of goals.

I try to keep things realistic as possible. In school, everything is taught as necessary and sacred. Real life doesn't work that way. By pointing out what doesn't actually translate into the "real world", I build better rapport with my clients. This causes a more streamlined learning experience.

Notepads and Post-It notes. Sometimes we use our smartphones for voice journaling, but I like to keep things very low tech.