We all give and receive advice all day long.  Advice books fill bookstore shelves. I often receive good advice, and of course, all of my advice is priceless (smile)!

Before we get into the thick of the new school year, I just couldn't write another blog without passing on this very important advice, which bears repeating and repeating:

READ ALL PRODUCT MANUALS AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR! (More often is recommended.)

This includes all high-tech products manuals — computer and phone manuals, electronic watch and printer manuals. Wait till you re-read the fax manual. (On a personal note, I suggest that you expand this to automobile manuals, appliance manuals, medical device instructions, medical booklets and other doctor-directed readings, etc.) I have every home appliance manual in one large plastic bin, and I try to review them often.

I won't go on and on, but I have found this very useful. We all get our high-tech product working as rapidly as possible and put them into service. We set aside the manuals which we rarely read again. I can't tell you how many new features I find when I re-read my phone manual, and how many ah-has I have when I re-study a laptop manual, for example. Oh, that's what that icon is!

The secret to this tip is that when we first read a manual, we're usually in a hurry to get the product working and into use. We do the best we can, but the truth is that we are unfamiliar with many of the functions and features and how they would all work. We just don't get it the first time through. (Like the first day at a new job. Things make much more sense a few weeks later.) Later, when we have become familiar with the product, we understand the manual at a whole new level and can balance the theory of the manual with the practice and familiarity with the product itself. Also, our needs change, and re-reading often helps us think of new or different ways to use the product. The fact is: We under-utilize almost every device we use or work with.

I think you get the point: Make it an important annual event to review the product manuals of the products you use or are responsible for. Sometimes you learn about so many features and functions that you get the birthday-gift excitement about the product, as though you just bought a new model!

Hope this helps! I'd like to hear from you on this, and any tips you think I should pass along!

My next blog will be much more philosophical (smile)!

—The assistant headmaster at Delphian School in Sheridan, Ore., Mark Siegel focuses on social studies, business/economics, science/technology and school information systems. Active in local, state and national public and private school affairs, Mark directs the Oregon Federation of Independent Schools and serves on the Council for American Private Education's board.

To read more blog entries by Mark Siegel, visit The Delphian School.