Make it your primary desktop (Score 1)

I tried to learn linux from numerous books and online material and never really got anywhere. What changed this was when I bought myself a second PC and installed Linux on it. From then on I forced myself to use the Linux box for EVERYTHING - writing documents, paying bills, balancing accounts, browsing the net - and only reverted to the windows box when I was hoplessly lost. After only a month, linux felt so natural to me. I then blew away the other windows box and made it my Linux server. I did all administration of the server using the command line only. Within about 4 months I felt like a Linux pro... obviously I wasn't but the confidence definately helps.