“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” —Henry Ford
Today, I found an old picture of my first-grade class. I am easy to find. I am on the front row, middle of the row, and the only child barefooted. My mother never did forgive me for forgetting to tell about the scheduled class picture.
The times were different. My friends and I liked attending school. I knew everyone in the class, and they knew me. I knew their parents and their parents knew me. Our teachers knew us, and we knew that if we misbehaved () at school, our parents would soon know it. And, we all knew the consequences of that.
There doesn’t seem to be a love for education like there once was. I remember my excitement about learning to spell, read and write. I already knew how to share and say “yes mam” and “no sir.” I never felt squeamish about a parent/teacher meeting. My parents attended the meetings and received feedback on how I was doing. My mother and dad thanked the teachers for their dedication and inspiration.
That’s what teachers did.
High school, college, and Grad school are completed—I have the diplomas. Fortunately, the learning is still incomplete. One of the great things to discover is, learning is a life-long experience. With continuous learning, the only real and final graduation diploma is a death
Many people spend their time coasting on the knowledge they acquired during the first 20 to 25 years of their lives. The essence of life-long learning is to look at learning as a continuous process. Each new thing you learn is a step toward greater knowledge and increased opportunity.
OPPORTUNITY ONE. Your Entourage Increases. Seek out new people and be open to their ideas and thoughts. Often it is new acquaintances and new friends that challenge us to expand our knowledge base. You may not like everyone you encounter but, you can learn something from everyone. New people can offer new approaches, new thinking, and new ideas. Before seeking new counsel verify that the source is trustful, has knowledge in the field of discussion, and shares your values.
OPPORTUNITY TWO. Your Environment Expands. The essence of the continuous learning process is to be open to new surroundings, to determine unknown areas to explore, and to link the new environment with the old. New surroundings are as simple as visiting with a person in an office or cubicle on the next floor or as complex as touring a foreign country. The goal is to savor— to see, touch, and smell—what is unfamiliar and relate it to the familiar.
OPPORTUNITY THREE. Personal Education Moves to a Higher Level. Diplomas alone won’t be enough to sustain your employability or career advancement. Ultimately, it’s the currency of your information and your ability to use it that will count. In some fields, dated knowledge becomes evident more quickly that other positions. Change is inevitable, no matter the job. Information is not static,—it continually evolves. People learn (or should learn) from history, and the new know-how builds on the old knowledge. When you quit learning, you reduce your chances of success.
OPPORTUNITY FOUR. Your Experience Multiplies. Experiencing new things is most often more transitional than transformational. Learn from the experiences of others. As ancient Greek Philosopher Socrates said, “Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writing so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.” As you gain more experience use what works. Discard what you know doesn't work
If you want to stay on top of your profession, you must rule out all the excuses that impede continuous learning. Failure to grow is usually costly and can cost you your job. Expand your horizon, always with the goal of improving performance.
It is impossible to predict the competitive job actions and knowledge needed in the future. Therefore, continuous learning is required. Your job as a lifelong learner is to deal with change, to get and stay ahead of the learning curve, ensuring that you are employable now and in the future.
I have a friend who is a risk avoider. He can’t make a decision because he is afraid to make a mistake. I don’t like to make mistakes, and I don’t want to make the mistake of only doing what I am comfortable doing. The happiest and most successful people are those who engage in the continuous learning provided by the 4E’s: Entourage, Environment, Education, and Experience.
My book, MENTOR IN THE MIRROR is available on Amazon
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