“I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.” — Eartha Kitt
I am a learner.
It tops my list of attributes according to the Strength Finders 2.0 assessment. I am in my sweet spot, my happy place when I am learning.
I prefer reading over television. I will go with a podcast over music. I love learning.
And like Eartha Kitt, “I am learning all the time.” Learning is a lifelong endeavor to advance from ignorance to intelligence in a skill or topic. Learning is a way to be informed. A way to develop.
Learning is life. Life is learning.
Society evolves. We are faced with rapid technological progressions. The roles in our lives change from child to adult, entry-level professional to executive, individual contributor to leader.
There’s no shortage of information to learn or ways to learn as life goes on.
Learning is the fuel of my success.
Every advancement from preschool to elementary school … middle school to high school … college to career is connected to my learning abilities. If I am not learning, then I am not living. I am not growing. I am not advancing.
And that is why I believe it is important to be a lifelong learner. There are tremendous benefits to being a lifelong learner.
1. Live and lead with excellence. It is often said that the first person you lead is yourself. Then you can lead others. Some of the best books I have read are about personal growth, spiritual growth and leadership.
When the people in close proximity failed to paint the best picture, it was often the Bible, books and newsletters that showed me a more excellent way to live daily and to lead wisely.
2. Expand your point of view. Perspective is formed by your current surroundings and the company you keep. It is the way you see life and circumstances.
Learning enlarges your space. It gives you access to the brilliance of other people. It gives you a larger world view.
A phone call, a walk to the next cubicle, a question to someone nearby in a co-share workspace … all of these approaches will generate new insights on life. Even an internet search or a YouTube video can prompt new perspectives.
3. Aim for higher goals. We can become comfortable and complacent in our current situation. A lifelong learner realizes there is so much more available and is inspired to pursue new endeavors.
Saving $1,000 is no longer lofty enough. The new goal becomes $10,000. And then it is $100,000. And on and on.
4. Recognize your potential. Success stories are motivational. I enjoy reading about people who have lost 100 pounds and maintained their ideal weight for more than two years.
I am motivated by people who share their rags-to-riches stories. Leaders who had horrible beginnings move on to become world famous CEOs. Humble servant minded-people become Nobel Peace Prize winners.
Learning their stories helps me to believe in myself, my potential.
I believe I can be more and do more and achieve more.
5. Notice new ways to be successful. If it is true that you get what you look for … then why not search for success? A learner is looking out for ways to succeed.
As a lifelong learner you will build a repository of best practices, case studies and lessons learned from the experiences of other people. College text books, autobiographies and even blogs contain a wealth of information on the habits and results of successful people.
6. Energize your thoughts. Sometimes we fall prey to stinking thinking. A lifelong learner knows how to hijack those thoughts and renew their mind.
Meditation is a perfect way to quiet those negative thoughts and nourish yourself with affirmations and declarations.
Journaling is another option. It helps you identify your thought patterns. You can then take note of the changes you need to make in your thinking.
7. Release negativity. When your intentions are set on living your best possible life, you learn over time to release negative people, events and experiences. Even your own negative thoughts and feeling.
This release creates space for something new to come into your life. Something more purposeful. You release so you can receive.
What have you learned recently that helps you to live or lead with excellence? Please share your thoughts in the comments section, I’d love to hear from you.
