Does this describe you?
- You haven’t read a book in the last year.
- You don’t listen to podcasts about your field of interest?
- You rarely read any trade magazines in print or online?
- You haven’t gone to a lecture, free course or digital webinar on a topic you know nothing about in the last year?
- Your network tends to all work in the same field.
- You talk more than you ask questions.
- You don’t like the idea of taking classes or having training sessions at work because you already know what you need for your job.
If you said YES to many of these descriptions, you probably aren’t a continual learner. You probably know everything you need to know and don’t see new ideas and information as valuable to your work life.
If you are reading my blog about marketing, you probably ARE a continual learner because you do want to keep learning new ideas, insights and get inspiration.
The Continual Learner
A friend recently described me as a continual learner. I hadn’t thought of using that phrase to describe myself, but it is true. I do like to learn new things that help me get smarter, more efficient and boost my productivity. Being dormant and passive would mean that I know it all. Here is a hint: I don’t know squat. Okay, maybe I know a little bit of squat – but I am always learning.
Take the Challenge
The continual learning challenge is easy. In the next 100 days, do one of the following things:
- Join a meetup or club and attend one meeting per month and participate. It should also be a field where you aren’t a native and are completely naïve and clueless. hhttp://www.meetup.com/ as many activities in most communities.
- Go to a library or bookstore (physical or digital) and get a book or magazine to read in a field where you know absolutely nothing and have never previously been interested. (math, science, bowling, cooking, knitting — pick one)
- Become friends with someone outside of your work expertise, and try to learn as much as you can about what they do. Ask them to teach you about their work, their industry and how they solve problems.
- Start listening each week to a podcast on a subject outside of your daily life. You can listen while you exercise or commute or on your lunch break. Malcolm Gladwell’s new podcast called Revisionist History will help you learn new stuff about things you probably never thought about in your life. There are podcasts on everything from frittatas to fly fishing to physics.
- Start a Journal, blog or diary where you can write down thoughts or ideas. Don’t judge it. Don’t be perfect. Just write and get ideas out of your head. If you are fearful of writing, do the same exercise with the recorder function on your phone. Talk out loud. Give it some structure like – Things I would like to learn. Or, things I am curious about. Or, ideas for business. Exercise your writing/talking muscle is the goal.
- Spend one day a month at work ONLY listening and NOT talking. It’s a powerful way to start becoming an aggressive and active listener. It will help you learn. Can’t do this for a day- start with one hour.
The smartest people I know are always learning new things that help them to think about old things in a new light. Go ahead. Try something new. Do it without judging progress.
Are you a continual learning too?
How are you continually learning to grow your business? I’m an open book. Call me. 919 720 0995.
Photo credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library
