Learning is an attitude that allows us to succeed in these times when change is constant. To excel in our area of expertise, we must merge who we are today with whom we want to be tomorrow.
As humans, we can be whatever we want. We're at our highest potential when we are learning, adapting, adjusting and finding unique ways to improve our lives. What does it take for leaders to submerge themselves in learning and what steps can be taken to become a continuous learner?
1. Decide.
I remember one day at work when I came across an older woman (somewhere in her 90s) who said, "To live this long, you must learn something new every day." I recall that day vividly, as I was making a choice to pursue a new career, and the confirmation of her advice solidified my reason for moving on. Everything we do in life begins and ends with a choice. When we choose to stop learning, we've decided to stop living.
2. Plan.
Take the time in setting your goals to add in a moment of personal and professional development. Actively pursuing a career change or having the heart to change the world requires a bit of focus on what you need to be successful. Setting time aside to plan out your goals is the first thing you should do to move forward with your dreams, but you must not forget what's most important to you. What are your life goals? What do you need to learn to change the world? How often do you need to reevaluate your goals? Is personal and professional development relevant to you?
3. Share.
Share your vision and dreams with someone you love. Share your vision with the world of social media. Share your goals with your children so that they can help you and keep you accountable to your expectations. Sharing what you're doing regularly will increase your chances of being the successful leader you need to be. Having accountability partners with you will help you stay on track and keep your focus on the importance of learning that new skill, trade or talent you need to stay on track with your goals. There's power in the tongue. When you share your dreams, you tell the universe, "I'm ready."
4. Invest.
I can't stress enough how important it is to spend your time, energy, focus and finances on your continuing education goals. Personally, you may feel you don't have all of the above at the level you want, but without these investments, you can't have what you really want. You must be willing to make sacrifices to invest in your future. Investing in personal growth is vital to the ever-changing world we live in. Every day on social media, we see people insisting we learn a new skill by investing in their courses, books or self-paced programs. With all you have available to you, there's always a way to invest in what you need to succeed.
5. Be diligent.
Be committed, deliberate and strategic with your learning. The way I ensure that I'm on the right track with development is to ask myself a few questions. Is this going to contribute to my ultimate goal? Is this item most relevant to the goals I've set for the next 12 months? How will the audience I serve benefit from my investment in this course or book? These are a few questions I ponder before I take the plunge into acquiring a new skill.
To recap the above steps, let's take a look at how we can create our success as leaders in the areas of personal and professional development.
• Decide: You're only one decision away from the future of your dreams.
• Plan: Sit down with a journal and envision a day in the life of your dreams — then, set your intentions.
• Share: As the Bible says, "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it." Share with those you love so you can hold fast to your word.
• Invest: Without investing time, energy and finances, you have nothing.
• Be Diligent: Take the time to commit to doing better than you are now. You owe it to yourself.
I hope you understand how valuable it is to become a more active learner. I’d like you to reread this passage. As you read, ask yourself these questions:
• What's important to me?
• What drives me?
• What am I willing to sacrifice?
By answering these questions, you'll be on the right path to becoming a life-long learner. Enjoy the ride.
