Keeping the Education and Learning Fire Burning
Education and Learning: To stay... or not?
I could hardly wait to get rid of to school for education and learning! No more tests...or cramming for them. No more studying. No more boring lectures. The never ending reading list would end. I'd be off to a career of making money and finding my place in the world. Enjoying life and having fun. That's what I would find beyond the diploma and years in the classroom through education and learning. Or so I thought and hoped.
I was fortunate that my parents provided me an excellent primary and secondary education. I attended and graduated from a private university. And upon entering the business world, I learned that learning and my education had only begun. I was told that I'd learned how to learn. Now they were going to teach me how they do things...how to do things their way. Talk about eye-opening!
Moving forward in Education and Learning
As I progressed in my chosen field, I found myself reading all sorts of periodicals, journals, books, and just about everything else I could find to stay current and up on the latest knowledge and trends. It was no longer enough to just rest on the laurels of my past. There was competition out there. Staying in learn mode was critical. It was essential to survival, not just something I did because my parents wanted me to get a degree.
You know how you're in a moment doing something and your thoughts go to surprise that you're actually saying what just came out of your mouth? Related to education and learning, that moment for me was when I was speaking to a group of our top leaders. I had completed my talk and we were in a question and answer session. A hand popped up. I called on the person toward the center of the left part of the room. And next thing I know I was saying: To achieve and enjoy the success you're talking about, you have got to be a student of the business.
No matter what you actually do, whether it's in sales or you're a plumber or mechanic or nurse, the more you learn about what it is you're doing, the more likely you'll succeed as you apply those skills to what it is you do. Sure, it helps to enjoy your work. That makes the ongoing process of education and learning all the better and more enjoyable. Do your work and determine that you're going to continue your education in particular to what you do.
Now when I say education and learning, I'm not talking about going back to school. Sure, that's an option. With the Internet and online courses, education and learning a lot of better stuff are a lot more convenient and available than ever. But, being in learn mode might simply mean learning to use a computer program, like Excel. It could entail learning another language. You might be inclined to learn something about business or relating to people better. I took a number of courses on leadership, attending week long seminars that were mega-intense, after completing all sorts of assessment profiles. All of this was informative and geared to helping me be a better manager and leader.
One of the best people skills coaches in the fields of education and learning I know of is Dani Johnson. You can click on her name to visit her website (I do not receive any compensation for recommending Dani's website or products). There, you can find all sorts of resources all geared toward helping you learn how to be successful and live life to the fullest measure. I have personally attended her seminar and found it to be over-the-top on content and things that I could use and apply in my everyday life.
The advantages of keeping yourself involved in Education and Learning
Bottom line: stay in learn mode. Be a student of whatever it is you do, whether it's your work or a hobby or simply something that you enjoy. Doing so will keep your mind alert and active and is likely to be one of the big contributors to you leading a happy and fulfilled life.
For more background and to learn 
a little more from a terrific resource, Wikipedia, click on EDUCATION and LEARNING
Never Stop with Education and Learning