Are You a Lifelong Learner? Are you sure?
Are you always learning, growing, and developing or do you feel you’ve learned enough? Is there a bias or stereotype towards those who are still learning? Do you consider yourself a lifelong learner?
I sat through the workshop but it was stuff I already knew.
At 38 years of age, she is finishing her degree. She is still a student.
If I have a choice between shipping product or sitting in training the answer is easy. Ship!
Do you believe that there may be a bias or stereotype about lifelong learners?
Obstacles and Barriers
One factor that makes people hesitant about the seminar or continuing education is the fear that it shows incompetence. The thought is, “If I suggest I need more training I must not be capable of doing my job.”
Non-traditional college students may struggle with stereotypes. They may have been in the workforce for years, yet they are still in the classroom. The thought is, “No degree, they must not be knowledgeable enough.”
There are other obstacles and barriers. There is the pressure to produce, ship, and serve customers. Certainly, that is a high priority. The mindset often becomes, “There isn’t enough time for training and development.”
Are you willing to break down these barriers? Are you interested in rising to the occasion beating the odds and the social stereotyping? Do you place value on continuous learning?
Lifelong Learner
Experience is extremely valuable. Coupled with a structured learning environment that is professionally facilitated participants can shave years off the learning curve. Time is always money.
There is another benefit. Lifelong learners tend to be lifelong networkers.
They build stronger relationships through shared experiences. Their connections are more than a LinkedIn number, a Facebook friend, or a glance at a Twitter feed.
What has learning done for you? Are you brave enough to continue?
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
2 Comments
Dennis Gilbert
May 15, 2019at 6:17 pmExcellent story! Thanks for sharing this insightful message!
Gil
May 15, 2019at 11:23 amI recently had to choose a doctor to guide me through prostate cancer treatment. The local docs were all 10+ years out of med school. I researched docs’ resumes at the University of Pennsylvania. I picked the one who…
1. Does research
2. Writes professional papers on that research
3. Teaches med school students
4. Treats patients
I wanted all of these attributes in the doc I chose. To truly be a teacher you must also be a perpetual learner. My doc proposed treatments that the local docs had never heard of using a technology that is not available within 100 miles of my house…except of course at U. Penn.
Great outcome.
Moral: Never be ashamed or afraid of learning new things…they will give you the advantage over those who stopped learning on graduation day.