Lifelong Learning and Career Success

I was walking through Denver International Airport the other day and I saw an ad for the Daniels School of Business at the University of Denver.  It said, “In five years, business will be dependent on technology that has yet to be invented: Frightening, or Inspiring?”  That got me thinking about how fast things change these days. 

This means that in order to continue to stay technically competent and one the road to career success, you have to be learning all the time.  Tweet 81 in my career success book Success Tweets says, “Become a lifelong learner.  The half life of knowledge is rapidly diminishing.  Staying in the same place is the same as going backwards.” 

In previous posts, I have mentioned that this is an exciting time for me, as I am learning a lot about social media and internet marketing.  However, I’m keeping up with the advances in my traditional areas of expertise – coaching, speaking, training — as well.

The web makes continuing education accessible.  If you want to learn about something, just Google it and there you are!  In fact, you might end up with too information.  Nevertheless, it is a great place to start.  Sites like www.Careerealism.com and www.GenJuice.com are great places for career advice and learning. 

 Blogs are another great way to keep on learning.  I read several blogs every day.  I have learned a lot from all of them.  I also subscribe to several on line newsletters.  I save them in a separate folder and read them when I am traveling.  Jeffrey Gitomer’s Sales Caffeine (www.gitomer.com) newsletter is written for sales people, but anyone can benefit.

 Books – like my new one, Success Tweets (couldn’t help but engage in a little shameless self promotion here – you can download a free copy at http://www.SuccessTweets.com) are another great way to keep on learning.  I have set a goal of reading all of the classic success books listed in the premier issue of SUCCESS Magazine.  I am willing to set up a virtual book club with me as the facilitator if I can get at least five people interested.  Please leave a comment on this post if this interests you.

Seminars and workshops are another way to keep learning.  I continue to do talks and webinars on my life and career success model.  Many of these are part of larger two and three day programs.  Most professional organizations sponsor a variety of learning events.  If you want to learn and grow, join one of the professional societies in your field.  Get involved.  Don’t just be a passive participant.  Teach something.  You never learn anything really well, until you are able to teach it to another person.

Finally, you can go back to school.  It’s easier than ever these days.  If you can’t make regular day or evening classed, almost every two and four year institution has an online option.  You can finish that undergraduate or graduate degree if you are motivated to do so.

The common sense career success coach point here is simple.  As Tweet 81 in my career advice book Success Tweets says, “Become a lifelong learner.  The half-life of knowledge is rapidly diminishing.  Staying in the same place is the same as going backwards.” If you want to become  an outstanding performer and career success, you have to be technically competent.  The half life of knowledge is diminishing rapidly.  You need to put in time and effort to remain technically competent.  You can learn by reading books, blogs and online newsletters.  You can learn by joining and participating in professional societies.  You can learn by going back to school.  How you do it is up to you, but like the Nike ads say, “Just Do It.”

That’s my career advice on the importance of lifelong learning.  What’s your take on this?  Please share your toughts with us in a comment.  As always, thanks for reading my thoughts on life and career success.  I value you and I apprecaite you.

Bud

PS — Don’t forget to download your free copy of Success Tweets Explained, a 395 page eBook explaining the tweets in Success Tweets in detail.  Go to http://www.budurl.com/STExp.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
FREE CAREER SUCCESS BOOKS FOR VISITORSDOWNLOAD

Speak Your Mind

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.