I must admit that this post came out of left field while I was writing a totally different post – that's the best way isn't it? It came to me in the middle of an, admittedly, crazy week of learning. I have had so many “AHA Moments” this week, I think my head is literally spinning. In a good way.
Learn. Share. Teach What You Know. Repeat.
So, while I am sitting here, taking in all this amazing information and getting as excited as I usually do when I have multiple “AHA Moments” (and there's another blog post right there), I started thinking about what it all means. Why is it so important that we learn? And more importantly, why is it that we MUST teach what we know.
Before I give my tips for lifelong learning, let me tell you about my week so far. I've been a little busy:
- Watching the remaining sessions from Social Media Success Summit 2011 (that I missed during the event a few weeks back)”¦and almost finishing my blog post about it. Learning while sharing.
- Attending Parker Seminars in Sydney as we speak (my other love and offline business is a family wellness chiropractic practice”¦Parker is one of the biggest seminars for chiropractors in the world and my 5th time attending here and in the States) Learning while networking.
- Training four exciting businesses in the use of social media for relationship marketing and giving customers such an outstanding experience that they refer everyone they know. Learning while teaching.
- Receiving two on-the-spot unplanned mentoring sessions from inspiring entrepreneurs, both excelling in their niche. Learning while mentoring/being mentored.
- Booking my tickets and plotting my shopping, drinking and eating regime with a girlfriend for the Nuffnang Blogopolis in Melbourne on July 30. Learning while shopping.
So, here are my 10 commandments for learning, based on my soul-filled, synapse-filled week so far:
1 Thou shalt learn something new every day. Learning is vital to our existence. Without it we do not evolve. There is always something different, better, alternative, new, exciting to learn about.
2 Thou shalt apply what you learn. Don't just throw your notes into the graveyard of seminar folders that sit in the corner of your office. Pick your top 3-5 takeaways and write them as action steps. Action them. And remember that although it is important to learn, do not get caught in the trap of “all learning and no doing”. It is very easy to become a seminar junkie and not apply what you have learned. Apply it!
3 Thou shalt share. Don't hide your “AHA Moments”. Share them. The greatest gift you can give is to share your knowledge with others (refer to “Thou Shalt engage in mentoring”).
4 Thou shalt never say never. Some of the best opportunities for learning have arisen, for me, because I took a risk, said yes, held on to my hat and jumped into an experience that was foreign to me. These opportunities often give you the best learning experience.
5 Thou shalt know your passions. If you know what you are passionate about and what wakes you up in the morning, start with that. Learn more about that! At least you will have fun doing it!
6 Thou shalt not be afraid to teach what you know. Don't ever think that you are not good enough. Someone wise once said to me that even if you only know a little more than the person you are teaching, you can still change their life with just one piece of information.
7 Thou shalt mix it up. Look at your learning over time. Have you included some learning for all areas of your life – be they career, finances, mind, body, spirit, relationships.
8 Thou shalt find YOUR best way to learn. Everyone learns differently. Are you a visual, kinaesthetic or auditory learner? Find your most effective way of learning and use mediums that enhance your ability to learn. For example, if you are a kinaesthetic learner, enrol in workshops or activities where you get to DO and EXPERIENCE.
9 Thou shalt engage in mentoring. This can be formal or informal, but it is very simple: find someone who knows what you want to know and learn from them. Mentoring is a mutually beneficial relationship and can be so powerful for both parties. It is important that you experience both – mentoring and being a mentee – in order for you to grow, no matter how much you know!
10 Thou shalt rest thy mind. All this learning can be fun but you need to give your mind a break from daily life and all the new information. Learn to be still, to allow your mind to rest, to meditate. It will ground you and, in most cases, will make you more open to generating brilliant ideas, applying what you do know and being creative.
11 Thou shalt make this blog post too long by thanking impromptu mentors. I am ever grateful to Nikki Parkinson (www.stylingyou.com.au) and Carren Smith (www.qlg.com.au) for their impromptu wisdom and mentoring this week. You can find out more about them on facebook at Styling You and The Art of Public Speaking
What about you. What are you learning (and applying) at the moment?
Donna Moritz
