The kids are back in school. What you should be doing to keep up.

Do you have a plan for continual learning like our children do?

If you’re like me, the first few weeks back at school were likely filled with excitement and stress, for both kids and parents. Kids have spent the last two months learning their new routines, getting to know their classmates and settling into learning mode again. We, as parents, help get them off to school on time, pack their lunches and make sure their homework is done. Why will we do all this for our kids for a dozen years or more? I think most would agree that we want them to learn the skills necessary for a successful, happy and fulfilling life. 

My 6 year old little girl recently asked me why she needs to go back to school and I gave her an answer similar to above. Being quite bright, she then asked, “Why don’t grown-ups have to go to school?” to which I answered, “Most grown-ups have already finished school so they don’t have to go anymore.” She continued, “So why don’t they have to learn anymore Daddy? Do they know everything?” The questions were clearly getting harder as we went along! I had to think a bit more for this answer. “No Sweetheart, grown-ups don’t know everything (although there are some who think they do) and when they’re finished school, they have to keep learning in different ways.” I explained that Daddy’s company is just one of the ways that grown-ups keep learning. “Does everyone keep learning?” she questioned. Sadly, I had to admit, “Some do and some don’t.” 

A frustrating part of my business is seeing people who have hit the "Knowledge Ceiling." They have, essentially given up on learning. Most of these people could take their careers to
a higher level but won’t because they just keep doing things the same way they have for years. Experience is overrated in my opinion and is only helpful if you learn from it. Some people seem to think that their value automatically increases with their years in their role. I sometimes see salespeople who speak with pride of their “10 years of experience” when really they have the same as someone with 1 year experience because they quit learning after their first year in the business. What can you do to set yourself on a path on continual learning and help cement your career growth? 

Here are 3 strategies: 


1. Set a learning goal
Some smart person came up with the expression, “Be, Do, Have.” That is, be something better which will allow you to do things better which will allow you to have things that are better, whatever better is for you. For example, if you are a sales rep and you’d like to have more income, start with the be. Set a goal to be a better salesperson with specifics. You might want to get better at prospecting, managing your accounts or managing your time. A tricky part for “be” goals is to make them specific and measurable so you know clearly where you want to grow to. You should have annual, monthly and weekly learning goals. 

2. Build learning into your schedule

As with many high value activities, learning is low urgency. Like exercising, you’re not going to suffer much by putting it off today or tomorrow. Will you suffer in the long run?
Unquestionably. A powerful technique to make sure your learning happens is to schedule a regular time, just as your kids do for school. If you block off even 15 minutes each day for development reading, you will gain almost 100 hours of knowledge each year, equal to a university course. 

3. Take courses
 
While this might seem obvious, when was the last time you put yourself in a situation for formal learning? It doesn’t have to be a traditional classroom type environment. There are countless e-learning modules available where any place you have an internet connection and a computer or mobile device, becomes your classroom. Check with your employer as many will help cover the cost if you can demonstrate how it will help your on job performance. 
 
The benefits of continual learning are many — career advancement, higher income but possibly the greatest benefit is the good feeling that you will get by knowing that you’ll always be smarter tomorrow than you are today!