Learning is a Continual Process

The illiterate of the 21st century will not be
those who cannot read and write, but those

 who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.
- Alvin Toffler

Education ... it’s not just for youngsters any more.  Learning should be a continual process.  After leaving school, many people mistakenly believe that they have acquired all they need to know.  However, in order to succeed in today's fast-paced competitive world we must be committed to becoming life-long students.   We need to look at our lives and decide what knowledge we’ll need to move from where we are today to where we want to be tomorrow.  Also, when change comes our way, whether personal or professional, we have to be ready to grasp the knowledge and skills necessary to adjust to our new situation or environment.

I remember during the early 90's when computers came into the workplace.  Instead of being open to learning how to use them, some employees wanted to continue doing things as they had in the past.  The result?  Some were left behind and ill-equipped for the drastic shift to a technological workplace.  But others succeeded, adapting and even excelling, in this new environment because of their eagerness to embrace learning.  One person who stands out in my mind was a gentleman in my department in his late 50’s.  Although he was close to retirement, he did not hesitate to attend training classes.  In fact, he made sure he mastered the material presented.  Because of his willingness to change and learn, he became a highly sought after resource by others in the company.  What in your profession is changing?  What will you need to learn in order to be successful tomorrow?

What do you need to unlearn about yourself personally?  For years I thought of myself as an introverted person.  That belief became limiting, restricting what actions I would take and what fields I would consider exploring.  Eventually I had to reassess my thinking.  By looking at the way I lived my life and interacted with people, I realized I was not actually an introverted person.  I could not even understand how I reached that opinion in the first place.  Society, teachers, family members and friends greatly influence how we think of ourselves.  Some of our thoughts may be true but some may not be.  We must take the time to asses ourselves.  In my case, I had a perception that I had to unlearn, so I could be more successful in pursuing my goals.

Relearning involves replacing old knowledge with new ideas.  For years administrative professionals were expected to type and take orders from others.  Now, many are more like project leaders, making decisions, executing plans, and giving others direction.  Anyone in this field needs to relearn what it takes to be an effective administrative assistant today.  How about your field?  What do you need to do to keep up with the changes in your industry?

There was a time when success was achieved by working seven days a week from sunrise to sunset.  However, now research indicates a more well-balanced life is essential.  For many people that means releasing their old constant work habits and finding time to recharge their minds and bodies with rest, hobbies, or recreational activities with family and friends.

The bottom line is we must seize the opportunity to grow by learning, unlearning, and relearning.  This may mean stepping out of our comfort zones and finding ourselves temporarily stumbling as we master new skills and abilities in order to fully function in today’s world.  We need to commit to life-long learning to be educated in the essential skills we will need to succeed in the 21st century.

I wish you the best of success in all your endeavors.

Donna Satchell, President of STARR Consulting & Training is a speaker, trainer and author.  She provides programs in customer service, team-building, time management, public speaking as well as motivational speeches which inspire individuals to live more successful lives.  Please visit www.JustGetSerious.com for information about products and services as well as to view videos of Donna’s speeches.  Contact her at 770-498-0400 or Donna@JustGetSerious.com.

Copyright 2006-2007 - Donna Satchell   All rights reserved. 

Permission is granted to reprint this article provided this bio and contact information are included in the publication.  Permission is also granted for reasonable editing, including article title change.