Learning, Teaching, & Learning

Here in the 21st century, we get paid based upon what we know much more than what we do.  If you are not constantly learning, you are falling behind every day.  The proliferation of information in every field of endeavor is accelerating.  For over 20 years, I have written these weekly columns.  Initially, they only appeared in my local business journal, but today they appear in newspapers, magazines, and online publications around the world, and they have filled five books entitled, Wisdom for Winners Volumes 1-5.   

While I hope that everyone who reads these weekly efforts benefits from them, I know that I have certainly grown through the process.  The Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca said, “As we teach, we learn.”  This was confirmed by a 2007 study that revealed what is called the Protégé Effect which means students who teach younger students learn more and retain it better.  

The days of concluding the educational process at a high school or college graduation are gone.  I have always believed that the graduation ceremony is called a commencement because it really commences, or begins, the learning process.  Knowledge that is a few years old is not simply obsolete, it is antiquated. 

 One of the most powerful questions you can ask a mentor or someone you admire, is what books and publications they are reading.  The Internet, if used properly, can be a powerful learning tool. It’s important to verify and cross-reference anything you learn online, but it’s a great way to connect with people and information that can keep you on the cutting edge. 

As you are learning, it is also important that you teach those around you.  No one is an island, and none of us succeed alone.  If you gain new knowledge and information, but fail to share it with your coworkers, colleagues, or team, it is likely that you won’t be able to implement and utilize what you have learned.  Information and knowledge are rarely limited to one field or area.  Every time you read a news story or learn of a new invention or breakthrough, ask yourself, “How might this new development impact me and the work I do.” 

Furthermore, you’ll want to ask yourself, “How can I use what I do now to serve people who are taking advantage of this new technology or information?”  Knowledge is the process of obtaining information.  Wisdom is the process of applying knowledge.  Information without utilization is trivia.  It may be helpful on a gameshow, but it won’t move the needle in the real world.  When we learn something, we change our lives.  When we teach something, we change another person’s life, but when we teach people to teach we can change the world.

 As you go through your day today, if you have to choose between wisdom and wealth, choose wisdom and you will have both.

Today’s the day!