Are Misperceptions of Learning Inhibiting Your Dreams?
05. Aug, 2010 
3 Comments
By Carl Woolston
The word “learning” can invoke mental images of textbooks, tests, and material that is boring and therefore undesirable.
In high school, rebels like Jeff Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High made school entertaining, but high school is over and opportunities favor those who have embraced the learning process.
It took me years to figure out that school and learning can be mutually exclusive.
Yes, students may pass the tests, but six months later they don’t remember a thing other than the caffeine buzz they experienced while cramming.
As I finished school and began my career I began to notice that the most successful people around me never stopped learning. I worked with successful entrepreneurs, who all read and had personal business coaches.
They went to lunches and had discussions about the latest and greatest in marketing trends or economic challenges. Continued learning was integral in their success.
Experience has allowed me to see life as school and all my gained knowledge as the material. This type of paradigm has created a determination within me to learn from others, from daily challenges, and read as many good books as possible.
I now see reading books and other forms of learning as an opportunity to experience adventures into great minds and lives instead of pointless assignments to be completed thoughtlessly.
Success is about determining your direction (vision and goals) and getting in motion to achieve it. The next step is to learn and adjust based on what you experience.
When — not if — you hit an obstacle, learning will provide the key to overcoming it.
Too many people give up on their visions and set their goals aside simply because they are unable or unwilling to give into the learning process.
Develop an understanding and passion for the learning process and take hold of your dreams.
Don’t let the fast times stop at Ridgemont High.
Thank you for sharing this Carl. I always taught my children one more thing too, and that is this: material possessions can be taken from you, but no matter what life throws at you, the learning you have invested in is with you for life and cannot be taken away. Invest in your mind.
Carl,
You hit on a lot of great things that some of the most successful men have taught. So it shows that you continue to do what you talked about. Reminds me of Dale Carnaigie that talks about how the learned shall inherit a world that no longer around. While people who realize life is always changing and evolving so they must continue to study to not just learn the things of today. However learn the things of tomorrow so we never find ourself in a world that no longer around.
I agree about meditation and being able to visualize what you want are very good things. However you can do this all you want but if you don’t put into action its time that is waited. Knowledge is only good if we are able to implement it. I was taught that you need to make sure to do first things first. What better way to visualize then by helping someone, or creating wealth for you and your family. Then you aren’t just thinking it you are making your thoughts become your reality!
I completely agree about putting it into action. You can have paralysis by analysis. In my experience, the first 50% of learning comes in the preparation, the remaining occurs once you get in motion. If you’re not in learning on the go, you’ll never hit the target.