Never Stop Learning: Commandment 1
March 12, 2009 by Phil Gerbyshak
Filed under Business
This is the first of 10 articles I’ll be writing about the commandments I live by as a manager. I’m calling them Slacker Manager Commandments, and I think they are great rules to live by:
Never stop learning (to be a better manager and better person)
Are you looking to feel alive, really alive, and wondering how to do it? Are you looking to be a leader in your field, and wondering how to do it? Are you wondering what these two questions have in common?
I’m here to say, to stay alive, and to be a leader in your field, the key element is learning, and re-learning, as much and as often as you can.
When my grandmother was alive, I used to go over to the senior living community where she lived, and I was continually amazed at how alive the people there seemed, especially for being so old. And I was also amazed at how some of the oldest looking people were actually some of the youngest people in the building. Their secret? They kept learning new things, new games, new hobbies, and kept meeting new people, and this kept them young. The ones that stayed in their rooms and didn’t socialize, or didn’t try new things, got older faster than the ones who were actively learning new things.
Think fast:
Open up your Outlook contacts, your LinkedIn profile, your Facebook page, your Twitter feed, or where ever you keep a list of your contacts. “Who immediately jumps off the page and screams YES! I want to invest my time, energy , and talents in YOU!”
Do you want to be managed by or work with the person who hasn’t picked up a book since high school?
Or would you rather invest your time the person who is continually reading and writing new articles, who’s learning new hobbies, who’s sharing what they know with you and encouraging you to learn more? Unless you’re one of those people who are annoyed by people who know more than you do, I’ll bet you enjoy the company of the person with the new ideas, the one that’s full of life, energy and knowledge.
What does all of this have to do with leading and leadership?
In a word – EVERYTHING!
If you’re a leader, and you’re not staying ahead of the times by learning new things in new ways, you’re soon to be an extinct leader. And if you’re extinct, you’re dead. In order to live, you must learn, and in order to lead, you must learn. So live…learn…lead!
Never stop learning!
Image source: modified from the Tombstone Generator
Very good commandment. Continuous learning is one of the staples of job security.
I have had an endless list of books on my ‘to read’ list. I’ve read constantly for years now, I have a great relationship with my library! I was thinking the other day “once I finish this book I’ll have more time to…” then I realised it will NEVER stop! There will always be another 10 books knocking on my door! Same with blogs… endless but awesome reading. I love the saying “people are like trees – either growing or dieing” and its so true when it comes to continous learning. My bio says “I adore learning” and I do! There is another saying “the man that doenst read is no better than the man who cant read”. Bosses especially need to be constantly and rapidly evolving – too many are stagnant and just trotting along.
Since graduating with my MBA I have been unable to put down a book. I’m not talking about the “fluff” type books but rather books on management, leadership, project management, and even a couple of history books. I also get audio books to play in the car while driving to and from work.
But I now take my reading a step further! I was playing an audio book by Jim Rohn when he mentioned that he keeps a book on his thoughts, etc. He too is a constant reader. He advises not to just read the ‘good stuff’ but the ‘bad stuff’ as well – for balance. The example he gives is that if you read a book on Ghandi then read a book on Hitler! He explains that you would read ‘how it’s done’ as well as ‘how NOT for do it!’
He even jokes about it when people ask now much he pays for his ‘empty’ book (about $25). He states that they are shocked that he would be willing to pay so much for a blank book. He’s response is that it is rather high for a blank book, so he had better write some very good stuff in it!
After hearing that I ran out and bought myself a little composition book and use it to take notes of the books that I read! I only wish I have done this years ago!!!
However, here is another twist as to why it is important to read books. If you and another person were up for promotion, both have the same education, experience, etc. and were tied as to who will get the promotion then this is where reading books can become the deciding matter. If you even read one book a year you are one book ahead of your competition regarding your personal learning and advancement! You will have a better understanding and/or more up-to-date knowledge.
I agree. It’s a great commandment.
“It’s all about learning.” Often the only real difference between success and something other than success.
Thanks for the reminder.
Don