Our requirements of knowledge are constantly changing – driven by new responsibilities that we take on and constant changes that are taking place in the marketplace. The only way to remain relevant and at the top of our game, is through a process of continuous and constant self-learning.
Importance of Continous & Self Learning
Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.
Jim Rohn
Sharpen your saw: Suppose you were to come upon someone in the woods working feverishly to saw down a tree. “What are you doing?” you ask. “Can’t you see?” comes the impatient reply. “I’m sawing down this tree.”. “You look exhausted!” you exclaim. “How long have you been at it?”. “Over five hours,” he returns, “and I’m beat! This is hard work.”. “Well, why don’t you take a break for a few minutes and sharpen that saw?” you inquire. “I’m sure it would go a lot faster.”.“I don’t have time to sharpen the saw,” the man says emphatically. “I’m too busy sawing!”
Stephen Covey – Author – 7 habits of Highly Effective People / The 8th Habit / First Things First
Learning Agility
People with learning agility
- read a lot of books
- spend a lot of their own time learning new trends
- will be the most valuable people in the future given the pace of change that is taking place
Where you went to school is becoming increasingly irrelevant
- since this may have been 10 or 15 years ago, and may no longer be relevant to what your current skills are and what you can do
- your skills and your ability to do, is what will become more relevant in the future.
Reading Books
Online / Offline Learning
Recommended Books – Continuous Self Learning
The Art of Learning: A Journey in the Pursuit of Excellence
Authors: Josh Waitzkin,
Becoming a World Champion in two extreme disciplines — chess and Tai Chi — made Josh Waitzkin realize that it isn’t chess or Tai Chi that he is good at. Rather, it is the art of learning. In this book, he uses his own life to explain how emotions can be used to fuel your creativity, how your weaknesses can be made into strengths, and many more life-changing lessons.
Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice
Authors: Matthew Syed,
Two-time Olympian and world-renowned sports writer, Matthew Syed reveals the answer to the questions that cross every fan’s mind. Find out what your favorite champions are made of, if talent really has more impact than practice, the effects of using drugs and other answers to what leads to success in champion sportsmen.
Novice to Expert: 6 Steps to Learn Anything, Increase Your Knowledge, and Master New Skills
Authors: S.J. Scott,
Wall Street Journal bestselling author, S. J. Scott helps you develop a talent, without having to spend too much time or money. In Novice to Expert Scott trains you to dedicate your free time to building a skill and practicing it. He eradicates the role of an instructor in your life and proves the power of self-learning.
Other concepts on Learning Skills
The Right Technique
We often do things the way we were taught, not because it’s the best way to do it. By keeping you mind open to new ideas and a little amount of research, you could be surprised by the vastly superior and more productive techniques that you can discover, that can boost your productivity and efficiency.
Learning Tips
Investing time and money learning new skills is incredibly important, but are you investing sub-optimally. There are learning processes and techniques that can supercharge your learning, and some errors that can act as impediments to your learning progress.
The Right Guru
There is a vast difference in the quality of learning we get from different teachers. When it comes to learning new concepts, always seek out the best-in-the-field to learn from, the higher cost will pay itself back multifold given that the benefits will stay with us for a lifetime.