The Joy of Learning CareerMetis.com

The Joy of Learning Few years ago, I had a brief meeting with an elderly gentleman and that moment changed my perspective on learning and about life.I was attending a seminar in Toronto â€" It was after the lunch break, and we were all standing in a line waiting for the doors to open. As I was standing there, I noticed this elderly gentleman standing alone in the corner of the room . I looked at him and he gave me a genuine and warm smile , there was something about this gentleman that prompted me to go talk to him.I found out that he was 81 years old at that time, and he had driven by himself from Hamilton I asked him “Sir, I can’t help but to ask you. It sounds like you have had a very successful life, and you are here on this day to attend this seminar, I am curious, why?”.He gave me a warm smile and said “You can always learn new things, and learning makes life more interesting”.“What we know is so small compared to what is out there that we can learn”” I just learnt to buy and sell few things on eBay, my son taught me how to do it” he added proudly. I also noticed he was very enthusiastic about attending this seminar.His comments really struck a cord with me,and has had a positive impact on my life ever since.I have always enjoyed learning new things â€" new skills, new languages, new routines,etc. But I felt so small compared to his dedication to continuous learning.He inspired me on a path of continuous learning and self-improvement ever since.evalI was sold, and I want to sell you on the idea of continuous learning Science has proven that by learning new things you improve your brain’s Neuroplasticity . This means that the growth of the brain never stops For instance, I am in the Sales Profession â€" it is important for me to learn about the important skill-sets a Salesperson must possess 4. MAKES LIFE MORE INTERESTINGI would not limit learning to just your career or your job. I encourage you to also learn things that you will get enjoyment from.Few mon ths ago, I enrolled in a boxing class- though I don’t have any aspirations to fight Floyd Mayweather/Manny Pacquiao- I wanted to learn boxing to improve my fitness, and also because I always thought boxers looked bad-ass. Though I was physically exhausted after each class, it was so much fun. It significantly improved my energy levels focus throughout the day.Last year I decided to spend couple of months in Central America. Once I arrived there, I realized that most people did not speak English. In order to navigate the city I had to learn Spanish â€" so I forced myself to learn the language (it wasn’t easy) . But the efforts paid off, I was able to travel with more confidence and make lots of new friends.Even though I learnt it for recreation,knowing to speak a foreign language, now gives me the confidence to travel to other countries and explore the world further.You never realize where learning something new could take you. It definitely expands your horizons.CALL TO ACTION1 . Write your Career Vision â€" It is important to know where you want to go. Once you have clear definition of where you would like to be ideally in your job/career, you are able to build on the skills you need to get there. This also gives your greater focus.2. Make a list of skills â€" Once you have decided on your ideal career, find out what are some of the skills you need to get there, eg. selling, public speaking, Android Development, managing people,etc. And then make a game plan to learn those skills . Fortunately, most employers provide training programs â€" for you to learn the skills to advance your career.3. Learn something recreational â€" Life is short, make the most of it. Yes it is crucial for your career survival and growth to learn work-related skills â€" but also make sure you are giving yourself more perspective. It might be learning a new language, a musical instrument, a classical dance, etc.- make sure to add them to your to-learn lists.Thanks to sites like Me etup and Chillwall, you are able to find local places events where you can go to learn new things.Few weeks ago, I decided to learn how to write articles â€" I started publishing on my blog and LinkedIn. Though I am not a great writer(no even close to being good enough; I also know my grammar sucks) â€" I am enjoying the process. I find that my brain is working round the clock to find me new ideas to write about â€" it has become a fun habit, infact a hobby that I truly enjoy.I am not sure where this habit will take me but I am enjoying this (trust me â€" this is better than binge watching Netflix).What are you learning today?I hope I have given you a different perspective on Learning, and have given you some ideas to start your learning process. Just because you graduated from school does not mean your learning should stop too.Life is short. Make the most of it!How has learning something new, had a positive impact on your career and and your life?