First a quote: “The world is a university and everyone in it is a teacher. Make sure when you wake up in the morning you go to school.” – T.D. Jakes
It is my opinion, too many people assume that once they have graduated from school or an educational program (of any kind or at any level), they have “finished” their education. Many tend to assume what they have learned in the past will be enough to provide for their success in an ever-changing world in the future. That mental model is both faulty and dangerous.
Graduation celebrations are called “commencements” for important reasons. While graduation ceremonies are intended to celebrate one’s academic accomplishments, they are also meant to recognize the achievement as one of many milestones yet to come on their journey into the future. Graduations should be less about completions and endings, and more about new beginnings and new starts. Commencement is a great descriptor! We commence successfully through life by learning intentionally and continually.
If we are to do more than simply survive in this life, if we are to continuously excel and thrive in an ever-changing world, then we must never stop learning! However, that doesn’t mean we must go back to, or remain in, a formal school setting; it simply means we must always see ourselves as students. Every day, and in every situation, we are surrounded by teachers and lessons, we need only to assume the role of being an intentional student. We must look for lessons to learn intentionally.
As T.D. Jakes said in his quote above, “The world is a university, and everyone is a teacher.”
What can you learn from the people in your life this week? Your spouse? Children? Co-workers? Managers and bosses? Friends? What lessons are the people in your life hoping you will learn this week?
What about the outside world? What leadership lessons can be learned this week by watching others? At work? In the news? On the street? Lessons and teachers are everywhere, just begging for us to pay attention and learn from them, all for free.
What lessons do you need to learn this week? What kind of student will you be this week?
How will you lead, or live, differently, or better, this week?
Bonus quotes below.
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Have a great week!
Bryan Yager
208.376.1701
“Expanding Your Capacity for Success”
Bonus Quotes:
- “Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence.” Abigail Adams
- “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” – John Kennedy
- “Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field.” – Brian Tracy
- “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein
- “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you will live forever. – Mahatma Gandhi
