Leading and Love

Certain roles require you to be good at many things and perform at high levels. There aren’t many individuals who are experts in many different things. Such an individual is considered extremely talented and is referred to as a unicorn. Others transition from one area of expertise to another. Many times we expect the transition to be seamless only to realize that there is still a lot of learning, and sometimes the curve is as steep as El Capitan.

Not all great professional athletes become great coaches. There is probably a handful who successfully make that transition.

What I’ve come to realize is that it’s not the talent or the innate skill that allows you to transition from one area of expertise to another. It’s how you learn. Of course there are other factors that contribute to learning such as prior knowledge, transferable knowledge, support, tools and the like.

Idea #1

Learning requires organization. A plan forward helps make the transition easier. Knowing what you need to learn and how it factors into your end goal can motivate learning. Being organized and having a plan can help to minimize distractions.

Idea #2

Along with the tools, there are intangibles that make learning easier - commitment, desire, focus, learning style, and time. Sometimes a bit of pressure motivates learning, other times it is debilitating. You can delay particular areas of development in your career and still be successful. When you become a parent, a lot of learning cannot be set aside.

Quote #1

“The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.” -B.B. King

Quote #2

“In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.” -Eric Hoffer

Quote #3

“Learning never exhausts the mind.” -Leonardo da Vinci

Challenge

Plan in your schedule to learn something new everyday, even if it’s a small thing.

Affirmation

Learning is a part of who I am.