The 7-1/2 Lifelong Learning Habits

I can't recall a time in my life when I wasn't learning something new. I don't know if it's genetic pre-disposition or environment, but I have always had a thirst to know everything about everything. When I was twenty, I figured it would only take about five years. At twenty-five, I realized it was going to take me a little longer than that. The happy realization is that I can spend every day of the rest of my life learning and enjoying the discovery of new things and never run out of subject matter :)

I learn best by reading and prefer the old-fashioned paper format, but I have adapted by necessity to the electronic medium. The internet has brought an explosion of data to my desk and I constantly marvel at the information I can find on-line that, a few years ago, would have required waiting six weeks for the manual to arrive in the mail. Historically, I would spend $500-$1000 dollars a year buying textbooks ... now I can access them on-line for free (thanks to the gracious courtesy of my employer).

As a life-long learner, I have developed habits both good and bad ... but they seem to work well for how I learn best. How do I relate to "The 7-1/2 Lifelong Learning Habits"?

Habit 4: Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner

I have always had a lot of confidence in my ability to learn anything I choose. While some things are necessarily more difficult, all can be overcome with enough desire to do so.

Habit 3: View problems as challenges

I like solving problems. Almost every solution requires learning something new. Problems are an excuse to have a reason (or goal) to learn something.

Habit 1: Begin with a goal in mind

I find it almost impossible to learn anything new without some specific reason (I am effectively event-driven). With a clear goal and a road map I can proceed in a reasonably efficient manner to accomplish whatever is sought. No goal = Nothing to seek.

Habit 2: Accept responsibility for your own learning

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink. If I don't want to learn anything, you can't make me! I take full responsibility for my own actions and their consequences.

Habit 6: Use technology to your advantage

I believe I do this to varying degrees. I've been a programmer for 35 years and ironically find myself more of a Luddite than anything else. I use technology where it helps me to research, organize, present, and communicate with others but have never had cable TV because I can't find a good use for it. We have become so dependent of technology that our entire lives grind to a halt when the server goes down ... not to mention the panic that ensues if the power goes out. But technology marches on :)

Habit 5: Create your own learning toolbox

I'm not quite sure what's in my toolbox, but it's got a lot of math and science and technology in there that allows me to absorb even more math and science and technology as I learn new things. Libraries, on-line resources, and bookstores are a vast cornucopia of information that is now easily Googleable for our convenience. The more tools in your box, the easier it is to learn a wider variety of things.

Habit 7: Teach and mentor others

I am always willing to share what I know or what I've learned ... however, I'm not a very good teacher. I am a good person to ask specific questions and get specific answers. I work very well one-on-one or in an un-structured ad-hoc environment, but don't fare well in a formal classroom where we have to keep moving along as we leave some individuals behind.

Habit 7-1/2: PLAY!

If you can't have fun doing whatever you're doing, what's the point?