The Path to Continuous Relevance
In April 2019, a 77-year-old woman, Mrs. Bridget Obiageli Okonji bagged a Bachelor of Education, Guidance and Counseling degree from the University of Lagos. The septuagenarian said she decided to seek more education to help society and encourage others who feel they are too old to learn. During the 50th convocation of the institution, the “retired officer” said “It is better you go out and seek education even at old age rather than staying at home, doing nothing for yourself and the society. She added “The more educated you are, the more valuable you are to the society.” Isn’t she spot-on? The truth is, for you to continuously add value wherever you are, you must develop the habit of a lifelong learner.
Lifelong learning is an ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge and skills for either personal or professional development. In this fast-paced world, it is necessary to be a continuous learner to remain relevant, resourceful and competitive. Lifelong learners are deliberate people, motivated to acquire and develop skills to become the better version of themselves. This attitude makes them socially inclusive and active citizens of any community they find themselves.
So, how can you develop the habit of a lifelong learner? Here are 3 tips to help you.
- Be A Reader
The American novelist and short-story writer, George R.R. Martin once said, — “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” While growing up, I was privileged my dad had a fantastic library. Observing his life, his continuous quest for knowledge rubbed off on me and I picked up the habit of reading too. As I grew older, I understood the saying “Readers are Leaders as reading has become a part of me. Thomas Corley during his five-year study of more than 200 “self-made” millionaires, found that an impressive 86 percent claimed they read (regularly)— but not just for fun; 63 percent indicated they listened to audiobooks during their morning commute.” Instructive right? It was said of one of such people – Bill Gates, that “Just about every kind of book interested him – encyclopedias, science fiction, you name it,” He even publishes an annual list of his favorite books of the year. We should learn from him.
- Set a Goal to Do Something New Every Year
One of the ways to form the habit of a lifelong learner is to set specific goals to do at least one new thing yearly. Making a bucket list will be helpful; you can spread the list over maybe 5, 10 or even 20 years, setting a goal for each year. Then you review it yearly, completing each task on the list one after the other till all the goals are achieved. These goals could be anything from acquiring a new vocational skill to learning to use a new technology or enrolling for an online course. It could even be a deliberate attempt to learn a new hobby. You will be amazed at how much you would have developed within a few years of deliberate learning. It might interest you to know that I recently set a goal for myself to learn how to swim and I did. The point is you get better when you learn something new.
- Accept New Challenges
Winston Churchill once said; “The price of greatness is responsibility.” You see, new tasks and responsibilities take us away from our comfort zones and expand our capacity to do more. Whether in your office, church or your community, be known to pick up new things. This makes you more resourceful and relevant wherever you find yourself.
Believe me friend, the life of a lifelong learner is a value-adding life. Make up your mind to be that person everyone wants on their team.
Always remember, You Have Only One Life to Live, MAKE IT COUNT!
- Forbes defines “self-made” as someone who built a company or established a fortune on his/her own, rather than inheriting some or all of it. They are individuals who did not become successful and rich by having money given to them either by grants or inheritance.
