Today’s principle is not for the person who wants to be average. The average American, according to a Nielsen study, watches 34 hours 39 minutes of TV a week! That is an astounding 75 days a year! In 10 years, you will have spent 2 years of your life watching TV if you are an average American viewer.
Imagine if you were to take one hour a day and spend it learning something new to move you closer to your dreams or goals. It wouldn’t be long before you leave behind the world of average and become part of the 1%. You could take a hobby that you love and become a resource for others pursuing similar interests and turn your hobby into a source of income. You could learn another language, get a college degree, write a book, or learn some new skills that will pave the way for promotions.
There are multiple avenues for learning more. The most obvious one is reading. Reading some material in your field for an hour a day will put you light years ahead of most people. Study the lives of people who have excelled in areas you want to excel. People have left clues of their success in books so you don’t have to make the same mistakes they did. One book a week over the next 20 years would easily put you in the top 1% of experts in your field. If reading is not one of your best skills, take a course to read faster with greater retention.
Find conferences or seminars where you can learn new information, techniques, or new skills. Invest in yourself. Many companies offer continuing education and advancement programs as benefits. Find out when the next event is and sign up for it. Ask a supervisor or manager what skills and abilities would make you more likely to be promoted. Your local Chamber of Commerce may have a calendar of training programs being offered in your area.
Consider a coaching program that will help you grow and reach your potential. Many coaches offer group coaching as well as individual coaching. Having an outside influence may be the one thing you need to push you out of unsuccessful habits into successful habits. Find a coach who specializes in the area you want to grow.
The key to the whole process of learning is to remain teachable. If you think you know it already, you are less likely to have an open mind for learning. You will find some of the sharpest people in the world don’t dominate conversations. They tend to be quieter, learning from other people. They learn how to ask questions and listen. Be teachable and begin the process of learning more, and you will earn more as a result.
Jack has a list of resources that you may benefit from. Take a look at this list and pick up a book this week, or go by the library and sign a couple out.
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(Our daily journey of the last 64 days of 2011 is centered on the principles found in Jack Canfield’s book, “The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.” In his book, he encourages his readers to begin teaching others these principles. I would highly recommend that you buy a copy of the book and join us on a journey to a better you.)
