Too many people settle in life. They begin with big dreams but over time, they settle in. They earn their degrees, secure an income, start a family, buy a house, and then just coast. They stop learning. They plateau
A study conducted by the Jenkins Group states that one-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives. It goes on to say:
- 42 percent of college graduates never read another book after college;
- 80 percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year;
- 70 percent of U.S. adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years; and
- 57 percent of new books are not read to completion.
We all learned in school, it was an expectation. But some think once they have completed school, they are done learning. They get a good job and think they have finished their training. They simply stop learning and lose the tension between where they are and where they ought to be.
“A wise man will hear and increase in learning.” – Proverbs 1:5
Winners never stop learning.
Winners do not coast through life solely relying on what they have learned. The Bible says in Luke 2:52, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” God did not create us to plateau. Whether you are one or 100 years old, you should be constantly learning, improving your skills, and getting better at who you are and what you do.
“To me a winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses those skills to accomplish his goals. Even when I lost, I learned what my weaknesses were and went out the next day to turn those weaknesses into strengths.” – Larry Bird
You have to take responsibility for your own growth and development … it does not happen automatically.
God gave you unique gifts and talents. But they do not automatically come out. Rather, they must be discovered and developed. How are you developing your gifts and talents? My friend Charles Tremendous Jones said, “Ten years from now you will be the summation of the books you have read and the people you meet.” Through books, we read the best part of what someone has to say. Through people, we experience the best and the worst part of what they have to say.
“Every person lives, but not every person learns. To grow in every area of life, every person must position himself as a student, one who is devoted to learning. Allow anyone to become your teacher. Some will teach you how to Be by their example. Some will teach you how not to Be by their lifestyle. One thing is for sure, the student has the privilege to make anyone or anything his teacher and be the beneficiary of both the positive and the negative he observes.” – Author Unknown
Winners keep growing! Winners keep learning! Make it a goal to grow in some way, every day!
Some questions winners ask themselves …
- What do I need to learn and what steps are am I going to take? (Learning Agenda)
- Who can I learn from? (Mentors – either close or from afar)
- Who are you helping with their personal growth and development journey? (Mentee)
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