The Art of Continuous Learning or How I Learned That I Love Learning

Do you crave knowledge?

Are you fascinated by the latest article about anything new?

Can't get enough of Merriam-Webster online dictionary?

Maybe you're a lifelong learner like me!

Recently I had a fun and engaging session with Daelyn Larche-Sigman who is a coaching colleague and a friend of ours. She helped me review and understand my strengths based on the CliftonStrengths assessment I took earlier this year. The report is known as "Your CliftonStrengths® 34 Results".

Extremely informative!

My #9 strength is 'Learner' which is part of the Strategic Thinker category. These are some of the qualities of the Learner:

• You have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. The process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites you.
• You love to learn, and you intuitively know how you learn best. Your natural ability to pick up
  and absorb information quickly and to challenge yourself to continually learn more keeps
  you on the cutting edge.
• Respect your desire to learn. Take advantage of educational opportunities in your
  community or at work. Discipline yourself to sign up for at least one new course or class
  each year.

Well, those are spot on!

[Want to know my #1 strength? I'll reveal that later in this post. Keep reading!]

Case in point: I recently completed a 6-month Business Management Essentials Certification course through eCornell University. It was a really good course overall, there were six modules with multiple lessons and a project per module, the materials and presenters were great, and it was all online-based with a community bulletin board to participate with the cohort and facilitator during each module.

Thinking back to when I was younger I didn't respect the value of having a really good education. I mean, I graduated high school, attended a semester of community college because my parents wanted me to go, and I stopped going in favor of working full time at a local department store to pay for my car, gas, and I partied like it was 1974.

Respect to Prince. I was 25 years ahead of 1999.

It wasn't until I joined the United States Air Force in 1976 that I found myself in learning mode and had to pay attention to all the history of the military, acquired detailed knowledge of how aircraft worked and more importantly how it sustained flight once in the air. And, once I got assigned to the air base in Del Rio,TX - I really got into the mechanical and other systems details of the aircraft. I learned how to take 'em apart and put 'em back together during routine maintenance.

Following that stint and after landing a computer operator trainee job in Denver, CO, my career required continuous learning to move ahead in the technology sector. This is still true today.

As an adult I truly love learning new things and expanding my knowledge base.

As an entrepreneur continuous learning is extremely important, especially since running a business of any size takes time, energy, time, savvy, and time. 

Learning is a lifelong journey for me. The more I learn about how the world works the more I learn about my place in the world. 

Oooooh, so Introspective!

So, my #1 strength is...Positivity and this is part of the Relationship Building category.  A few sentences about that"

• You have contagious enthusiasm. You are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are
  going to do.
• It’s very likely that you are eager to share your time, talent, and treasure with others. You
  understand the importance of giving. You are naturally big hearted.
• As a result, you quickly see what is good and right about the individuals you meet. You are apt to keep your distance from those who only talk about what is wrong with people.     

Yes, yes, and YES!

Alas, all true.

I highly recommend connecting with Daelyn to discover your top strengths! You can connect with her by phone or email. (303) 903-4118  or [email protected]

List of my top 34 strengths and their related themes

Want to know more about continuous learning? Google it and you'll see a ton of links.

ReMINDer; it's Halloween, so watch out for kids of all ages and TRICK OR TREAT!

Thanks for the read.

Glenn

Conceived and written by a real human bean.