Be Open To All Types of Learning

“Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can – there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.”   -Sarah Caldwell -

One of my biggest regrets is not being open-minded enough to learn to play golf.  I had many chances to do so.

When I was an analyst and a category manager at Clairol, I would attend the company’s national sales meeting at least once a year. It was a 3 or 4 day event with numerous business sessions, starting early in the morning and ending in the evening. To provide time for employees to get to know each other better, there was always an afternoon set aside for company-sponsored recreational activities, including golf and golf lessons.

Did I ever consider signing up for golf lesson? No. I always selected the spa, the city tour, or the other choices I thought would be fun. Always! I never once considered registering for “beginners” golf. Not once in over 7 years. Now, that is being closed-minded!

I am embarrassed to say when my manager planned our first regional meeting, I looked at the agenda and was the first to complain about not having any options to golf. Clearly, I was not going to consider learning to play! After several of us loudly voiced our disapproval, my manager added other activities. If I had the same opportunity today, I would at least try my hand at the sport. I might have liked it. Many deals are made on the golf course so I miss opportunities to grow my business today because I wasn’t open-minded in the past. Do not be like I was previously. Instead embrace, or at least consider, opportunities to learn all sorts of things that come your way.

In the early 90’s when computers came into the workplace, instead of being willing to use them, some employees who continued doing things as they had for years,  some learned but complained the entire time. The result? Many were left behind and ill-equipped for the drastic shift to a technological workplace. But others succeeded, adapting and even excelling, in this new environment. One of them was Mike Hartley. He had been a salesperson for his entire career and was in his late 50’s. Although he was close to retirement, Mike did not hesitate to attend the training classes. He not only learned, but mastered the material presented. Because of his willingness to be open to learning, he was promoted to a position involving the maintenance and upgrade of computers. Mike became a well-respected and highly sought-after resource for employees at the company.

At your workplace or in your line of business what is changing? What new procedures and technologies are being introduced? Are you eagerly learning, constantly complaining, or relentlessly resisting? The latter two lead to frustration, misery, and a lack of progress and success. Changes in technology and other areas are here to stay, so be open to learning so you can have the success you desire.

A relative once said to me “Donna, you can’t teach an old dog new treats”. I wanted to say “I thought we were talking about people, not animals”! However, I decided not to respond. I did not want to prolong what was becoming, in my mind, a ridiculous conversation about the limits of human potential. People are learning all sorts of things late in life, like:

• The award-winning actor, Morgan Freeman, learned to fly at age 64.At age 70 he regularly flies himself to work, traveling between his home in Mississippi to Hollywood.

• Nola Ochs is the oldest person to graduate with a masters degree at age 98, after having gotten her bachelor’s degree at age 95.

• George Dawson learned to read at 98 years of age. At age 101, he appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, and other television programs where he talked about reading his favorite book, The Bible.

I hope this message and these three people inspire you to be open to learning today, tomorrow and always.

Wishing You Serious Success