| Learning: def. - To gain knowledge or a skill; to come | | | | or 4 channels has longed passed. Cable today offers |
| to know; to be informed. (Webster's New World | | | | hundreds of stations. These stations are the avenues |
| Dictionary, Third College Edition) | | | | to knowledge to learning. With traditional |
| "It's what you learn after you know it all that | | | | broadcasting, 24 hour news stations and educational |
| counts." In other words, learning should be something | | | | stations, learning opportunities abound. |
| we do throughout our lives. | | | | "You learn something everyday if you pay attention." |
| -- John Wooden, UCLA legendary coach | | | | -- Ray LeBlond, noted 20th century spiritualist |
| Continual, constant, regular learning is the key to | | | | DVD's etc. The learning available from DVD's and |
| success, good health, happiness, satisfaction. | | | | on-line video sources reaches into the millions. Just a |
| "Learning makes a man fit company for himself." | | | | few short years ago, this avenue did not exist. We |
| -- Edward Young, 16th century English poet | | | | may not think of this as learning, but it is! |
| Learning results in growth. It keeps us fresh, current | | | | "This is what learning is. You suddenly understand |
| and motivated. It is the impetus that drives | | | | something you've understood all your life, but in a |
| development, youth, joy. . . | | | | new way." |
| "The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, | | | | -- Doris Lessing, Noble Prize winning author |
| unlike our bodies, can continue growing as long as we | | | | Networks, Groups. One of the greatest sources of |
| live." | | | | learning is other people. Relish the opportunity to |
| -- Mortimer Alder, 20th century American author | | | | learn from others. Network to meet people. Network |
| "I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my | | | | at work. Join groups of all kinds. Be proactive. Seek |
| diploma." | | | | people and learn from them. Young, old and in |
| -- Eartha Kitt, 20th century American actress and | | | | between, it doesn't matter. Most want to share their |
| singer | | | | knowledge and experiences. Work your networks. |
| Borrow an old phrase "The Joy of" and add | | | | Further, don't forget to utilize internet social |
| "Learning." You now have the "The Joy Learning." | | | | networking. It is for everybody. |
| You should strive to be a sponge always absorbing | | | | "If you have the knowledge, let others light their |
| as much knowledge and information as life permits. | | | | candles at it." - Thomas Fuller, 16th century English |
| Strive to be soaked and saturated at all times. Never | | | | clergyman |
| stop in with your quest for learning. To stop learning | | | | Mentoring. Be a mentor. Be a mentee. Be both. The |
| would be akin to stop living. | | | | benefits from both are endless. Mentoring is a |
| "Who o neglects learning, loses the past and is dead | | | | relationship which gives people the opportunity to |
| for the future." | | | | share their professional and personal skills and life |
| -- Euripides, Ancient Greek poet and playwright | | | | experiences. Both the mentor and the mentee will |
| So never, never stop learning! There are limitless | | | | grow and develop in the process. There are no basic |
| sources of knowledge and avenues for learning | | | | skills required to mentor. The mentor merely uses his |
| "It is wise to get knowledge and learning from every | | | | knowledge gained through experiences to teach, |
| source - from a sot, a pot, a fool, a winter-mitten or | | | | coach, advise, guide, encourage, promote, etc., |
| an old slipper". | | | | another. It can be done face-to face or it can be |
| -- Francois Rabelais, 14th century French humorist and | | | | done remotely e.g., via the internet or by telephone. |
| satirist | | | | We all act as mentors and are mentees. Every time |
| So seek avenues for learning, always with vigor. | | | | we offer advice we are mentoring; each time we |
| Never miss an opportunity to learn. | | | | receive advice we are the mentee. This process |
| "Learning is not attained by chance, it must be | | | | occurs throughout our life; it is part of the learning, |
| sought for with ado and attended to with diligence. " | | | | part of self-development. |
| -Abigail Adams, former First Lady and wife of | | | | The benefits of a mentoring relationship are |
| President John Adams | | | | innumerable. For the mentee, priceless advice, |
| Here are a few sources or avenues for learning you | | | | direction, problem solving, coaching, etc., is received. |
| may have not thought of in the traditional sense of | | | | Mentees can gain perspective from the mentor's |
| learning. | | | | experiences that otherwise may have taken years |
| "Learning how to learn is life's most important skill." - | | | | for the mentee to gain through their own |
| Unknown source | | | | experiences. |
| Internet. The internet and the millions of sources in it | | | | On the other hand, the mentor not only receives the |
| (websites, blogs, forums, etc.,) are learning avenues | | | | satisfaction of helping others, but has the opportunity |
| unavailable a few short years ago. There are the | | | | to learn from others too. Mentors and mentee should |
| traditional learning sources like encyclopedias, | | | | both be a sponge soaking up knowledge, |
| newspapers, magazines, etc. The volume and easy | | | | perspective, and experiences from each other. |
| assemblage abounds. And you have unlimited, 24/7 | | | | "Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen and a |
| access. | | | | push in the right direction." |
| Then there are newer avenues to learning such as | | | | -- John Crosby, 20th century American musician |
| blogs. You can learn what is on other's minds, their | | | | Volunteer. Volunteering opens many avenues for |
| life experiences and adversities, etc. Millions open | | | | learning. You can meet new people. Learn new skills. |
| themselves and thoughts to others. This is | | | | The possibilities for learning are endless. |
| knowledge and information that was unobtainable | | | | "Only a life lived for others is worth living." |
| before the internet. Granted it is not always accurate | | | | -- Albert Einstein, Noble Prize winning physicist |
| and not always truthful, but it gives you insights into | | | | Learning is critical. Never, never stop. Make your life. |
| others and their thoughts and views, etc. | | | | It brings out the best. |
| "Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from | | | | "Live as if your were to die tomorrow. Learn as if |
| anyone you can - there will always come a time | | | | you were to live forever." |
| when you will be grateful you did. " | | | | - Mahatma Gandhi, pre-eminent 20th century political |
| -- Sarah Caldwell, 20th century American opera | | | | and spiritual leader |
| conductor | | | | Look for learning opportunities. Incorporate learning |
| On-line Universities, Training Tools, Webinars. New | | | | into your life. Seek avenues to try new things. Utilize |
| learning avenues are now available for educating | | | | the internet. Prevail yourself of the educational |
| oneself. Many educational institutions, organizations | | | | opportunities available on cable and video. Join groups. |
| offer traditional education on-line. Some offer | | | | Network within your business and within your |
| webinars (short on-line seminars and courses, often | | | | community in both social and professional groups. |
| offered at no-charge.) They are also available the | | | | Enter into mentoring relationships. Volunteer. These |
| topic you would desire. | | | | are just some the avenues available to learn, learn, |
| "I never teach my pupils, I only attempt to provide | | | | learn. |
| the conditions in which they can learn." | | | | "The wisest mind has something to learn." |
| -- Albert Einstein, Noble Prize winning physicist | | | | George Santayana, 20th century philosopher |
| Cable TV. Cable and the related technology have | | | | "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for |
| opened a plurality of doors for learning. The day of 3 | | | | tomorrow. |