Category Archives: Learning

A man, though wise, should never be ashamed of learning more, and unbending his mind

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“A man, though wise, should never be ashamed of learning more, and unbending his mind.”

—Sophocles, ancient Greek tragedian

Image from Unsplash by Jay Mullings

Today’s quote has a message for all of us.

Although most people would consider themselves fairly wise and worldly, each of us blunders from time to time due to our unbending minds.

Far too many of us have shut the windows and doors of our minds to prevent fresh and new ideas to enter and clear the way for more informed and better choices.

EXERCISE:

Where have you and others in your communities closed the doors to learning more about the issues we all face?

How would greater flexibility and a more open-minded approach to living guide us all to a better future?

You have not grown too old, and it is not too late

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“You have not grown too old, and it is not too late to dive into your increasing depths where life calmly gives out its own secret.”

—Rainer Maria Rilke, 20th Century Austrian poet and novelist

The other day a friend asked who was my audience for The Quotable Coach blog. My off-the-cuff response included people looking to live more meaningful lives and those looking to learn, grow, and pursue greater wisdom.

As with many bloggers, we only get a small glimpse of who actually reads our work. We rarely get to see the impact we intend and just hope that it does. I know for sure that the process of writing is definitely valuable to me even if no one else digs into the nuggets being offered.

EXERCISE:

If you are a loyal or even an occasional reader of this blog, please consider replying with a brief note about yourself and let me know why you invest a minute of your day to see what may be there for you.

Thank you.

“Optimism is man’s passport to a better tomorrow.”

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“Optimism is man’s passport to a better tomorrow.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Miki Fath

If the idea Thoughts Become Things is true, being an optimist seems like a pretty good way to manifest a good life.

Consider the half full versus the half empty people in your life.

Who do you prefer to be around and what other people and things seem to be attracted to them?

Explore your family gatherings and the people with whom you work.

Which people light you up or pour cold water on your world?

EXERCISE:

The books Learned Optimism, and Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman, PhD are two excellent resources to expand your optimism to lead you and others to many better tomorrows.

When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know

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When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But when you listen, you may learn something new.

—The 14th Dali Lama, the highest spiritual leader and head of Tibetan Buddhism

Image from Unsplash by Anastasia Badun

What is your talking-to-listening ratio in your personal and professional life?

Where do you go out of your way to demonstrate and prove your smarts by regurgitating the latest news and current events?

Where might you even participate in spreading gossip within your communities to show that you are in the know?

Shifting our focus from our mouth to our ears seems far more valuable and interesting.

An important factor, however, is to be selective in what and to whom we listen!

EXERCISE:

A coaching phrase I learned many years ago can be summed up in two words.  “Questions Only.”

When we apply this concept in our conversations with others, we are far more likely to learn something new.

Please give it a try and let me know what you discover.

The test of a student is not how much he knows

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“The test of a student is not how much he knows, but how much he wants to know.”

—Alice Wellington Rollins, 19th Century American Writer

Image from Unsplash by Monica Melton

As a proclaimed lifelong learner, I enjoy the idea that in life we are tested first and then receive the lesson.

My school years were not as engaging because the lessons came first, and my desire to be tested on things of low interest seemed pointless.

These days, it’s up to me — and each of us — to decide what we wish to learn.

Having the freedom to choose what we want to know makes the idea of school is always in session far more appealing.

EXERCISE:

In what areas of your life are you an eager student?

Where do you experience the greatest passion and drive to learn more?

Sometimes we need to be cautious about getting into action too quickly and take our time to discover the learning

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“Sometimes we need to be cautious about getting into action too quickly and take our time to discover the learning.”

— Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Leonard Reese

Have you ever played checkers? How about chess or Go? How long does it usually take before you make a move?

Where do you skip aiming before you shoot in the direction of your targets? How often does being too quick on the draw get you in trouble?

Life is an iterative game in which we are constantly receiving feedback from the world around us. Without taking enough time to examine what we have learned from previous moves, we can find ourselves on the losing end of the many games we play.

EXERCISE:

In what areas of your life are you too quick to act on limited information?

Where would slowing down to embrace more teachable moments help you better navigate your world?

 

A mistake is only as valuable as the time you spend learning from it

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“A mistake is only as valuable as the time you spend learning from it.”

—Niklas Göke, Author of 2-Minute Pep Talks

Image from Unsplash by Daniela Holzer

How do you usually respond when someone points out a mistake you’ve made?

My first reaction is often denial or a quick “sorry,” then I put it behind me.

What happens when the person pointing out this misstep continues to mention the error of your ways?

We almost never appreciate them rubbing it in, do we?

What if rubbing it in is actually what is needed in certain situations?

Where and how would a deeper look and a bit more time to contemplate our mishaps allow a valuable lesson to sink in and stick well beyond the moment?

EXERCISE:

What are some examples of significant mistakes you have made recently or over the years?

To what degree do you take the time to let their lessons seep in and impact your future efforts?

Focus on the shot you are about to take

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Focus on the shot you are about to take. The game isn’t over till it’s over.

—Calm App Reflection

My five-year-old grandson’s favorite board game is the Hershey edition of Monopoly Junior. Through his play, he is learning numerous life skills as he moves his favorite chocolate bar character around the board. He particularly enjoys rolling the dice, buying properties, passing Go to collect $2, and landing on Chance spaces to see what they reveal.

With each roll of the dice, he sees opportunities to better his chances of winning. When he is a bit behind, he often prefers the other players let him roll again and again. We are still working on good sportsmanship and taking turns.

EXERCISE:

What games are you currently playing in your personal and professional worlds?

Where are you falling behind and becoming discouraged?

How would greater focus on your next shot — and the next — turn things around?

Friday Review: Learning

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Friday Review: Learning

How mindful are you of the things you are learning? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

 

 

 

“Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.”

 

 

 

“Learning is a treasure whose keys are queries.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you need to learn quickly, learn from others

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“When you need to learn quickly, learn from others. When you need to learn deeply, learn from experience.”

—James Clear, author of Atomic Habits

Image from Unsplash by Shiromani Kant

In what areas of your life do you consider yourself highly competent or even masterful?

What were your developmental journeys like and how long did they take?

Who were your teachers, mentors, and coaches, and how much practice did you put in to reach your current level of proficiency?

A while ago, I took my car to the shop for its annual inspection. After several hours and several hundred dollars, I was out the door with a new window sticker of approval. A few weeks later when I was out of town, the yellow manufacturer maintenance light popped on.

Knowing I was good to go, I looked up a You Tube video and three minutes later that pesky light was gone.

EXERCISE:

Who are the people in your life that help your learn things quickly?

Where do you need to put certain lessons into practice over time to develop the deeper mastery you desire?