I love learning. It’s my #1 strength according to the VIA Character Report. Leaders are readers, right?
But I can over-use that strength. Any virtue without moderation can become a vice.
I used to get stuck in books and courses at the exclusion of everything else in my life. If I was learning, I was happy. I wanted to consume as much information as I could — because knowledge is power!
I kept trying to learn FASTER. And I was wrong to do that because knowledge isn’t power. Not until you put it into action.
Instead, I wanted to learn BETTER. It was time to slow down.
I have a good memory for what I read, even when I read quickly. But it isn’t perfect.
I wanted to digest what I was reading instead of cramming it into my head without a useful reason.
I started taking notes, putting those notes into a system, and USING those notes to live my life.
The knowledge I digested started to fit into a latticework. The latticework became a philosophy. And now, that philosophy can evolve as new ideas are added or replace old ideas.
Learning has a new depth when you digest, connect, and create with your reading material.
Slow down and enjoy the ride! There’s no test at the end to see how much you remember.
1 thought on “How I Indulge My Love of Learning”
I’m looking back at this and thinking it might be time for an update!
Some brief notes on what is different:
– I’m an opportunistic learner now. This is recent. I got rid of “study time” on my calendar and abandoned all attempts at learning with a rigid structure.
– I focus on just-in-time learning and studies over just-in-case learning and studies. I learn what I need to know as I need to know it.
– I’ve shifted from learning what interests me to learning what I can act on. It’s subtle, but has a massive impact.