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.
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.