A call to lifelong learning

The first step for anything is always an awareness. When it comes to a problem, this seems an awareness of the problem that needs to be solved. Awareness means knowledge, and insight. In the case of a specific problem it means being able to come up with a creative solution, and than being able to narrow it down to a practical solution. This requires thinking in a certain way. This would mean developing the mind to be capable of thinking in creative, out of the box ways to come up with new innovative solutions, and then to be capable of thinking logically, in order to come up with the best solution. These are actually two very different ways of thinking, and aren't naturally wired into our thought processes. Therefor we must train ourselves think effectively. Once we develop our minds, we can reap benefits of becoming so much more efficient and effective that it is unreal. We must develop our minds to think more efficiently, and then fill them with a passion and abundant amount of knowledge. Either without the other is an imbalance, and they both rely on the other. Knowing a lot of facts can get you somewhere on a trivia show, but not too far in life. Knowing how to find and process new information can make you a very effective analyzer, but without anything to analyze you still make little progress. We need to both develop our minds and to fill them with new knowledge.

The theme of this writing is lifelong learning. First we must build a strong base of knowledge from which to draw. Not just any knowledge, but applicable knowledge. That as applies to what is useful to you and what you desire to do with yourself and your life.

"If I need to know a fact, I'll look it up on Google. If I need to know a subject, I'll buy the book from Amazon."

There's a certain quality to being able to spend a few hours with a good book that sitting in front of a computer screen just can't quite replicate yet. Also, sometimes the accuracy needed in learning a complete subject can sometimes be best accomplished through the acquiring of a good book, that can be readily referenced and within arms reach if you set up your home office in the right way as I tend to.

Surprising to some, if I'm new to a subject I'll without hesitation buy a good introductory text book, say Building Websites For Dummies. The For Dummies series is one that tend to be quite concise and cover most the basics, not assuming you know anything. Thus, you'll have fewer gaps in your knowledege initially. From there, I'll go to an intermediate and perhaps eventually a more advanced book, depending on how in depth I'd like to learn a subject.

Also, it's good to get several books from different auhors, as the different angles the subject is approached and perspectives of the authors will better allow you to learn the subject.

I will then fill in gaps or specific curiosities in my knowledge, say areas I'd like to know even more about by looking things up online. So it's a hybrid model of learning really. It has actually been found that we learn best naturally by having a multitude of stimulating sources we experience in the natural world.

The human brain is capable of processing and retaining so many data and knowledge it is incredible to comprehend even partially our capability. We must have the passion and drive to seek it though, along with some direction of what we desire to master.

Of course we can never know everything we need to know, so this necessitates fresh research applied to each instance. For this we must know where to go and how to find specific knowledge. This means effective researching skills and accurate sources of information.

The internet can be a great place to look, but of course we must become critical in our analysis of the information. Perhaps to look at credibility of the source, biases that may exist in their writing, and most of all accuracy of content. Obviously we can't just trust anyone putting out information.

For soft research (more subjective) we can use inspiration gained from more personal writers, or in general to gain new ideas or direction. For hard research we want more authoritative research. Reputable sources, such organizations whose credibility determines there future success. (Perhaps an encyclopedia.)

One of my favorite places to shop is a bookstore. I do have a large library, even though I don't frequently purchase books during my visits. It's the environment. Like a library or a college campus, people are there typically for the pursuit of knowledge, and much can be gained in this sort of environment. You may find books on subjects you're interested in, scan through them and find new ideas or directions. It is a way to see what is current in the field. Or you may even run into others looking at books similar to what you're into and on striking up a conversation make a new lifelong friend that you can relate to and grow with.

Just as “you are what you eat,” you also absorb your environment and become more adapted to it. So put yourself in an environment that is conducive to your cause. To what you want to be like. Place yourself among those you want to be like. Make your friends and associations those people that you aspire to be like. Doing what you are or want to do. I attend college for computer technology classes, going into web development and programming. I also have an entrepreneurial spirit about me, and owning my own little business empire is a vision of mine. Not just for the prosperity and being able to raise my family well, but I also want to be able to have a positive influence on the world and on a large magnitude.

With that said, sometimes I think I go to college more to be in that environment than anything else. To network with like minded people. You never know when someone may inspire you in a certain way, either helping you gain a direct idea or leading you on a new path and in a new direction. You may meet people that become associations or friends, even future business partners or employees. So it's very vital to your development to not only be aware of your environment, but to consciously and frequently place yourself into environments that will aid in your own personal development in a manner consistent to your objectives, goals, and ultimate visions.

To sum this up, the purpose of my writing this is two fold. First off, to be an inspiration and to bring awareness that we as humans have a need to continually improve ourselves. It is a strong, productive force to have a passion in our lives, such as the passion to learn and to develop ourselves. Over time this passion creates energy, which brings me to my second point. It drives one to action, and a call to action is my second objective. You can kinda know something, but still be distracted by everything else going on in your life. Yet once truly aware, you can begin to act upon it. Without action an idea is merely an idea, floating somewhere among all the others. One of my favorite quotes goes something to the order of, “Information is useless until acted upon.” So go out starting today and act upon these ideas!

Go to your local library or bookstore, learn online researching skills, start researching that which you've always had an interest in but never pursued! If you feel stuck in your life without gain, start researching and brainstorming all your options! You don't have to go back to school, but if you desire to improve your career and work your way up in the company, maybe you should! Lastly, go out and apply your new found knowledge in novel ways to have an impact on your world and your own life situation... be an informed, passionate, and active person!