Lifelong Learners

The workplace is changing at an alarming pace, and so do the skills needed to keep up in most jobs. Also, the emergence of the gig economy is reshaping the traditional employer-employee relationship as more contractors fill roles once reserved for full-time workers.

It’s key for employees to get training and develop new skills throughout their work life in order to keep up with changes in the workplace.

Reading is one of the best sources of continuous learning. It allows your mind to grow, change and make new connections.

Highly successful learners read a lot: Elon Musk grew up reading two books a day, according to his brother. Bill Gates reads 50 books per year. Mark Zuckerberg reads at least one book every two weeks. Warren Buffett spends five to six hours per day reading five newspapers and 500 pages of corporate reports.

Excellence takes time, and to achieve it you have to adopt the mindset of an apprentice. To think like an apprentice:

• Watch, listen and be present in the process.
• Practice often instead of waiting for your Big Break.
• Accept that few become great on their own and learn from whoever accepts to teach.
• Offer to help the experienced in their missions. They will like you better and may become “patrons”.