What comes to mind when you think of “lifelong learning”? Oh, wait. Did you just roll your eyes and give a defeated sigh? Girl, we know the feeling.
Some of your feelings might be valid but here are some thoughts you might have that are definitely wrong.
Here are some of the lies you probably tell yourself all year round which eventually hinders your growth:
I have a degree. What am I still learning?
Big mistake, sister. When did you graduate? 2, 5, 10 years ago? The world is changing fast and we need to evolve.
Standing in one spot only means that others are going to overtake you and take opportunities that should’ve been yours.
Look at Nokia. How long did it take for them to lose their position as Number 1 phone maker? To be a successful Motherland Mogul, you need to keep learning the new trends in your industry.
I am an expert in my field
It’s very easy for us to settle for what we think we know is best. But does learning ever stop? If you have plans to branch out and innovate your brand, you need to prepare yourself!
Are there other things you learn from other industries that may be linked to yours?
There is so much more to learn about your passions, hobbies, and interests. Ask yourself questions such as ‘how badass is my excel skills’? When was the last time I gave a presentation that was wowed my audience?
Take the time to improve and build on what you already have and what you need to make yourself better.
I don’t have money for courses.
In this day and age, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to learn! With a stable internet connection and time, you can access so many free resources online.
From Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare, YouTube and the many blogs and articles out there; the options are endless.
But once you choose to make this investment, you start the journey towards a successful and educated life.
I don’t have time to learn.
Let’s rephrase that as “I don’t make out time for learning new things because it’s not a priority.” Doesn’t sound nice, does it?
Well, it’s true. We all make time for things that we consider priorities. Catching up on social media, binging on Netflix, attending owambe parties. But if we think about it, we spend many hours every week on things that aren’t really adding to our bottom line.
If you’re one of those superwomen who resists all such temptations and still can’t find the time to learn, what about the time you spend in traffic? With the developments of education and technology, you can learn anywhere and everywhere!
So, don’t make excuses for wanting to learn. If you believe in investing in yourself, then you will make the time to learn more.
I’m too old to learn
Lol! Did you know the oldest person to graduate college was 95 years old? We’re never too old to learn. Even if you have started a family and gotten 7 children, it’s never too late! It’s all about prioritizing. We can always learn new tricks!
You’ve probably run out of excuses now. But don’t let this daunt you. The trick is to start small. Pick one skill and set yourself a target of one hour a week to develop it. If you don’t know where to start, Google resources and create a learning calendar.
Once you set milestones and give yourself small treats every now and then, you’ll be surprised by what you learn in a few months.
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