If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
So, do you schedule in time every day to learn something new? I mean, actually put it on your calendar and then, do it? I hope you are.
I learned this (and most everything else having to do with online biz) from Tellman. One of our requirements of employment with Overcome Everything is that we spend at least 20% of our time learning. He asks us regularly to send him plans for further education, and I think that’s really awesome! I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned in the last two years.
Before I started working for Tellman, though, I always tried to learn new things, but the day just became filled with “to-dos.” You know. There were always fires to put out, stuff that had to be written, and on and on. Working online is a full-time proposition when you’re starting out. And though I learned stuff by reading books and hanging in forums, it was hit or miss, you know? Some days I learned a lot and other days, nada.
Making learning part of your daily schedule makes it as important as anything else you do online, and I totally thank Tellman for getting me to see that. He, of course, wants us to know more and more so that we can make the company stronger and stronger. Makes a real impact. Our team is getting stronger every day, and I know it shows.
So, if you’re not learning, get with it! Otherwise, your business won’t grow. You won’t be up to date in technique. You won’t be able to move forward. No matter how much time you have to do business each day, take some part of that day, even if it’s only 15 minutes and learn something new.
You’ll be so happy you did.
And for that, you can thank Tellman. 
Popularity: 38% [?]
July 31st, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I am glad that you have someone like Tellman to encourage you to take time to learn. I am a tutor and I try to instill the importance of learning, for learnings sake, in my students. Of course, it is important to learn about things that can enhance our lives and not just ’stuff’. I try to guide my students to sites that are useful, not just faddy. At first we sometimes do things because they are mandated, like your Tellman, but mandates become good habits. You have started a great habit, and lifelong enrichment experience.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:58 am
As a creative, I set aside dedicated time to create. Sometimes, they’re bombs but sometimes I get something interesting. My best works have come from “scheduled” time, which sounds counter intuitive. I think structure with learning works in exactly the same way. It takes practice to learn. Of course, we’re all learning new things at random times throughout the day… but just think for a moment how skilled a piano player would be if he only practiced when he felt like it.
August 9th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Very true, I think alot of people forget that learning is good just for quality of life, and not just the possible income from the education.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Hey Mike,
I couldn’t agree with you more, and thanks for bringing that up. Knowing more things just makes you more interesting. Knowledge is a gift I could never waste. I love learning, be it for the money or just the fun.
Big researcher here. I loved the research for my books way better than the actual writing. I mean, I’d never have known that Tibetan yak butter tea was once made with dung of yak, just to keep the tea leaves together. Or the engineering causes for the Titanic sinking.
Yet, in the business world, when there are so many things going on around you, you think, I’ll do it tomorrow, but the learning somehow gets shoved aside.
Glad I now have a rigid schedule that forces me to take the time. Well, I look at my hour as joy time. I know it’s coming at the end of the day, and I totally look forward to it. But how many bosses make sure you do that or how many expect you to do it after office hours? If you have a regular 9 to 5, do you have learning time every day?
You should!
It rocks!
–Pat
August 11th, 2008 at 7:42 am
I am glad that you have someone like Tellman to encourage you to take time to learn. I am a tutor and I try to instill the importance of learning, for learnings sake, in my students. Of course, it is important to learn about things that can enhance our lives and not just ’stuff’. I try to guide my students to sites that are useful, not just faddy. At first we sometimes do things because they are mandated, like your Tellman, but mandates become good habits. You have started a great habit, and lifelong enrichment experience.