Learned VS Learning

In times of change the Learners will inherit the Earth while the Learned will find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists. – Eric Hoffer

I heard that from a mentor of mine, Bob Proctor. And holy wow. That really makes me feel valuated. I don’t mean to sound superior. Honest, BUT it validates my idea of always trying to learn. Not that I need the validation but it helps me encourage others to learn.

I see many of my contemporaries who left school to work in the mills basically stuck there. They learned enough to do their jobs and nothing more. I see people all over the place stuck and yet blaming everything else but themselves. They expect their employer to tell them what to do and yet they were probably given every opportunity to upgrade and refused it because it was on a weekend or at least not on “company” time.

There are so many people who are not equipped for the new economy and yet are peacefully oblivious to the devastation that could be coming for them. I was terrified for both of my kids when they were in high school. One wanted to be a lawyer and the other an accountant. Now they have both (on their own) seen the light – one is training to be a horticulturist and the other is a trained brewer. Boo yah.

You see one reason I am doing so much personal training is I believe I am not good enough to do what I am doing. Every time I start to think I am on top of my game something comes along to prove me otherwise. That is a good thing.

My dad died shortly after he retired. Most guys do – die just after they retire. I believe it was because he stopped learning. He used to read accounting and tax law bulletins every day at lunch. He would read the newspaper for business news. The day he retired is the day he stopped doing that. He basically died then. It took a few years to be buried but he died then. It wasn’t his fault, he was doing what society told him to do.

Short post today but there it is. NEVER STOP LEARNING.