Lifelong learning is what keeps us thinking “young” and mentally sharp.  I find it difficult not to want to keep developing my mind.  I’ve know a few folks who so looked forward to retirement so they could “sit back and do nothing” and watched them deterioriate right before my eyes both mentally and physically.  Maybe there’s more to the lifelong learning thing that simply alliteration…

The habits most challenging to me are:

• beginning with the end in mind
• create your own learning toolbox

There are times when I do have an end in mind,  when the “just in time” mode kicks in, but I often find that my curiosity and “I wonder why or how” thoughts get me going in a learning direction that is not based on getting somewhere, but more about expanding my abilities for when I’ll need them, with no concrete, specific end as a focus.  I can see where that is dibilitating though, as not having a goal sometimes leads to not digging deeply enough into the learning process to master it or letting go of the learning stream since it isn’t a passionate focus. 

If I had a “goal” or end in mind regarding improving at golf, let’s say consistently shooting in the 80’s, I would likely be more purposeful (given enough time to work on improving) and focused in my specific practice about the shots I don’t hit well, to maybe accomplish that.  Instead, I’m much more willing to just go out and play, trying to hit shots I can’t, and not worrying about the final score. 

Challenge 2: Creating a learning toolbox

The difficulty I have here is deciding what tools need to fill the toolbox.  I know of hundreds, and just the few days I’ve spent with this content have given me exposure to more new tools, and deciding which need to really be developed and which need to be discarded is difficult.  Given the overarching knowledge that tech tools will be replaced with newer and greater in a very short period of time, make it even more difficult.  I’ve got to learn that the permanence of my trusty hammer and screwdriver have gone the way of the dodo.  Those tools do the same task now that they did 30 years ago.  What tools do I really need in my tech toolbox?  Are they just a short term bridge until the next generation of software, hardware and functionality improvements come round the bend?  You betch a…

The habits most easy for me are:

• viewing problems as challenges
• teach/mentor others

I’m good at teaching/mentoring others. I’m interested in other people, appreciate them, and want to help them become more confident in their tech skills and comfort zone.  I’m patient and don’t look down on the issues they may be having that I have had the time and opportunity to learn about.  It feels good to see them empowered with their new found abilities.

Viewing problems as challenges dovetails well with that for me because I am a positive person and know there are others out there much smarter than me that have already mastered the problem.  My challenge is to simply find that person, or their skillset, and work from there.

 Most Important:

Accepting responsibility for my own learning falls in this category as the accelerated timetable of this initiative demands a great deal of time each day.  Given the other responsibilities and deadlines I have within my daily job will add some pressure to staying focused on the tasks at hand in this curriculum.  Time isn’t unlimited, goals are in view, and management of both is vital.

The second item of most importance is to use technology to my advantage.  The learning phases of this project won’t allow that habit to become streamlined immediately.  I recognize that the “tease” of some of these tools that I’ve had exposure to can create enormous benefits in the long run; but making them a part of my routines and habits will be filled, I’m sure, with false steps, questions about the “why’, #$(*& at times, before I can make them advantageous