Hello again,

Hope everyone is doing well!

Minute of Transparency: Living in this new era of Coronavirus, sheltering in place and social distancing.

Today’s Topic: The importance of becoming a "lifelong learner” and knowing what to do with what you learn

1. What is a “lifelong learner”?

2. One learning strategy

3. Another learning strategy

4. Learning isn’t just for you

// 1 WHAT IS A "LIFELONG LEARNER"?

It isn’t rocket science:

“Learner” - A person choosing to learn a subject or skill
“Lifelong” - Lasting or remaining throughout a person’s lifetime

So together: You don’t just learn in school - you should always be learning new things - until your dying day…

In my Master’s Program teachers explained:

• "There is no way we can teach you everything you need to know in order to be the best version of yourself"

• "So we will give you the foundation, and teach you to be lifelong learners"

Two categories of things we can learn:

• Informal: Things that were interesting and added to my overall library of knowledge - but were one-offs - not helping me achieve or attain anything

• Formal: Things that were helpful to learn because they were puzzle pieces in a larger plan to achieve or attain something bigger

• Both are good - but direct more energy toward the things that have an end game, and less to the one-offs 

Examples from my life: 

1. Informal (or one-off) learning: Chess

   1. Nothing more than learning a new skill

2. Formal (goal oriented): Photography

   1. New skill also, but useful in multiple ways: Sports, family pictures, headshots for my daughter, web design, graphic design, etc.

What does a lifelong learner look like?

Here is a random article:

12 Signs You Are a Lifelong Learner by Oskar Nowik

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/12-signs-you-are-lifelong-learner.html

1. Read on a daily basis

2. Attend courses

3. Seek opportunities to grow

4. Take care of their bodies

5. Have diverse passions

6. Love making progress

7. Challenge themselves with specific goals

8. Embrace change

9. Believe it is never too late to start something

10. Attitude toward getting better is contagious

11. Leave their comfort zone

12. Never settle down

// 2 ONE LEARNING STRATEGY

How to train a child (from a sermon I heard years ago):

1. I’ll do it, you watch

2. I’ll do it, you help

3. You do it, I’ll help

4. You do it, I’ll watch

Found a similar process when searching for this one:

5 Step Apprenticeship Tool found in the book Hero Maker by Dave Ferguson and Warren Bird.

https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2018/march-web-exclusives/5-steps-for-disciple-multiplication.html

https://exponential.org/hero-maker-3-disciple-multiplier/

This one is slightly different:

1. I do. You watch. We talk.

2. I do. You help. We talk.

3. You do. I help. We talk

4. You do. I watch. We talk.

5. You do. Someone else watches. (Multiplication)

In both scenarios - the emphasis is set firmly on teaching, passing down information, mentoring if you will.

// 3 ANOTHER LEARNING STRATEGY

But let’s look at another strategy - less formal than the two above - by probably used more as we move into adulthood:

Why?

• The first strategies we looked at are highly dependent on another person

• They are very formal, and require the other person to be closely tied to your learning curve

• There is a lot of interaction, and both persons need to be involved in order for it to work

But this strategy is a bit more personal - more of an Individual Growth Strategy of sorts and goes something like this:

1. They do something. You watch

2. You copy what they did (to see if you have the ability)

3. You innovate on what they did (make it your own)

4. Someone watches you do your thing (Multiplication)

See the difference? 

• In this scenario - you aren’t dependent on another person being so closely involved

• In fact they may never even know they have inspired you, or that you learned from them 

• You simply watch something take place

• Then you try to do it yourself

• At first this is complete copying - trying to do the exact thing the other person does. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"

• And in that process of trying to do what they do, you begin to get comfortable with the behavior, and begin to improvise, innovate, adjust

• Adding your personality into the mix - making it your own

• And when you have perfected this version of it - another person will undoubtedly see you and start trying to do what you do

Examples: 

• Writers:

  • People who write do this all the time

  • They typically read a lot

  • They find an author or genre they love

  • They try writing similar stuff - but innovate on it to stand out

• Athletes:

  • A young athlete watches a pro player and is fascinated by their skills/moves

  • Practices them over and over - copying what they did

  • Winds up learning to do that move - but with a new twist

// 4 LEARNING ISN’T JUST FOR YOU

So a HUGE part of Transcend Human is doing the research and brain damage necessary to understand the difference between right and wrong, which leads to choosing ahead of time to do the right thing, which leads to living a life that is headed in the right direction…

An important element this search for truth is the ability to self analyze… Asking yourself, "Why do I do the things I do?”

This is the first step in developing a solid self awareness.

• Humans are capable of complex thought - the ability to think about and analyze our behavior. In fact - we can “think about our thinking.”

• Now let that sink in for a minute… This is one of the most powerful abilities we have as humans. It’s what allows us to learn, change behavior, choose from a set of options, and to make decisions before we actually need to.

• Without this ability - there would be no Transcend Human

So why is becoming a “lifelong learner” important?

Transcend Human suggests there are at least two reasons:

• For You: First, you are growing as a person. Learning. Finding purpose and meaning. Living up to your potential. Choosing not to squander the talents and abilities you were born with.

• For Others: But second, and possibly more important, you’re doing it for others. When you think about it - if we’re only learning things to make us better, and to bring benefit to ourselves, how short sighted is that? How narcissistic? How selfish? But when we learn new things, and develop new talents that benefit those around us - we have truly started to Transcend Human.

So let’s land the plane:

This week - I want you to take an inventory of your life by asking these questions:

• When was the last time I learned something new?

• Was it a one-off? Or did it get me one step closer to a larger goal?

• Was it something only for me? Or did it benefit others?

• If it’s been a while, what could I learn this week? Or in the near future?

• And what would it take for me to learn this new thing?

• Is there a mentor I could enlist to help me?

• Is there someone I admire that I could copy for a while until I’m able to innovate and make it my own?

I encourage you to develop a plan and make it happen!

Next time we’re going to dive into a fun discussion on 10 things that force us to confront Transcend Human in our own lives.

Until then - keep Transcending Human!