Episode 12: Lifelong Learning

/

In this episode of I Do, We Do, we discuss lifelong learning. Learning didn't stop for us when we walked across the stage for our high school diplomas, bachelor's degree, or master's degree. Learning is a key value of ours as a couple. To grow together, we constantly challenge ourselves, to grow more, and to learn more.

In this episode of I Do, We Do, we discuss lifelong learning. Learning didn’t stop for us when we walked across the stage for our high school diplomas, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree. Learning is a key value of ours as a couple. To grow together, we constantly challenge ourselves, to grow more, and to learn more. It takes an investment in time and financial resources. In this episode, we discuss our favorite ways to learn including  conferences, seminars, books, podcast, blogs, coaches, mentors, and self-reflection.

Be sure to Subscribe on iTunes!

What We Talked About in this Episode:

  • We discuss our shared value for lifelong learning

  • Learning doesn't end with formal education (like school)

  • Lifelong learning can look like:

    • formal education

    • courses, conferences, seminars

    • books, podcasts, blogs

    • coaches, mentors, self-reflection

  • Billy’s best learning has come from the things he has chosen to learn, not from things he was told he needed to learn

  • We discuss how you can learn from books

    • Every year, Billy sets a goal to read a book a week (only achieves some years)

    • Billy believes in reading things that make you more of an expert, for him that is leadership development books

    • Billy repeats some books because “repetition is the motor of learning”

    • Some of those books are

      • As a Man Thinketh, James Allen

      • Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni

      • Mindset, Carol Dweck

  • We discuss how you can learn from other people

    • “You’ll be successful because of the books your read and the people you meet.”

    • Billy’s greatest mentor and coach has been his Dad

    • You can learn about people through observations

    • Billy has learned a lot through Ashley as well, in particular, empathy

    • We’re better together because we teach other how to be better through the things we are individually passionate about

  • We discuss our experiences learning through conferences & trainings

    • In our most recent trip to Boston, we were in a training for facilitators of the New Politics Answering the Call

      • We learned new thoughts on facilitating

      • We are excited to learn more through the participants

    • Billy recently attending the National Speakers Association Conference

      • Billy learned best practices from other speakers

      • Billy was inspired by the other 2,000 attendees

    • Ashley is attending a conference this week

      • Ashley walks away with entire notebooks of notes

      • Ashley learns from the presenters, and alongside the other attendees

      • and Ashley is excited to present this year!

  • We discuss how learning is a commitment

    • Every organization should invest in their people, because that is how the organization grows

    • If your organization isn’t investing you, that doesn't mean you cannot invest in yourself

    • you should always be investing in yourself

    • It is the only invest in your life that you are guaranteed a return

    • Ashley earned her MBA as an employee of the school, but continued to make the financial investment when she changed jobs even without her employer’s support

  • We discuss how Ashley chooses to learn through podcasts

    • Ashley plays podcast at her office nearly all day

    • Ashley has learned alot from Jenna Kutcher’s Goal Digger podcast

    • It’s a great way to get more intimate with the content

    • Can learn in a more passive way to learn than reading

    • You can learn from people who may never be able to meet

    • and it is affordable!!

  • We discuss how you can learn through reflection

    • Reflection is taking the time to think back on past experiences and past activities

    • If you didn’t learn in the moment, you can

    • Ashley uses her bullet journal for reflection

    • Journal prompts can be immensely helpful for guiding this

    • Billy encourages clients to ask:

      • What is right in my life?

      • What is wrong in my life?

      • What is missing in my life

    • Reflection needs to be done in a quiet time

  • We discuss our favorite ways to learn

    • For Ashley it is conferences, podcasts, and reflection

    • For Billy it is conferences, coaching, and books