Does learning stop when you leave school?  Do you have to go to school to learn?  Can you get to a point where you have learned everything you need to know?  Is it possible to learn from people who know less than you?  Is intelligence a prerequisite for effective learning?

Learning doesn't start when you enter school, nor should it stop when you leave.  From the moment you are born, your mind is thirsty for information.  Your brain is a sponge for knowledge.  Babies learn how to walk without taking lessons.  Infants learn what behavior is most effective in getting them what they want.  Children quickly become experts at getting attention.

Whether you are aware of it or not, your mind has an insatiable appetite for knowledge.  Some people have a tendency, as they get older, to ignore or inhibit their brain's desire to learn.  They smother their sense of curiosity.  Watch children exploring their world.  They constantly ask questions seeking to learn "why" and "how."

Although you study specific subjects in school, its real value is in teaching you that you are capable of learning anything you want to.  Regardless of your level of education, school is just the beginning of a lifetime of learning.  For that reason, graduation is called commencement, not conclusion.

Learning should never cease.  You don't have to take classes to learn.  There are so many ways to get any type of knowledge you want.  One simple, effective way of gaining information is to ask questions and listen to the answers.

But you must be discriminating in selecting people to question.  Virtually anyone will respond to an inquiry.  You want to seek out those who are knowledgeable in the specific areas you are interested in.  Wrong information is worse than no information, and can be more destructive.

However, you can learn even from people with less knowledge than you.  Through observing others, you will discover what works and what doesn't.  It's much more effective, and far less painful, to learn from other people's mistakes rather than your own.
The internet is a truly remarkable learning tool.  On the internet, you can find answers to virtually any topic.  There is information on practically any topic.  Once again you must be cautious.  Be certain of the credibility of the source before depending on any information you find.

As adolescents, we think we have the world figured out.  Everything seems so clear.  When we get older and more experienced, we start to realize how much we don't know.  This is all the more reason to make sure learning never stops.

Some people, after many years of formal education and years of experience, conclude that they know everything there is to know.  Such reasoning is foolish.  Regardless of one's level of expertise, there is always more to learn.

Intelligence is erroneously linked to the ability to learn.  Rather than being a quantitative measure, intelligence is the ability to function and adapt.  There are people with high IQ's that have no capacity to interact with people.  Then there are those who never graduated high school but can learn a skill from reading a book or watching someone.

So, if you have been told you lack intelligence, or if you have a low opinion of your intelligence, pay no attention.  Intelligence is at best subjective and usually a meaningless measure of anything.  

Learning should be a life long pursuit.  Set a goal of learning something new on a regular basis.  Ask, listen, read, and observe.  You will be amazed at how much your knowledge will grow.

NOW AVAILABLE:  "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book.  Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or write him c/o this paper.  2008 Bryan Golden

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