Articles

Sunday, 16 June 2013 03:36

What Have You Learned Lately? Featured

Written by
Rate this item
(0 votes)

What Have You Learned Lately?

The other day I attended a half day program where seven presenters — all with high level positions in the IT (Information Technology) field — gave us their “take” on career opportunities. Even though each focused on their own area of expertise and how they had reached their positions, each of the seven stressed that the two most important qualities considered when hiring and promoting were interpersonal skills and continual learning. Of course, you say, with technology moving and changing so quickly, keeping up with learning is a given. But I say to you, that to succeed in any endeavor and/or career, we must be learning constantly. And there are so many ways to learn on a daily basis. Let me count the ways!

Read, read, and read some more! It is amazing to me the number of people who haven’t read a book since they earned a degree and graduated from college. They read the paper and an occasional magazine, but who has time to read? Not only should we keep ahead in our own area of telling and stories — are you up-to-date in your type or genre of storytelling? If not, I can guarantee that one of the members of your audience will be — we should also read other types of stories, even if we don’t plan to tell them, and choose completely different kinds of books.

For example, one of my favorite speakers, Lou Heckler, was recently extolling the virtues of Stephen King’s book On Writing:A Memoir of the Craft and suggesting that if we substitute the word “speaker” for “writer” and “speaking” for “writing” we would learn a plethora of ways to become a more effective speaker. I suggest we substitute the word “storyteller” and “storytelling.” You’ll be amazed how what King writes fits for us. Besides books, there are so many enlightening articles on the Internet. I know that I use a lot of paper, but when I find an article loaded with excellent information, I will print it out and slip it into my briefcase. Then when I’m waiting in line at the bank or post office or for appointment, I pull out one of those articles and learn something rather than fuming about waiting so long. I suggest that you set aside at least an hour a day just for reading and a goal to read at least one book a week. Before you know it, you will be reading two or three a week.

Attend informational meetings, programs, concerts, seminars, and workshops. Again, you may explain that you don’t have the time and/or the money to spend. I say you can’t afford not to. Oftentimes, when I attend a seminar or workshop, I hear a lot of information that I’m already familiar with, but I still attend with the belief that I will gain something — some new idea for a story or possibly an old idea with a new twist, a new perspective. And, I can honestly say, I always come away with something learned. It may even be some interactive technique to embrace or avoid when I am telling. I have read that when the senior Bill Marriott of Marriott Hotel fame attended programs he would have a pen in each hand. With his right hand he would take notes. And with his left hand he would write the ideas that were popping into his head because of some point that was being made by the speaker. He was always in the learning mode. I also suggest broadening your base by attending programs outside of your primary field of interest.

Become an audio tape fanatic. If I had to pick the single most compelling influence on my career path and learning, I would have to thank the hundreds and hundreds of tapes I have listened to — in the car, while doing chores, and in preparation for a speaking engagement or other important activity. Yes, I have spent quite a bit of money on tapes, because I like to hear them over and over again, but libraries usually have a great selection on just about any self-improvement topic, how tos in practically every area imaginable, and informational on trends, politics, finances — you name it. Just like the articles fill the time when I am waiting, the tapes fill driving time, especially if the traffic is heavy, or I have a long trip to take. And I do suggest listening to a tape more than once, because you will be amazed at the amount of information that you will miss during the first, second, and even third listening. Listen to other tellers on tapes, but don’t try to mimic them. Focus on what you can learn from them.

Sign up to take a class. Every community and school system offer some sort of continuing education in the evenings and/or on weekends. These can be well worth the small amount they usually cost, both from a stimulating and networking aspect. I had a wonderful time taking a class in drumming, and now use what I learned while I am telling. I have also discovered on-line classes in just about any topic you can imagine. I have been taking many technology classes for the past two years, and especially enjoy the interaction with students from all over the world who are at different skill levels. I recently took a fiction writing course, which was a welcome change from the intensity of computer classes, and finished a story that I had been playing around with for ages. At http://www.worldwidelearn.com you will find a directory of on-line courses in almost any subject you can think of.

Write down daily what you have learned. I remember hearing the late Leo Buscaglia say that every night at dinner his father would ask all of the children in the family to tell about what they had learned that day. If we know we are planning to write down something we’ve learned, we will make sure that we are learning daily. What have you learned today?

Remember that learning is not only good for you, it is also FUN! And it will definitely enhance and enrich your life and your storytelling.


If you would like to try an issue of our FREE eclectic e-newsletter, Portfolio Potpourri, sign up by clicking This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and hitting SEND. Just for trying it, you will receive "10 Tips of Ways to Develop Your Personal and Professional STYLE." We never sell names and/or e-mail addresses, and if you ever wish to "opt-out" that's never a problem. Contact Chris King at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or at: P.O. Box 221255 Beachwood, Ohio 44122 Phone: (216) 991-8428


Click here to return to the index of Articles


Read 1648 times Last modified on Sunday, 14 November 2021 20:30

Comments powered by CComment

Latest Posts

  • Sakshi
    I have been in a state of ‘emotional unwell-being’ for seven years. There, I’ve said it. Why? Well, after my father died, I believed that if I reached out with love to ‘good friends’, counsellors, suitors, and relatives, there could be pockets of joy to offset my grief and loneliness,…
  • The Creative Industry Needs to Look at Things Differently Post Budget 2022
    On 29 October 2021, the Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz tabled Budget 2022 in the Malaysian parliament. RM50 million has been allocated for the arts and culture industry. This comes after a year and a half after the entire industry came to an absolute standstill. With…
  • ‘The Covid Positives’ – life lessons learnt from the pandemic by Phanindra Ivatury
    After a long drawn battle with the biggest catastrophe in our living memory, global humanity is finally getting to see some quintessential ray of light at the end of the treacherous tunnel in the form of COVID-19 vaccines, currently being rolled out to all parts of the globe. A ‘COVID-19…
  • Chaos of Whole Books
    Is it possible to read several books at once? Aneeta Sundararaj finds out. When I was a child, my cousin used to boast that he could read four storybooks at a time. As an adult, when he invested in an e-Reader, he continued to boast that he could…
  • Writing for You? Or for Me?
    Writing for You? Or for Me? ‘You must always write with your reader in mind.’ This was one of the first pieces of advice that I received when I began my writing career. Honestly, I found this extremely hard to do because more often than not, I couldn’t picture my…