Life long learning

I get to meet many people who say they are ‘life long learners’. Yet upon closer inspection they are not really exercising their muscle between the ears. I find most people in the quandary of ‘doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result’.

I have a view that someone has done what I want to do. So I want to find them and learn from them. It might come in the form of a book, a seminar, a podcast, a blog, an article, a report, a webinar, a phone call or a meeting. I don’t care where the person is I want to find them and learn from them.

When I was 17 (44 now) my father was subscribing to marketing newsletters and ‘audio tapes’ from Paul Dunn & Chris Newton or Results Corporation fame. I snapped them up and self taught business and marketing. Since then I have devoured hundreds of manuals, tapes, CD’s, DVD’s, seminar notes from educators from around the world. I attend around 10 seminars a year right now of all different types.

When I was 18 I was hitchhiking from Brisbane to Dubbo (about 1200 kms) and I was picked up by a horse trainer in a run down car. In the middle of the night he said I had to go out and buy the book ‘Think & Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. As soon as we arrived I bought it that day. Since then I have absorbed over 500 business or personal development books. I have 20 in my ‘to read’ pile and just ordered another 5 today.

I remember when I went to the USA to meet (now friend) Alan Weiss. He was heralded as the guru of Value Pricing. So I hopped on a plane, attended his 5 day course and learned from the master. When I got home I send Alan a note with my credit card details and said ‘send me every product you have’. A week or so later a large box arrives with CD’s, DVD’s, Books, Manuals etc. I now have over 140 hours of this material on my devices.

I left school when I was 16. Formal learning in a country town was not my thing. I am self taught with the battle scars of business as I implement what I learn. Along the way I have even invented some of my own ideas!

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