Learning is a Continuous Process - Are you Learning?



Introduction



Most of you will agree with me, if I say, "Learning is a Continuous Process" but most of you will come forward to chop my head off, if I say that, "Many of us don't learn". Well, that is the truth. As per the survey done by Virgin Management Consultancy 83% of people stop learning after acquiring Post Graduation or any Degree Higher than that and 91.5% of people stop learning after getting a work experience of five years. (Sample size : 53,672 people. Survey Done in Seven Major Cities in India, Asian Countries, USA, UK, Germany and Australia).



For the purpose of this article, we need to redefine the term "Learning". Reading Newspapers, Magazines, Listening News, Acquiring Degrees is not Learning. So, what does learning consist of:



Application of theory

Application of reading

Maturity in thinking and decision making

Learning from Mistakes (Not Repeating the Mistakes)

Learning from experience (Others and Yours)




These things consist of learning. If you are doing any of these things, then you can be called as a "Learned Person".



You can read the complete article at : <link outdated-removed>



Look at the following incidents




How often do you hear, your parents or your elders telling you, "I have seen the world, I don't need to learn from you"?

How often do you see in your office or in professional circles where your boss and your seniors say, "The very fact that I am your boss is a proof that I am learned. I don't have to learn from you"?

Sometimes we see something on Television, Movies and even in our neighbourhood and we exclaim, "wow, such a wonderful person, doing such a great thing" but when it comes to application or learning from that incident, we just ignore.

Sometimes we say something but don't apply.

Two people might be doing same thing in a same manner but when I am doing something, it is right but if some one is doing the same thing, he is wrong.



These are the enough proofs that we don't learn.



Positive and Negative Learning



Learning can be positive and negative. If we see something wrong and we adept it, that is called negative learning and if we see something good and practice it, that is called as positive learning. Let me share one story with you, which I read in one magazine.



"There were two brothers. One was nice, doing very well in life and career. He was respected in the society and usually appreciated by friends and people around him. His family was very caring and supportive.



On the other hand, his brother, who was also living in the same colony but was not doing very well in life. He was alcoholic, drug addict, sleep around with other females. He use to beat his wife and children and use to fight with almost everyone.

One day few people of the colony thought of asking these two brothers that though you are born to same parents, how you are poles apart in your behaviour and attitude. They asked the "bad brother" and he replied, "When I was kid, my father was alcoholic, use to beat us, use to sleep around with other ladies. So, of course, I am his son and hence like this. How you can expect me to be good?" Then these people asked the other brother...the "Good Brother". He said, "When I was kid, my father was alcoholic, use to beat us, use to sleep around with other ladies. But, I thought and decided that I will not do to my family what he did to us".



So, you see learning can be positive as well as negative. It is up to you. What you want to learn? That reminds me that as the culture is changing in India. People are become more open in their attitude, having multiple relations is not an issue, one night stand, partying, boozing...having luxuries lifestyle is not new and we here the elders that his generation is becoming western. Why? Why we are taking bad things from their culture? Are they having bad qualities only? Why we are not learning positive things? Those people are more systematic, more process oriented, less corrupt, more practical, more straight forward...why cannot we learn those things?



You can read the complete article at : <link outdated-removed>



Conclusion



You have 25 years of experience; You have N number of degrees; You are working as a CEO in one company; are these reasons big enough to call you as a "Learned Person". No age, No experience, No designation is big enough to stop you from learning. One is expected to learn not only everyday but every moment of each day. The day you stop learning is the day you stop living. You can learn from your past experiences; from people around you; from nature; from all small-small things that happens around you. Your learning shows in your behaviour; your thinking; your reaction to a particular situation; the way you treat your fellow human being.

Just see, if you are still learning or you have stopped learning? Are you a learned person?



Looking forward to your comments and feedback With lots of care and affection



Sanjeev Sharma

Blog: http://sanjeevhimachali.blogspot.com

E-mail: ;

From India, Mumbai
Hi Sanjeev,
Thanks for a nice posting. The moment someone stop learning they have become as good as dead wood. All great leaders, from politician to corporate heads, they have the habit of reading and always have time for reading for something to learn.
Nehru, Indira Gandhi,..... our president Dr.Kalam , have enough time for reading and always makes it habit to read before they go to sleep for the day. They always keep their ears wide open for learning something new and enriched themselves in prusuit of life.
Thanks once again for reminding us and its a great learning experience.
Cheers !!!
Baskaran

From India, Hyderabad
hi...dear.
Infact i will appreciate your idea, even i know that there is 85% given to learning behaviour and rest 15% weightage would be given to technical knowledge..
keep posting
regards,
Mayur Dodiya


Dear Enzo, Baskaran, Mayur...thanks for nice words.
Well, I also know many people who have stopped learning. They think that they are expert and know everything. They have ready excuses to not to learn. I know one thing...you can live as long as you have zeal to live and purpose in life; you can learn as long as you want to. Learning is not about reading books, magazines or newspapers but implementing the lessons that you have learned...in your particle life. Its all about application.
You have a great day and take care.
Keep Smiling. Keep Growing. Keep loving. Keep Learning.
Sanjeev Sharma

From India, Mumbai
Hi......dear
Thanks for sending such an inspiring post. Its true that when a person is getting experience or somewhat knowledge, he is thinking that he has achieved the maximum and no one else could now tell him or make him learn futher.
Here I would like to add a quote "A person becomes old when he stops learning, whether he is 20 or 80".
So never, ever think that you have achieved the maximum and can't be taught more as world, the environment, techniques & technology and all other things never remain constant. So if you will become constant then you will be just like "water in a pond which stays there for years".
Regards
Khalid

From Pakistan, Lahore
hi Sanjeev,
I am in full agreement with the contents of the article you have posted, especially about us Indians learning the negatives about the western society. We very convienetly decide what is right and what is wrong depending upon what suits our requirements.
I think we need to pay heed to what this article is trying to deliver to us.
Thanks for the same. It was a pleasure to read it.
Take care
Bhavna

From India, New Delhi
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