Dr. Zimmerman's TUESDAY TIP:
This week's Tuesday Tip was buried in my email and I ran across it during my 'quiet time' in the office over break. It hit home for me and I will attempt to be a more consistent ACTOR versus a REACTOR during 2009. Mr. Godwin stated it best when he said, "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time."
I hope you're able to pull something from Dr. Zimmerman's advice and wisdom to help you during 2009!
He who laughs, lasts...and after reading this week's tip, that statement is research supported!
DB
"Do not listen to those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious."
Og Mandino, author
What Dr. Alan Zimmerman Has To Say:
A 92-year old, petite, well-poised and proud man was fully dressed each morning by 8:00 a.m. His hair was always neatly combed and his face clean shaven ... even though he was legally blind.
But today was to be a different day. He was moving to a nursing home because his wife of 70 years had just passed away, and he could no longer live by himself.
After a couple of hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, the nurse provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet curtains that had been hung on his window.
"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of a young child who had just been given a special birthday present.
"Mr. Godwin, you haven't seen the room. Just wait." responded the nurse.
"That hasn't got anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged. It's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it."
The old man continued, "It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as I'm alive, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away ... for this time in my life."
What wisdom! Mr. Godwin had learned one of the great secrets of life ... and that is ... your success and happiness are not determined by the things that happen to you ... good or bad. Your success and happiness are determined by the way you respond to the things that happen.
It's what I call being "an actor versus a reactor." It's a concept and skill that I teach in my program on the "Journey To The Extraordinary." And those who learn this technique experience great power in their lives ... emotionally, relationally, financially, and sometimes even physically.
Kip Little is one such example. Her story was told in the magazine, "Psychology Today." Kip was supposed to die twenty years ago. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was stunned. "I spent my lunch hours working out. I ate good things. I was a health nut," said Little. She was a former high-school counselor and physical education teacher in Toronto and wondered, "How could this happen to me?"
Following her mastectomy, a chance encounter led Little to a psychologist at the Ontario Cancer Institute. Working with him and other breast cancer patients, she transformed her life. Together they met weekly to learn how to be an actor instead of a reactor ... in spite of her initial feelings of grief, depression, pain and fear.
The program was a lifesaver for her. Little said, "It was the skills I learned that got me through -- and continue to get me through."
When her cancer returned in 1990, a physician gave her only three months to live. She rejected further physical treatment and instead intensified her practice of those activities that would heal her mental state. And today she's cancer-free.
Dr. Alastair Cunningham, the psychologist who treated Kip Little, has spent years studying the power of being an actor versus a reactor. In one study of 22 patients with various kinds of supposedly incurable cancer, he asked experts to predict each patient's life span. And then Cunningham and his team painstakingly gathered data on each participant's attitudes and behaviors as they participated in an intervention along the lines of Kip's treatment.
The result? Cunningham found that patients like Kip Little ... the people who worked the hardest at transforming themselves psychologically ... lived at least three times longer than predicted. Those who didn't do much died right on schedule.
"It makes sense to me that the people who live longer are those who make substantial psychological changes," says Cunningham. "Of course, only a few do that."
What about you? How do you respond to bad news or these tough times? After all, the economy is ailing. Many of our companies and governmental structures are floundering. And there's not much you can do about those things.
Oh sure, you can be a REACTOR and get yourself all worried and panicky. But that will do you no good whatsoever.
Or you can learn to be an ACTOR. You can be like Mr. Godwin or Kip Little. You can refuse to get negative. You can choose to focus on your attitude and your response ... making it as positive, powerful, and productive as possible.
You can start by taking these five simple steps on the road to being an ACTOR.
* Free your heart from hatred.
* Free your mind from worry.
* Live simply.
* Give more, and
* Take time to express gratitude.
And if you want a life-changing experience that will assuredly give you more success and happiness, that will teach you all the ways of becoming an ACTOR, come to the "Journey To The Extraordinary" experience in Orlando on February 5-6, 2009.
To learn more about the Journey, go to http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=1342066&s=19269800
Action:
When and where do you typically REACT or OVERREACT? Be aware of those situations. Write them down. And then write down how you would ideally like to respond in those situations. It will help you become more of an actor.
Make it a great week!
Dr. Alan Zimmerman
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
December 19, 2008
'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the school
Not a pupil was silent, no matter what rule.
The children were pretending with books and with reading;
The knowledge that they learned would it soon be fleeting?
The teachers half frantic and almost in tears,
Had just settled down to work with her dears,
When out in the hall there arose such a clatter
up sprang the kids to see what was the matter!
Away to the door they all flew like a flash;
The one who was leading went down with a crash.
Then what to their wondering eyes did appear
But a crazy media para! (To sing to us I fear!)
When the teachers saw this, they tried to close doors.
To no avail as Jan had nailed them to the floors.
She ran to each door (trying to have others join her in song)
And she shouted, and stamped, and she sang hard and long;
"Sing Mark! Sing Michelle, Now Nita and Holly!
Stop Pat! Stop Sandra! You’re off key & not jolly!
Now get to your places get out to the hall
Don’t get away! Or run away! I’ll sing to you all!
As snow that before the wild winds let fly
The pupils, pell mell, started scurrying by.
They ran to the doors and sprinted down the aisle;
Their faces were green and each lost their smile.
First came a siren of police to our call.
Then came the Firemen to save us all.
As Jan was running around, there arose a great shout;
The pupils were screaming “please let us out.”
The state they were in could lead to a riot;
The teacher was sure, if allowed, they would try it.
Barry’s nerves how they jangled! His temples were throbbing!
The rush of his breath sounded almost like sobbing!
The ears on his head were shaking and ringing;
It was plain that he didn't appreciate the singing.
The look in his eye would have tamed a wild steer,
But Jan ignored it; she just always did with no fear.
A tear from his eye and a shake of his head
Soon led those to think that he wished he were dead.
He spoke not a word but went straight to his phone,
Called the sup and let out a terrible moan.
But at last Jan was finished and she ended her song with glee;
Then came the bell and the children & teachers were free.
Her shrill little voice soon faded away
And peace was restored at the end of the day.
As Barry looked at the up and down the completely empty hall,
He smiled as he whispered,
"Merry Christmas to All
Not a pupil was silent, no matter what rule.
The children were pretending with books and with reading;
The knowledge that they learned would it soon be fleeting?
The teachers half frantic and almost in tears,
Had just settled down to work with her dears,
When out in the hall there arose such a clatter
up sprang the kids to see what was the matter!
Away to the door they all flew like a flash;
The one who was leading went down with a crash.
Then what to their wondering eyes did appear
But a crazy media para! (To sing to us I fear!)
When the teachers saw this, they tried to close doors.
To no avail as Jan had nailed them to the floors.
She ran to each door (trying to have others join her in song)
And she shouted, and stamped, and she sang hard and long;
"Sing Mark! Sing Michelle, Now Nita and Holly!
Stop Pat! Stop Sandra! You’re off key & not jolly!
Now get to your places get out to the hall
Don’t get away! Or run away! I’ll sing to you all!
As snow that before the wild winds let fly
The pupils, pell mell, started scurrying by.
They ran to the doors and sprinted down the aisle;
Their faces were green and each lost their smile.
First came a siren of police to our call.
Then came the Firemen to save us all.
As Jan was running around, there arose a great shout;
The pupils were screaming “please let us out.”
The state they were in could lead to a riot;
The teacher was sure, if allowed, they would try it.
Barry’s nerves how they jangled! His temples were throbbing!
The rush of his breath sounded almost like sobbing!
The ears on his head were shaking and ringing;
It was plain that he didn't appreciate the singing.
The look in his eye would have tamed a wild steer,
But Jan ignored it; she just always did with no fear.
A tear from his eye and a shake of his head
Soon led those to think that he wished he were dead.
He spoke not a word but went straight to his phone,
Called the sup and let out a terrible moan.
But at last Jan was finished and she ended her song with glee;
Then came the bell and the children & teachers were free.
Her shrill little voice soon faded away
And peace was restored at the end of the day.
As Barry looked at the up and down the completely empty hall,
He smiled as he whispered,
"Merry Christmas to All
and to all a good break!"
He who laughs, lasts
DB
DB
Grades
Grades are due Monday, January 5th, but you may start submitting 2nd quarter grades anytime today or tomorrow. The 4th-12th grades plan on sending out grades on Wednesday, January 7th.
Summer PLC Institute
An email went out a week ago about this summer's PLC institute in St. Louis in early June. I have had two teachers talk to me about it. Please speak with me sooner than later! :)
January dates to note:
Jan 5 - School resumes; Monday Assembly; Team meetings
Jan 7 - Two hour early out (Building Level PLC); Teacher Quality Meeting (4pm)
Jan 13 - After School Math
Jan 14 - Two hour early out (Building Level PLC)
Jan 15 - Jim Lippold of Skills Iowa here in the morning (schedule to come)
Jan 21 - Two hour early out (Building Level PLC)
Friday, December 12, 2008
December 12th, 2008
Thank you to everyone involved in setting up our Christmas Party!
Once again, it was much fun and nice to share some laughs and cheers.
Thank you for the Tiger clock and gift certifcate! Appreciated much!
Next Week - Please, please, please...communicate with the office any changes in schedule for your classroom or grade level next week. With all that is going on before break, it is important to let each other know when and where things are happening. At this point, due to semester tests, the minisingers will not be coming. Mr. Gilbert and I will continue to work out something as we know our kids (and staff) love having them perform at Washington! Finally, please make every minute count next week - there are lots of ways to tie in the holiday season into reading and math so make sure activities (outside of the parties themselves!) are curriculum and outcome driven.
Essential Outcomes – Teams should review their math essential outcomes for 1st and 2nd quarter and update/review your reading essential outcomes before Christmas break. Please have one team member email those to me prior to break.
2nd Semester PLC – During today's administration meeting, we hope to finalize the schedule for 2nd semester's early outs/PLC time. I appreciate the feedback I received from some teachers and would continue to be open to input as we move through the 2nd semester. PLCs should drive our work and just as it was 1st semester, the schedule is flexible in order to meet student learning needs.
1st Semester Wrap-up – I want to thank you for your hard work this 1st semester. We accomplished much and I am already seeing your hard work during PLC and curriculum time pay off. As I told the parents last night, I truly believe we will see positive results come spring.
Parent Advisory – Our 2nd Parent Advisory meeting was held last night. We had four parents in attendance. Small in numbers compared to the first meeting but we had some good discussion, especially about our math initiatives and textbook adoption process. I have posted a link on our website for parents and staff to access minutes of the meetings (located under Parent Resources). Last nights minutes are not posted yet, but will be soon.
One More Week - These past two days have been somewhat trying in the "behavior" and "on-task" department (students...not teachers, I hope!). Thank you for your continued patience with our students but your consistency with our beliefs at Washington! Your continued high expectations of students all the way through the end of this coming week are important and I thank you in advance. As I wrote last week, I appreciate your dedication and determination in dealing with inappropriate behaviors and comments from students uneasy about the approaching holidays. May the break give you time to count your blessings, share time with family and relax.
Coming up…
December
15 - Monday Assembly 2:45 pm (PTO Assembly first!), PLC Time; Regular Board Mtg, 6 pm
- Mr. Barry will be in Bedford CSD from 8am-2pm
16 - ICC Meeting (All day) – Barry attending with RO Team
- Rescheduled PWIM ICN Session 4:00-5:00 PM (Linn, Montgomery & Barry)
18 - 7th Grade Caroling at WIS, 2 PM (tentative)
- Washington Intermediate Christmas Parties (PM); SAT Meeting @ 3:15 pm
19 - Wow! Two week Christmas break begins at 1:10 for students and 2:30 pm for staff!
- Mrs. Montgomery delivers her sweet baby boy after school is out.
- (just checking if you're reading this far)
Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree.
In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.
~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas
He who laughs, lasts – DB
He who laughs, lasts – DB
Friday, December 5, 2008
December 5th, 2008
Essential Outcomes – (Next Monday) Teams should review their math essential outcomes for 1st and 2nd quarter and update/review your reading essential outcomes before Christmas break. Sandra & Sue T. may want to share the Literacy team’s progress with writing too. Other teachers should do the same with their content areas work/progress.
December 10th PLC – Next week’s PD time is devoted to curriculum again. The math team will be involved in a Saxon program presentation at IPS starting at 2:30 pm. I would like at least two teachers from each grade level in attendance (one in addition to Mark & Pat). Please see me if you’re interested. The elementary team felt it was important we have more than one teacher hear the information, ask questions and be involved in this process.
Website Training – Thank you for attending this week. I know the website training was “fast and furious” so if you have questions or if you get stuck, please let me know. I would like all teachers to get something onto their site and I will work with teams if you set up the time.
Parent Advisory – Our 2nd Parent Advisory meeting will be next Thursday, Dec 11th. Every staff member is welcome to join us too. Topics will include: update on early out/professional development, math intervention and achievement progress, After School Math program, winter testing schedule, Student Advisory update, technology update and plans. .
Thank You! - Thank you for your patience with our students this month! Although they may not act like it all the time, we have several students who would rather be at school over break than at home. At school, they are guaranteed two meals, a warm class-room, and adults who treat them with kindness & respect. I appreciate your dedication and determination in dealing with inappropriate behaviors and comments from students uneasy about the approaching holidays. May the break give you time to count your blessings, share time with family and relax.
Extra Online Tip – On the FWR blogsite, I have been adding Dr. Zimmerman’s weekly Tuesday tip for those who need an early week motivational boost. If you need an extra mid-week pick-me-up, it may be good to check the site and read his inspirational advice!
Coming up…
Websites of the Week
Repeat: A ton of useful & FREE educator templates to print or to ‘post’ on white board/Smart Board
http://www.educatortemplates.com/
Noneducational site, but one of my favorites now is Pandora.com. Free online, customized radio!http://www.pandora.com/
He who laughs, lasts – DB
December 10th PLC – Next week’s PD time is devoted to curriculum again. The math team will be involved in a Saxon program presentation at IPS starting at 2:30 pm. I would like at least two teachers from each grade level in attendance (one in addition to Mark & Pat). Please see me if you’re interested. The elementary team felt it was important we have more than one teacher hear the information, ask questions and be involved in this process.
Website Training – Thank you for attending this week. I know the website training was “fast and furious” so if you have questions or if you get stuck, please let me know. I would like all teachers to get something onto their site and I will work with teams if you set up the time.
Parent Advisory – Our 2nd Parent Advisory meeting will be next Thursday, Dec 11th. Every staff member is welcome to join us too. Topics will include: update on early out/professional development, math intervention and achievement progress, After School Math program, winter testing schedule, Student Advisory update, technology update and plans. .
Thank You! - Thank you for your patience with our students this month! Although they may not act like it all the time, we have several students who would rather be at school over break than at home. At school, they are guaranteed two meals, a warm class-room, and adults who treat them with kindness & respect. I appreciate your dedication and determination in dealing with inappropriate behaviors and comments from students uneasy about the approaching holidays. May the break give you time to count your blessings, share time with family and relax.
Extra Online Tip – On the FWR blogsite, I have been adding Dr. Zimmerman’s weekly Tuesday tip for those who need an early week motivational boost. If you need an extra mid-week pick-me-up, it may be good to check the site and read his inspirational advice!
Coming up…
December
5 - WIS Christmas Party, 6 PM @ RO Country Club
8 - Monday Assembly 2:55 pm, PLC Time
9 - PWIM ICN Session 4:00-5:00 PM (Linn, Montgomery & Barry)
10 - Early Dismissal/Curriculum PLC Time
11 - School Board Budget meeting, 4 pm, Webster; Parent Advisory @ WIS, 7 pm
15 - Monday Assembly 2:55 pm, PLC Time; Regular Board Mtg, 6 pm
16 - ICC Meeting (All day) – Barry attending with RO Team
18 - Washington Intermediate Christmas Parties (PM); SAT Meeting @ 3:15 pm
19 - Wow! Two week Christmas break begins at 1:10 for students and 2:30 pm for staff!
8 - Monday Assembly 2:55 pm, PLC Time
9 - PWIM ICN Session 4:00-5:00 PM (Linn, Montgomery & Barry)
10 - Early Dismissal/Curriculum PLC Time
11 - School Board Budget meeting, 4 pm, Webster; Parent Advisory @ WIS, 7 pm
15 - Monday Assembly 2:55 pm, PLC Time; Regular Board Mtg, 6 pm
16 - ICC Meeting (All day) – Barry attending with RO Team
18 - Washington Intermediate Christmas Parties (PM); SAT Meeting @ 3:15 pm
19 - Wow! Two week Christmas break begins at 1:10 for students and 2:30 pm for staff!
Websites of the Week
Repeat: A ton of useful & FREE educator templates to print or to ‘post’ on white board/Smart Board
http://www.educatortemplates.com/
Noneducational site, but one of my favorites now is Pandora.com. Free online, customized radio!http://www.pandora.com/
He who laughs, lasts – DB
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Dr. Z's Tuesday Tip - Dec 2, 2008
This week's Tuesday Tip has a lot to do about being a life-long learner. Something that all of us in education can appreciate. With yesterday's website training, it made me think about the continuous learning many of you have had to do over the past 5-10 years JUST to keep up with technology in education!! I love the quote toward the end of this week's tip: "Getting an idea should be like sitting down on a pin; it should make you jump up and do something."
How can we apply these messages to ensure that we are one of the nation's top 100 schools for learning and growing for students and adults?
He who laughs, lasts
DB
"Commit yourself to lifelong learning. The most valuable asset you'll ever have is your mind and what you put into it."
Brian Tracy, best-selling author
What Dr. Alan Zimmerman Has To Say:
The other day I was meeting with Bill Lee, one of the members of my master-mind group. He told me he had just seen his family doctor who is 77 years old ... and has chosen not to retire from his medical practice. In fact, his doctor said, "I find excitement in the challenge of keeping up with all the advancements in the medical field. I read trade journals, listen to audio CDs, watch DVDs, attend seminars, and spend a lot of time talking shop with my friends in the medical community. If you relax in this business, you'll become a dinosaur in no time."
The doctor is right. His challenge is also your challenge, my challenge, and everybody else's challenge. If you don't keep on learning new things, if you rely on yesterday's knowledge, you will become a dinosaur in any business. And you know what happens to dinosaurs. They disappear.
So I took a serious look at every wildly successful person I know. And I discovered one overwhelming fact that hit me right between the eyes. Every one of them is in to continual learning.
The last time I called my accountant, he told me about an exiting seminar he just attended in another city. It would revolutionize his practice. And when I met with my financial planner in Detroit last October, he talked about the hundreds of hours he spends going to seminars each year so he can keep up with all the ins and outs of the economy, the changing tax code, the home mortgage crisis, and the future of health care and retirement programs. I even found that my lawn service provider had gone to a seminar to learn how he could help his customers grow stronger, thicker, more resilient lawns. And so it goes.
When I speak to sales audiences, I find the same thing. The MOST successful salespeople are continually working on their people skills and product knowledge ... while the LEAST successful ones always have an excuse for their lack of success.
The same goes for companies. According to the publication, "The 100 Best Companies To Work For In America," the 100 best are making major investments in employee education. On the average they are lavishing 43 hours of training on each employee every year. As Dan Timm, a principal in the Edward Jones brokerage firm, puts it, "We consider training an investment rather than an expense."
So let's get personal. How can you apply the lessons of the most successful people and the most successful companies to you and your life and your career?
=> 1. Recognize the critical importance of continual learning.
Intuitively, you've got to know that your best chance for a promotion at your present company ... or any other company ... is additional education and training. You can't expect to do more ... and be given more in return ... if you don't know more.
Listen to Libby Sartain, a human resources executive. She says, "Today's success currently isn't about what you've achieved in the past; it's about your capacity to learn and grow in the immediate future."
=> 2. Give yourself a ruthless self-analysis.
Ask yourself a lot of tough questions. And don't fudge on the answers. Are you really learning more and more? Are you getting better and better? The way to find out is to ask yourself the following questions.
Some overall questions:
* Am I better off now -- and happier now -- than I was at this time last year?
* What goals did I reach? And which achievements gave me the greatest sense of satisfaction?
* What do I wish I'd done? What regrets do I have in the last 12 months?
* How have my relationships with my spouse, my children, and my friends changed in the last year?
* How well have I used my time?
Some work-and-money related questions:
* What progress have I made in my career?
* How have my relationships improved or deteriorated in the last year with:
My boss?
My employees/associates?
My customers/clients?
My suppliers/others?
* How does my financial portfolio look compared to last year?
If you've gotten better in most or all of these categories, I congratulate you. You're a learning, growing human being.
But if your answers reveal a lack of significant progress, don't get discouraged. It simply means you need to LEARN more. It means you've got to ...
=> 3. Invest in your continual learning.
If your company brings training on site, thank them ... profusely. If your company sends you to seminars, thank them ... again and again.
That's what Doris Dean did. She writes, "I am so thankful that the FBI brought you back for another one of your 'Journey To The Extraordinary' experiences. I've heard so many positive comments about your other programs at our facility, and I wanted my supervisory friends to experience your sessions as well. I tell people that you are my motivation guru and have shared your messages with co-workers as well as friends in business, education, and medicine ... as well as youngsters throughout my county. And I'm pleased to report that even the teens (a tough audience) are using your positive techniques!"
And if your company doesn't send you to seminars, ask them to send you. The very worst thing they can say is "no." And at the very least they will see you as a highly motivated employee who wants to move ahead.
You can't lose. In fact, many of the folks who attend my "Journey To The Extraordinary" experience simply asked their boss or company for permission to go and the financial support to make it happen. And they got a "yes" response.
But ... and this is important ... even if your company doesn't offer enough on-site training or support your off-site education, don't let that hold you back. You can't let somebody else's short sightedness be your excuse for failure. Invest some of your own time and money into continual learning if you have to. As Austin Phelps, the educator, said in the 1800's, "Wear the old coat and buy the new book."
Then, with your new found knowledge, like all successful people, you've got to ...
=> 4. Take action.
Learning is critical. It's one of the first steps to greater success. But it is not the only step. You've got to do something with your learning.
After all, what is more pathetic than an educated person sitting on his butt? As E. L. Simpson points out, "Getting an idea should be like sitting down on a pin; it should make you jump up and do something."
You've got to apply what you learn ... consciously ... consistently ... and courageously ... or your learning won't do you any good. You can't confuse taking a class with taking action on what you learned in the class.
Author Alfred A. Montapert said it well: "Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress."
Of course, you'll make a few mistakes when you apply your new knowledge. No problem. That's why the final step in continual learning is to ...
=> 5. Learn from your mistakes.
In fact, mistakes, setbacks, and negative feedback can be a blessing. When I'm teaching customer service, I tell the service reps to welcome complaints. After all, those complaining customers are giving them a free consulting service on how to get better.
That's why Jill Blashack Strahan, the founder of the gourmet foods company, Tastefully Simple, tells her colleagues, "We reserve the right to get smarter." No wonder they continue to be listed as one of the fastest growing companies in America. If they make any mistakes, they reserve the right to get smarter, and they do get smarter.
I would advise you to follow the advice of the great poet John Keats. He told us, "Don't be discouraged by a failure ... failure is, in a sense, the highway to success, inasmuch as every discovery of what is false leads us to seek earnestly after what is true, and every fresh experience points out some form of error which we shall afterwards carefully avoid."
Chances are ... you upgrade your computer on a regular basis. But the question is ... are you upgrading yourself on a regular basis?
Action:
Write out your continual education plan for the next 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. A written out plan dramatically increases the chances that you will actually follow it.
How can we apply these messages to ensure that we are one of the nation's top 100 schools for learning and growing for students and adults?
He who laughs, lasts
DB
"Commit yourself to lifelong learning. The most valuable asset you'll ever have is your mind and what you put into it."
Brian Tracy, best-selling author
What Dr. Alan Zimmerman Has To Say:
The other day I was meeting with Bill Lee, one of the members of my master-mind group. He told me he had just seen his family doctor who is 77 years old ... and has chosen not to retire from his medical practice. In fact, his doctor said, "I find excitement in the challenge of keeping up with all the advancements in the medical field. I read trade journals, listen to audio CDs, watch DVDs, attend seminars, and spend a lot of time talking shop with my friends in the medical community. If you relax in this business, you'll become a dinosaur in no time."
The doctor is right. His challenge is also your challenge, my challenge, and everybody else's challenge. If you don't keep on learning new things, if you rely on yesterday's knowledge, you will become a dinosaur in any business. And you know what happens to dinosaurs. They disappear.
So I took a serious look at every wildly successful person I know. And I discovered one overwhelming fact that hit me right between the eyes. Every one of them is in to continual learning.
The last time I called my accountant, he told me about an exiting seminar he just attended in another city. It would revolutionize his practice. And when I met with my financial planner in Detroit last October, he talked about the hundreds of hours he spends going to seminars each year so he can keep up with all the ins and outs of the economy, the changing tax code, the home mortgage crisis, and the future of health care and retirement programs. I even found that my lawn service provider had gone to a seminar to learn how he could help his customers grow stronger, thicker, more resilient lawns. And so it goes.
When I speak to sales audiences, I find the same thing. The MOST successful salespeople are continually working on their people skills and product knowledge ... while the LEAST successful ones always have an excuse for their lack of success.
The same goes for companies. According to the publication, "The 100 Best Companies To Work For In America," the 100 best are making major investments in employee education. On the average they are lavishing 43 hours of training on each employee every year. As Dan Timm, a principal in the Edward Jones brokerage firm, puts it, "We consider training an investment rather than an expense."
So let's get personal. How can you apply the lessons of the most successful people and the most successful companies to you and your life and your career?
=> 1. Recognize the critical importance of continual learning.
Intuitively, you've got to know that your best chance for a promotion at your present company ... or any other company ... is additional education and training. You can't expect to do more ... and be given more in return ... if you don't know more.
Listen to Libby Sartain, a human resources executive. She says, "Today's success currently isn't about what you've achieved in the past; it's about your capacity to learn and grow in the immediate future."
=> 2. Give yourself a ruthless self-analysis.
Ask yourself a lot of tough questions. And don't fudge on the answers. Are you really learning more and more? Are you getting better and better? The way to find out is to ask yourself the following questions.
Some overall questions:
* Am I better off now -- and happier now -- than I was at this time last year?
* What goals did I reach? And which achievements gave me the greatest sense of satisfaction?
* What do I wish I'd done? What regrets do I have in the last 12 months?
* How have my relationships with my spouse, my children, and my friends changed in the last year?
* How well have I used my time?
Some work-and-money related questions:
* What progress have I made in my career?
* How have my relationships improved or deteriorated in the last year with:
My boss?
My employees/associates?
My customers/clients?
My suppliers/others?
* How does my financial portfolio look compared to last year?
If you've gotten better in most or all of these categories, I congratulate you. You're a learning, growing human being.
But if your answers reveal a lack of significant progress, don't get discouraged. It simply means you need to LEARN more. It means you've got to ...
=> 3. Invest in your continual learning.
If your company brings training on site, thank them ... profusely. If your company sends you to seminars, thank them ... again and again.
That's what Doris Dean did. She writes, "I am so thankful that the FBI brought you back for another one of your 'Journey To The Extraordinary' experiences. I've heard so many positive comments about your other programs at our facility, and I wanted my supervisory friends to experience your sessions as well. I tell people that you are my motivation guru and have shared your messages with co-workers as well as friends in business, education, and medicine ... as well as youngsters throughout my county. And I'm pleased to report that even the teens (a tough audience) are using your positive techniques!"
And if your company doesn't send you to seminars, ask them to send you. The very worst thing they can say is "no." And at the very least they will see you as a highly motivated employee who wants to move ahead.
You can't lose. In fact, many of the folks who attend my "Journey To The Extraordinary" experience simply asked their boss or company for permission to go and the financial support to make it happen. And they got a "yes" response.
But ... and this is important ... even if your company doesn't offer enough on-site training or support your off-site education, don't let that hold you back. You can't let somebody else's short sightedness be your excuse for failure. Invest some of your own time and money into continual learning if you have to. As Austin Phelps, the educator, said in the 1800's, "Wear the old coat and buy the new book."
Then, with your new found knowledge, like all successful people, you've got to ...
=> 4. Take action.
Learning is critical. It's one of the first steps to greater success. But it is not the only step. You've got to do something with your learning.
After all, what is more pathetic than an educated person sitting on his butt? As E. L. Simpson points out, "Getting an idea should be like sitting down on a pin; it should make you jump up and do something."
You've got to apply what you learn ... consciously ... consistently ... and courageously ... or your learning won't do you any good. You can't confuse taking a class with taking action on what you learned in the class.
Author Alfred A. Montapert said it well: "Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress."
Of course, you'll make a few mistakes when you apply your new knowledge. No problem. That's why the final step in continual learning is to ...
=> 5. Learn from your mistakes.
In fact, mistakes, setbacks, and negative feedback can be a blessing. When I'm teaching customer service, I tell the service reps to welcome complaints. After all, those complaining customers are giving them a free consulting service on how to get better.
That's why Jill Blashack Strahan, the founder of the gourmet foods company, Tastefully Simple, tells her colleagues, "We reserve the right to get smarter." No wonder they continue to be listed as one of the fastest growing companies in America. If they make any mistakes, they reserve the right to get smarter, and they do get smarter.
I would advise you to follow the advice of the great poet John Keats. He told us, "Don't be discouraged by a failure ... failure is, in a sense, the highway to success, inasmuch as every discovery of what is false leads us to seek earnestly after what is true, and every fresh experience points out some form of error which we shall afterwards carefully avoid."
Chances are ... you upgrade your computer on a regular basis. But the question is ... are you upgrading yourself on a regular basis?
Action:
Write out your continual education plan for the next 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. A written out plan dramatically increases the chances that you will actually follow it.
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