| As a strong believer in life-long learning and a | | | | blocked off a weekly 4-hour study period at the |
| coach who specializes in change and growth, I'm | | | | library. When moving into a long-term learning |
| always impressed at the genuineness and tenacity | | | | commitment -- whether a new career or starting |
| of self-proclaimed life-long learners. These | | | | a business - be sure to thoroughly think about |
| knowledge-hungry individuals are focused, | | | | what you need. Time. Money. Support from |
| energized, and love to soak up new ideas! Not | | | | friends and family. Transportation. |
| only that, many are able to quickly put new | | | | Envision your new daily schedule. Tell your loved |
| concepts and suggestions into practice at work | | | | ones about your new education desires; listen to |
| and in relationships. What helps you get the most | | | | how it might impact them too. Let these support |
| out of personal education, training programs, | | | | structure 'needs and expectation discussions' be a |
| coaching, and university studies? | | | | stimulus for openness, encouragement, and |
| Moving Towards | | | | self-confidence. |
| When starting a new educational activity, you | | | | Align To Your Passion and Purpose |
| create more commitment and excitement about | | | | Do you find yourself thinking about taking an |
| learning with a "moving towards" frame of mind, | | | | accounting class because you heard that CPA |
| rather than a "moving away from" mindset. Let's | | | | jobs are available, yet you hate numbers, |
| say Bob has decided to learn ballroom dance. He | | | | calculations, and sitting at a PC? Or perhaps you |
| can "move towards" the lessons because he | | | | just agreed to start a roofing business with your |
| wants to get fit, impress his girlfriend, and is | | | | neighbor, but you have no interest in the industry |
| curious about different types of music. Or he | | | | and don't like the marketing role in which he |
| could be "moving away from" his mother's | | | | "placed you"! A goal of many of my clients is to |
| continual harping about "learn to dance" for his | | | | live their purpose, live with passion, and live a |
| brother's wedding. He might "move away from" | | | | fulfilled life. Don't make the mistake of spending |
| an uncomfortable meeting on Tuesdays by | | | | weeks, months, years of doing something that |
| scheduling a class at the same time. Positive | | | | you hate, being stressed or uncomfortable. I recall |
| motivation has a longer lasting effect than | | | | a high school friend who barely passed his classes, |
| negative motivation. | | | | D-average. |
| In what frame of mind do you learn and perform | | | | Three years later he was the top student in a |
| better -- by "moving towards" or "moving away | | | | prestigious recording engineer training program. |
| from"? Which way draws out your natural | | | | Why? He was passionate about it. Don't |
| enthusiasm and relaxed fun? At times you need | | | | underestimate the depth of learning, not to |
| to ask yourself, "What am I running from?", and | | | | mention immense joy that can be found by living |
| then turn to step in the direction of your own | | | | your purpose with passion. |
| truth. | | | | When you (1) naturally "move towards", (2) |
| Support Structure | | | | create a supportive environment, and (3) are |
| People who are very effective learners have | | | | passionate about an area of life, there exists a |
| outstanding support. Maria will be attending UCI | | | | thirst, a drive, a hunger for learning. Challenge |
| next fall and has prepared her family for her time | | | | yourself to live from that place of authenticity |
| away. On Tuesdays and Thursdays she's set up | | | | TODAY! |
| babysitters for her two children. She's also | | | | |