Of Learning and Developing

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Over the weekend, I was asked by niece to speak to her office mates on the importance of learning and developing. They had a team building weekend, and wanted me to set the tone. It was a weekend, and she is my niece, whom we sort of shared birthdays. What kind of an uncle would I be, if I declined?

Some of her office mates somehow believe, learning and developing can only happen if it is in a formal classroom, with proper books, lessons, teaching aids etc.

I told them about an experience I had recently, of seeing a lady reading a book outside an LRT station. As it is still dark, she was using the light from her mobile phone to read.

I admire that lady’s tenacity to wanting to read. I told the group, that even though I consider myself an avid reader, I would wait for the sun to read. Shame on me.

I have met many people who still believe, learning can only be done in a classroom. And on the opposite extreme, I too have met equal number of people who believe, learning is best through life experiences. School of hard knocks they call it.

I believe, of having the best of both worlds. Life experiences, gives us the edge, the instincts. While, classroom, be it academic learning or training courses, gives us form and structure. One complements each other, in a symbiotic existence.

Reading is an excellent example of continuous development.

What book have you read lately?

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