Bearing the Time it Takes to Learn New Skills and Become a Life Long Learner

Learning new skills is not easy and comes with a level of stress. It doesn't matter if discussing sports, work or college as the process of learning requires the ability to work to new levels of mastery. The difference between those who are successful and those who are unsuccessful are the ones that bear the difficulties of the learning process.

Think of when you started a new job or tried to do something you never did before. It took some time for you to learn how to complete the task. At first you were lost and then you were able to complete the function a few times with each subsequent time becoming easier. With more effort you will eventually reach a point where many of the actions became automatic.

Learning comes with stress and frustration for many because it requires significant energy to continue trying after failure. Yet failure is not really failure unless you stop trying. Each time you put effort toward something you will learn from that effort regardless of the outcome.

With enough effort and time you will eventually succeed but this success comes with a cost. That cost is in terms of choices and alternative routes. People should try and put their energies where they have natural skills that will complement their effort and create the greatest chances of success. Frustration will be less if you are learning something you have an innate skill in.

It is also beneficial to consider where your interests lay. Doing something you have no interest in simply because your family did it, your friends like it, or society expects it is a sure way to boredom and burnout. You have to chart your own course in learning these skills and the paths you take. It will benefit you in the long run.

Believe in yourself. Learning is not easy and takes time. The biggest failure that occurs is when people give up. Some people give up because of poor self-efficacy that leads to self-doubt. It may be hard but if you push yourself, continue to focus on your goals, and do the work everyday you will get where you want.

Learning isn't easy but it does provide benefits of development for us as individuals and we as society. Becoming a life long learner can help you overcome challenges, find employment, and live a better life. It is more of a way of thinking that manifests itself into a way of life. Find what interests you, set some goals, and continue to seek out new information and understanding until you get where you want.

Leading the Pack With Your Unique Skills!

Each person is born with certain innate skills and abilities that help hem survive in the world. Cultures may determine which skills are rewarded and which are not. Exposure and discovery of our skills is half the battle while the enhancement of such skills is another. If you want to be successful consider finding what makes you unique and capitalize on them.

Most people are creatures of the herd which means they follow each other in fashion, work, mannerisms, and ideas. This is great for social cohesion but not so great if you want to break out of the mold and do something unique. To move beyond the herd requires doing something new that others might not even consider.

Those skills you are born with will naturally have an impact on what things you are good at. Sometimes you can find a match in life and employment. For example, a person who is strong at calculating numbers would make a great accountant, scientist, or mathematician. Another person who is strong at creative writing would be better in journalism, marketing, or similar fields.

The biggest problem is discovering what makes you unique and then determining how to capitalize on such uniqueness by turning it into an advantage. That requires trial, error, exploration, practice and reflection. Sometimes it is possible to take tests and assessments to narrow down where your thinking and physical skills lay.

Don't be afraid of criticism. It is difficult for people to grasp the concept that we are not all born the same, wanting the same things, or doing the same things. History has shown us that people who strike out on their own path are the ones that do things others are likely to remember. Certainly many do fail but those who do succeed do so in a big way.

To advance your career and personal life take some time to think about your skills and try and understand where your strengths lay and how you might better apply them. If you have a knack for some skill try and enhance those skills and incorporate them into your professional and creative output. Over time you will find that you are not only advancing in your career but also feel more fulfilled as a person.

"We are all born with a unique genetic blueprint, which lays out the basic characteristics of our personality as well as our physical health and appearance... And yet, we all know that life experiences do change us." Joan D. Vinge

Grit as a Factor in Employment and College Success

Students enter into college with lots of different hopes and dreams but not all of them finish their programs. Those who make it through despite multiple difficulties have something called grit. That grit that helps someone get through college despite multiple challenges is the same grit that employers should seek out for management positions. 

Whether one is enrolling in an undergraduate programs or was just accepted into a doctoral program grit has a factor in their projected success. Doctoral grit has been associated with GPA, hours students spent working on programs, and student overall success (Cross, 2014). Such students are fully engaged.

The ability to work on long-term projects despite the difficulties of life, challenges people face, and varying stresses is a remarkable trait. It is hard to judge someone’s grit simply by looking at them or completing a quick assessment. Grit is something tied to the very core of personality of the person and their self-belief in achieving their goals. 

Based on psychological assessment grit is associated with self-regulation, focus, and goal setting (Mangan, 2012). Those who show grit have the ability to monitor themselves for improvement, focus on what is important to them, and set appropriate goals. 

Employers sometimes gravitate to hiring from elite higher education institutions where the majority of students have educated parents, adequate finances, strong university support, and the best instructors. On the other end of the scale the world is very different in terms of opportunities and employers should be aware of higher performance when merited.

Those who achieve despite difficult odds have something in their personality beyond just hard work. Grit is not based on a person’s socio-economic background or the type of car they drive. Grit is something that separates the wheat from the shaft through trial by fire. Employers seeking employees who can gain focus, set-goals and achieve them should be given merit for overcoming difficult challenges and excelling. 

Cross, T. (2014). The gritty: grit and non-traditional doctoral student success. Journal of Educators Online, 11 (3). 

Mangan, K. (2012). Traits of the “get it done” personality: laser focus, resilience, and true grit. Chronicle of Higher Education, 58 (43).