One of the biggest things I wish I had someone advise me when I was in my twenties….
Learn as much as you can.
Why twenties? Because, no one listens to advice any earlier than that. And…learning in that season of your life will help you grow better as a person when it matters the most (better spouse, parent, leader, etc)
Read books, listen to podcasts, go invest in training (free and paid), and find a mentor. Podcasts are one of the best contributions to learning…ever. You can listen anywhere, it is snackable content (5 mins to 90 mins), wide availability of content, and diverse and revolving topics and people, and it is easy to consume and share. Of course, podcasts were not around when I was in my twenties and thirties (hell, even my forties – geez!)
- What topics?
- Focus on topics in your current field (job responsibility) that will help you be better, make better decisions, find new ways to tackle challenges.
- Focus on topics based on f where you see yourself going – leadership role, new industry, getting married, etc. As you move into that new role, continue the appetite to learn quickly. Great CEOs that move from one company and industry to another do this better than most.
- Focus on yourself – helping you navigate and hit life head on…because…it hits you head on whether you want it to or not. How to be a better person, better spouse, better parent, better friend, etc.
- Diversity matters – get uncomfortable when choosing topics. Stretch the way you think, being open to other ideas, or simply looking into other industries or fields to gleam ideas. This doesn’t mean you have to change your core values because the topic or idea does not align – but it does help you consider others, consider ways you wouldn’t normally think about, help you with compromise, and communicate better with others.
- Time is not an excuse – in today’s world no one has time. At least that is what we all say…but we do. Listen to a podcast in the car on the way to work or while you workout (rather than news or music). BTW the way, most news has little value to most people. Stop watching TV at night a little earlier and grab a book. Treat yourself to lunch or dinner (by yourself) sometimes during the week and read. Take a class at night, early morning, or on the weekend. Making time is possible.
- Imagine – your in a meeting with peers and you actually can contribute broader thoughts, consider other ways of tackling a problem and find huge success or reward, communicating better with your spouse or child or friend creating a richer relationship, or even execute better on everyday things or handling one of life’s slap in the face. You will be more prepared to live a better life.
If you aren’t learning and getting better, you aren’t being the best version of yourself.