Always be Learning

I recently had the opportunity to take advantage of a significant training course that was moderated and lead by a University professor and a published author and consultant.  The course took place over two weeks, spaced a month apart with group and individual work in between - all of which I was doing while still working full time.  

Let me tell you, that takes a lot of energy.  It also takes a lot of money and time from the company I am working for - Office Depot - who not only allowed me the time to take the course, they are the ones that sponsored me onto the training and paid for it.  That takes corporate fortitude and vision, and I highly commend them for that.  

On my part, it also took some fortitude and an open mind.  I am really busy at work right now and it could be said I was tentative about attending.  Once I made the decision to accept it - I mean it didn't take me long - I decided I would immerse myself in it and really decide to make some changes and adopt what I learned.  Here are three observations I made from this training:

You never know everything: This is a truism that, if you don't believe it, you already need to take some more training.  I learned a number of new concepts - some tweaks to previously known ideas, some more fundamental - that I am already implementing in the workplace.  I find as well that peer analogies during the course enable me to find practical ways of implementing new ideas quickly.  The bottom line for me is, taking training should be like reading - it always leads to new thoughts, new ideas, new methodologies to help you improve.

You can always improve what you are doing: Right now, my sales team is doing very well.  Our numbers are excellent.  Some might think - now is the time to sit back and enjoy the momentum.  Well, not me.  I am using the time to develop even more innovative ways of improving business and generating even more sales and margin growth.  During the course I took, I discovered new ways to do that and break down silos at the same time.  Continuous improvement of yourself greatly benefits one person - you - which ends up being a force multiplier for your teams.

Sometimes you forget what made you successful: When times get busy and stress levels rise, it is easy to let those great organizational habits take a back seat and let "emergency management" take over.  Focusing on a good management training session, and really internalizing the information and thinking about how to apply it, is both cathartic and energizing.  If you can't take a course, read a good business book or take time to write down your strategic and tactical plans, and ask yourself if you are following them.  

In the end, if you want to succeed in absolutely anything you do, the number one thing you should get in the habit of improving, is you.  Always be Learning.