The Art of Learning

Most students don't realize this, but information is the least important element to the educational process. This is not the party line, and educators would laugh in my face for such a comment. However, I have two graduate degrees and can recite very little of what I actually learned, and people say I'm smart. I used to get slightly insecure when people would say this about me, namely due to the fear that someday they would find out that I'm not all that smart. But, this is what I've learned over the years - from the many years as a student, and the many years of working with students to improve their educational endeavors... education is not about information... it's about the formulation of disciplines that will carry one through a fruitful adulthood. There, I said it and I stand by it 100%! Education is about effort and appreciating the effort one puts into it. An appreciation of effort is the greatest commodity of the educational process. This reality flips the entire educational system upside down, because everyone can succeed when effort is applauded. Take two students, one may put some effort into studying for a test and receive an A, while another places a great deal of effort into studying a receives a B-. Who benefited more from preparing for the test? Obviously, the B- student did, and by quite a lot. You see, the B- student stuck with something that was difficult. The subject maybe is not their strong suit, but the student put forth great effort in an area of difficulty. This endeavor has had a greater impact than what can be understood by a letter grade at the top of a test. The B- student has acquired something far more treasured than knowledge, endurance. Many would point that the A student is smarter, but I hold that the B- student is better prepared for life, for they have forged in their character endurance and resilience and these are core qualities at the foundation of a fulfilling adulthood. So with that said, be quick to point out when a student has place considerable effort into an endeavor. Please help teach them the economics of effort and watch as they blossom.

How People Become Stuck...

Stuck, stagnate, rigid, and unmoved are some perceptions that many people currently have in regards to their careers, relationships, or just life in general. The real question is, "How does one get to this point?". It's easier to get stuck than many realize and it happens very subtly. Typically, an event or set of events occur in life that are outside of one's control. The event(s) bring out fears and distresses, which causes a person to dive into a defensive mindset. This mindset is all about minimizing exposure and vulnerability. At some point, a person will have experienced being vulnerabile and at this fragile moment was embarassed or harmed in some way. Most of the time it is when a person believes that they have been humaliated publically, especially in front of peers. A mental note is made to avoid all similar circumstances in the future. In short, this person has made a commitment to never take a personal risk again. The problem lies in the fact that a mindset of growth requires risk, failure, evaluation, adjustment, more risk taking. If there is a core belief to avoid risk, then personal growth becomes nearly impossible. To change this a person needs to develop a set of mindset principles to inoculate the negative viral (non-risk taking) mindset principles. Develop a new mantra, like, "failure is sometimes unavoidable, but growing due to a failure is always beneficial. Therefore, I'm okay if I have failure points in my life, and I possess a conviction to learn and grow when personal failures arise!"

Exercise:

A significant failure of mine was when I ... (yes it is okay to admit failure).

I realize now that I sit in this moment alive and safe, in spite of my failure.

As I reflect on this failure, I'll take away the following lessons I have learned...

When I see these lesson applied to my daily life, I can see myself...

(Have fun with the exercise)

Daily Growth (PDF) from S.M.L.

Click here to download the file.

The "Real" Secret of Change

The secret is that there is NO "Secret". Reality is that the life one desires comes about from vision, sweat, determination, effort and time. I know this isn't marketable, but it is reality and history supports its presence.

Financial MINDSET

In working with people I have discovered that one area in particular keeps many stalled out in a non-workable MINDSET. As you may expect, the area is personal / family finances. If you find yourself troubled by your current financial situation, then the best thing to do is realize you have the power to change and the present opportunity to grow in this important area. Discover your workable Financial MINDSET and put your muscles and money in action for you.

Day by Day by Day MINDSET

Doing worthwhile activities, day, after day, after day, leads to magnanamous life change over time.

Ancient MINDSET Wisdom

"In all hard work there is profit, but merely talking about it only brings about poverty" - King Solomon (900'ish BC)

Personalize:

What have I been talking about lately that I know the time has come to put some muscle movement behind it? Enough with the mental investment in the idea, the time has arrived for muscle investment! The Economy of Personal Transformation is all about the expenditure of energy & effort. So I'm now unleashed to get my muscles moving!

Mental Note:

D - E = S (Desire minus Effort = Stagnation)