Hi Friend
Last weekend I was at a conference for professional speakers. Really, it’s speakers, coaches, trainers, consultants, and people trying to get into the business. A lot of good souls are aspiring to use their life to make a difference. I’m fascinated by how many different things there are to speak about.
I love seeing people pursue their passion. I’m not active in this association because they don’t have a state chapter here in Oklahoma. However, this past year I’ve intentionally made several good relationships with active people. I like them a lot. It’s incredible how many different business models there are for doing this kind of work.
It’s also quite curious how every type of personality is in this space. Most people think speaking on stage is an extrovert’s domain. There are loads of introverts who also kill it on the platform. Not just personality diversity, but every other kind are represented as well.
The format was odd. It was mostly the main stage – three keynotes back-to-back – with a break in the middle. There were only two breakout sessions during the entire three days. A different model of conferencing. The speakers had a variety of messages. I got all my best insights from conversations in the hallway.
I LOVE LEARNING
I never loved the academics of school, but certainly the social component. Being extremely educated was not really a goal of mine. As a young leader in my career, my thirst for knowledge exploded because it directly impacted my capacity. If I was going to enlarge my thoughts, ways of thinking, and seeing, I needed to gain new words and insights.
Books and individuals have been my source of education for the last 30 years. Thankfully there is an endless supply of both. It ebbs and flows which I give attention to more. This past year, even up to this conference, it’s been fewer books and more people-centric.
Books Offer
New Language and phrases
A fully developed perspective
Loads of backing research
People Offer
Experience & consequence
Real-time processing
Clear, immediate application
I like the interactive learning a conversation brings. The resource and utilization, with an immediate testimony, is a compelling opportunity for research and understanding. Of course, one perspective isn’t holistically accurate, but it does offer an invitation for consideration. How do you learn best?
In a conference setting, my goal is always to have one good takeaway each day. Literally, all three of my best takeaways were from people not on the stage. Trust me, I know that’s an indictment against myself since I hope to bring nuggets-of-goodness from the stage that impacts a person’s life. However, the personal stories from the folks I chatted with created a weightiness of usefulness, that I intend to apply.
Instigating Ideas…
1. Are you still a learner? If so, share something new this week with someone.
2. How could you switch up your learning method?
3. Who would you like to learn from? One of the reasons I value and pursue new relationships is for the sake of learning.
My goals for this conference were all people I wanted to meet or deepen relationships with. One guy I’ve been friends with for the last few years invited two other people to join us for an evening chat. It turned into a four-hour interaction, with each of us revealing some very personal things.
Learning is for growing!
I know tidbits of info about old 80’s punk bands I like. I know a few things about current bands I like. Other than that, I don’t possess a lot of “fun facts.” People who do, amaze me.
My brain retains so little, I only learn for the sake of improvement and progress. People and books empower me to get a little better each day, as does this weekly reflection. I can extract for myself something useful from my own life. We can learn from ourselves if we’ll make the space to do it.
I would love to hear how you incorporate learning into your life? It feels like an additional thing to do, so how do you integrate itin a way that keeps it happening? Please Share!