Ralph Waldo Emerson is attributed for many great quotes. He once said, “Genius borrows nobly.” To me it emphasizes how much we learn from others. Rarely do we have a thought that is so original, that someone else has not pondered the same thing.
Life is a journey of learning. We are living in the information age, and we are surrounded with opportunities to gather knowledge from others. How can we best take advantage of this opportunity?
1. Commit to Learning: For the opportunity to become useful, you will have to commit some amount of time to learn. As little as 15 minutes a day will add up over time. Make a plan and measure yourself against it.
2. Determine the Best Opportunity for Growth: What knowledge are you in most need of gaining? How can you leverage your strengths and align with your purpose? If you don’t know, look for other experts in your field. What do they know better than you?
3. Practice What You Learn: Knowledge without practice will not be as fulfilling. Imagine buying all the ingredients to bake cookies, and then leaving the ingredients on the shelf, never taking the time to mix and bake them. Put your knowledge to use. You will improve with practice.
Ralph Waldo Emerson also said, “Our best thoughts come from others.”