Learning expands your horizons, fosters personal development, and enriches your life.
Does all learning have to be exclusively need based? It should not be, but most of the time it is.
Can we differentiate between short term and long-term needs for learning? Yes, we can–with conscious effort. Else we will continue to learn only what fulfills our immediate need.
There are many reasons to extend learning beyond immediate requirements. For example:
Preparation for the Future: You should be proactive in your learning, anticipating future demand and trends.
Long-term learning is for making our future better. It should be aligned with your long-term goals. It should be based on a good knowledge of what skills will be in demand in the years to come. These could be skills related to our current vocation, or for the kind of work that will come up and grow in the future.
If you are happy doing what you do presently, focus on skills that will help you grow in the same area. Do some due diligence to make sure that the work that you are doing will not get reduced or disappear in the future.
If you are not too happy with the work you are doing, or if you feel stagnant in your current position. You should identify some areas of future demand. Then, choose one or two that you like, and start learning.
It could even be a subject that has aroused your curiosity or interest recently.
Resilience: In a rapidly changing world, being adaptable is crucial. Who knew a couple of years back that Artificial Intelligence will have so much impact on our lives and the way we work. Continuous learning enables you to adapt to new situations, technologies, and challenges effectively.
A broad base of knowledge and skills makes you more resilient to unexpected changes or setbacks. Diversifying your learning ensures you have multiple avenues for growth and success.
Personal Growth: Learning beyond necessity can spark creativity. Many breakthroughs and innovations come from exploring areas beyond immediate needs. By developing novel solutions to existing problems, you may open new opportunities for yourself.
I recollect seeing the following dialog on how to keep growing.
“Whenever you see an opportunity, jump at it.”
“But how will I notice one?”
“You cannot. Just keep jumping.”
When to Start
Now. You should start today. Life passes too quickly for us to keep waiting for the right time. The right time to start is now. It is never too early.
An early start gives you an advantage over others. By staying ahead of the curve, you will position yourself for success in the long term. Skills in new areas of growth are at a premium, which diminishes over time. Early learning will give you the chance to seize high premium opportunities and get the best return out of your learning. Our aim should be to keep riding the waves of premium skills.
Photo by Alexandr Bormotin from Unsplash