Lifelong Success Requires Lifelong Learning

Successful people never stop learning. No matter how busy they are, successful individuals find time to keep learning. Just as they are driven to succeed in their field, they are driven to continuously expand their knowledge.

How many of us have said that we are just too busy to read a book, examine current research findings, or learn something new? Let’s be honest. At some time or another, we have all said that we were too busy to read or learn. It’s interesting to look at what very successful people do.  

Most people would agree that being President of the United States of America is probably the most demanding job in the world. Did you know that when Barack Obama was the president, he devoted a full hour every day to reading? If the leader of the free world has time to read and focus on professional development, we all have time!

Oprah Winfrey believes that reading is responsible for much of her success. She has even shared her love of reading and learning with the rest of the world through her book clubs.

Bill Gates, one of the world’s richest people, reads a book every week and has done so throughout his career. If Mr. Gates is so wealthy, why is he devoting so much time to reading and learning? Why did President Obama spend his valuable time reading when there were so many pressing world issues? Why does Oprah credit reading for her enormous success?

These successful people have one thing in common. They spend at least 1 hour a day or 5 hours a week reading and learning. They also understand that knowledge is the new money. Intellectual capital will always be more important than financial capital. You can lose your money, but you can never lose what you have learned.

Let’s begin to use the “rule of five.” Spend five hours a week reading books, articles, reports, or magazines. Build your intellectual capital. Who knows, you might become the next Obama, Gates, or Winfrey in your career field.