“You are not a finished product. If you don’t keep evolving, you start dying”
– Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn
I recognize you…
You’ve taken a ton of online courses, from which you pull a little here a little there, but every single one is waiting to be “finished”.
You buy book after book, your shelves are full, your Kindle is packed, your nightstand might topple over any minute.
You cringe when you buy another online course, sign up for another webinar, purchase another business book, because you have about 150 yet to finish.
Here’s the deal, it’s OK! In fact it’s more than ok, it’s necessary. You’re an entrepreneur, a business person, and to be your most successful you have to be continually learning. In fact, “always learning,” is consistently in the top ten traits listed for successful entrepreneurs everywhere, and I doubt if I have read an article on entrepreneurial success without it being mentioned.
Repeat after me: “I am an entrepreneur, I am continually learning.”
[Tweet “I am an entrepreneur, I am continually learning”]
So today I write to give you permission, plain and simple. Permission to buy that next book, sign up for that next webinar, opt-in to that e-course. Because, I firmly believe, even if you take just ONE single idea away from it you got your money’s worth.
I can hear you thinking, “Sure Karen, that’s easy to say about the courses and books I have finished, but what about those I haven’t?”
Well first let me tell you, “I’m with you!” I have that list, that stack, same as you. But before we even come close to being able to tackle it we must accept that it will always be there in some form or fashion because of who we are. With that acceptance comes the power to be proactive.
One simple tip I’d like you to try to incorporate into your busy day:
Schedule just a little bit of time each day to get better, to learn. Maybe it’s the 20 minutes you have before the lights go out at night, or the 15 minutes waiting for the train in the morning, or 30 minutes on your lunch break. Schedule it, give yourself permission to stop “producing” and to learn, and slowly tackle that stack of soon-to-be thought currency.
“To be great, you have to continue to learn.” According to Simon Reynolds, one of Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs.
Watch his 4 minute interview, about efficiency, productivity and learning, HERE.
We are only as rich as the ideas that we have and you never know where your next great idea will come from…it just might be in that webinar you have bookmarked to buy.
What’s your next course, book, or learning tool that you have coming up? Share it here in the comments below so we can all benefit.
Karen, I am with you on this. My problem is knowing how to get original and new information. It seems like it is a scavenger hunt to find something new…and with classes at $2000+ a shot, those are expensive nuggets. I am taking a class right now that I am wondering if I wouldn’t be ahead to abandon or to woman up and complete all the exercises (done before from different directions) and find a new angle. Thanks!
So true Cathy! I feel like I always find something though, even if as you said, you just do the same exercises from different angles.
That’s a really interesting idea that it’s ok to not finish courses and just getting one takeaway makes it worth it. Thanks!
I definitely like hearing that 😉
And what a great idea to schedule in short bursts of learning time each day, I sometimes overwhelm myself with saying I have to catch up on 4 weeks of outstanding study from a course and then never get going! xx
Sam there’s so much great stuff out there that I want to read/do/experience! It’s a great foundation for a successful business.
A great post- lots of good reminders 🙂
Yes, I also try to stay in the mindset of a “learner” daily and always have something new on the go ! It has been a learning curve balancing this desire to put out all that is in me, and stay in the moment to complete what is right in front of me ! Having just written my manual for the incoming course I am launching I am feeling confident in that area ! next step- just trust myself and allow….that always seems to bring me to the next learning tool 🙂 Thanks so much 🙂
Shelley I love that! Having a desire to put out all that is in you, and stay in the moment to complete what’s right in front of you. I think that pretty much sums this article up!
I stopped taking online courses because I found I was signing up for courses I wasn’t ready to take. I ended up spreading my energy very thinly. So, now I add in bits and pieces of learning as needed. Thanks, Karen! Love your posts!
Patti it’s so great to have permission to do BOTH! Take what you’re ready for by adding in bits and pieces. Love it!
Karen, You had my attention right away. I’M JUST LIKE THAT! And you know what I just did? Put an official learning appointment into my agenda! 🙂 Great post. Thanks for the reminder! 🙂
Yay! Good for you.
Karen, a great post. I already wondered if that is a normal behavior to look for leverage. Some women might be “behind” shoes, right now I am definitively “behind” books 🙂
Thanks Fanny!
I try not to buy too many courses unless I know I can devote the time to them. I actually have a running list of classes I’ve wanted to take, but won’t take them until I commit. But you’re right! One day…I’ll get to it! And hopefully get something out of it, too.
I kinda want to know what’s on that running list! Anything you want to share? 🙂
Info product overwhelm is quite common, but it’s fine to prioritise them and take them as and when it suits. The info product police can’t touch us.
🙂 Thankful there IS NO info product police!
You are so right! Scheduling time to learn is important, but we also need to spend time building our businesses and taking that leap. I am really terrible at signing up for courses and not finishing them (B-School hem hem). This is great motivation to schedule the time to finish my course so I can be a better me.
Krystal I feel like you’re getting something out of them, even if you don’t finish it. So cut yourself a break!
Haha! You had me in the first paragraph…you’ve been peeking into my soul! Thanks for granting me the permission to relax around all these learning tools I indulge in. It really does make a difference…both the learning AND the knowing that it’s okay. Great post Karen…very timely. X.
Indulge away!
I have done a lifetime of training/learning and will continue until my last breathe! It is not always courses. My mother had a huge insight about 24 hours before her passing. Reflecting, mulling, synthesising, taking action to experience life fully and be all that I can for myself and others is a daily lifelong practise.
What a beautiful reflection Deb! Thanks for sharing that with us.
Yes I know that one… of many unfinished courses!!!! But like you, I see them as learning…and taking one thing away can totally change my trajectory! I decided a couple of months ago…. to do my best to get through a few now… and putting time aside each day, just to learn, instead of the pressure to make something out of it.. because of course, “as an entrepreneur, I’m continually learning!” LOL… oh how lovely it was to read this here. Thanks Karen
Glad to be sure you know you have permission. 🙂
I completely resonate with the idea that you never know where your next great idea will come from. Each class/book/seminar is a step in becoming a better version of ourselves simply because we are investing in ourselves. Great post and here’s to evolving!
I’ll cheers to that!
Karen this is so true. I feel like I can’t breathe if I haven’t recently learned something new. My drug of choice is books. They are a relatively small investment (and free when I go the library route) and if they speak to me, then I see if the author has a course so I can dive deeper. This way I fulfill my need for learning and don’t end up shelling out thousands of dollars until I am quite sure there will be excellent bang for the buck. Great article. I am glad to know that so many others have this insatiable need for MORE INFO.
It’s what makes us great!
Oh, I really needed to hear this today. Thank you Karen! In the past week, I signed up and purchased TWO expensive online courses. Meanwhile, my program just launched, I have been getting more one -on -one clients, AND I am trying to go through B-school for the 2nd time. I cannot believe I am doing all this at one (plus bing a full time mommy). So even though I am feeling super overwhelmed – which is a lot to say for me, an A-type, I am happy to read your post. That is what it takes as an entrepreneur. Love it!
Sounds like my life Tania! (minus the babies, mine are grown!) Rock on!
Alright, so you’ve got me pegged! Except for the nightstand, it was my nightstand years ago, but now I’ve learned to keep my work out of the bedroom, so now it’s my office bookshelf 😉 It’s such a relief to know I’m not alone in feeling this particular type of overwhelm. But the helpful takeaway for me here is when you wrote: “But before we even come close to being able to tackle it we must accept that it will always be there in some form or fashion because of who we are.” Yes! Thank you, Karen.
Glad to be of service. 🙂
I’m o.k.! I’m o.k.! Hahahahahaha!!! Admittedly, I am a learning junkie. I don’t always carve out the time for my many unfinished programs, however. 😉 I like this idea of sneaking in just 20 or so minutes a day. Thanks for both the validation and the great advice, Karen! 🙂
I’m always shocked by how when I “unplug” for that 20 minutes, I get two hours in! So many distractions take that time away from us. 🙂
Yes! Yes! Yes!! And thank you! I have been taking courses and reading books for my entire adult life. I went through a phase where I felt that I wasn’t good enough (because I didn’t have a university degree) and was trying to learn as much as I could to prove myself. Then I started to feel guilty because people close to me would say that the courses where useless if I didn’t use them to make money in a job or a career. Then one single event in my life changed all that. One moment where everything I had ever learned gave me the confidence and knowledge to support a family in need and help change lives forever. I believe that everything in your life happens for a reason. A reason you may not be clear about until much later. Whether you learn your lesson from a book, an experience or a course, it’s not important, what’s important is that you value every moment and every lesson. And with social media these days, the people I meet on these courses alone is worth every penny I spend on signing up to them. No guilt! Just excitement for lifelong learning. <3
What a beautiful message! Thanks for sharing it with us.
I’m going through B-School for the second time and reading the book ‘Positivity’. Learning is a passion and I feel that I’m not alive if I’m not learning something!
Thank you for this, ‘just a little bit each day’ – otherwise I can feel too guilty for not doing more.
xo
We’re all evolving through this process. 🙂
oh my, karen . . . did you have me in mind when you wrote this: “You cringe when you buy another online course, sign up for another webinar, purchase another business book, because you have about 150 yet to finish.” thank you for giving me permission, because i love love love learning! and i do spend at least 20 minutes a day on personal/entrepreneurial growth. you are right – even if i just take one idea away from each, i am bettering myself.
ME TOO! I’m a learning junkie in all forms.
It really does feel like I need permission to do any more education, when I have so many courses unfinished. I’m lucky to have joined a really excellent mastermind lately, which is keeping me accountable for actually finishing the things I start. A great complement to education and one I highly recommend!
Isn’t it great to find a mastermind you really connect with? Nothing makes me reach for the stars more.
I love going to school and I love learning. I have tons of books and eCourses under my belt and I am still looking to purchase another one. Some I have completed and some I haven’t, but like you said with each experience I had several ‘Aha’ moments or taken away at least one or two things that made a difference in my life and business.
Totally agree!
Well from one learning addict to another — you certainly hit the nail on the head!!!! I found this blog because I was researching the importance of what I call the 3 L’s (life long learning). Working with solo-entrepreneurs as I do, many don’t think they need to be learning. But I believe that before our business can change, we must change — I call this “building your business from the inside out”.! Thanks for a great post!
Thanks Diana! Glad it was helpful.