"When you're through learning, you're through."

- Vernon Law

Being a father of two daughters under the age of 2, I often talk about what I learn from my girls as I watch them develop. Each day, it seems, there's something new that one of them can do or say that they couldn't just a day before. There are moments when I am amazed at how one day can provide a platform for the endless possibilities that continue to build for each of them as they continue to learn and grow. As parents, we often say how much we want to help our children learn in order to provide them with the best opportunities in life, but why is it that we often don't try and do the same for ourselves? Is it because we're spreading ourselves too thin with daily distractions? Maybe. Is it because we've lost control of who we are and what we want in life? Probably. Is it because we've given up on our own dreams and goals and don't feel there's anything more to invest in? Could be. No matter what the reason might be, it's time to correct it! Never stop learning, because as the quote says "when you're through learning, you're through!"

Many of us spend our early adult years in educational institutions, various new jobs and interacting with new people. There's a natural element of learning during this time as each new experience adds to our life that was previously unknown. But what happens when a few more years goes by and nothing has changed? Maybe you're still working the same job, hanging out with the same circle of friends and there have been no new challenges thrown your way to force you to grow. Unless you are continuing to find ways to learn, what will likely happen is you become complacent in your environment and you will eventually be missing out on opportunities that others continuing to learn will take advantage of. Be sure to continue exposing yourself to opportunities to learn and challenge yourself. There are an abundance of learning opportunities in your professional life that help you continue to learn and better yourself. Find seminars and programs, such as the BannerConference, where you're taught by successful businesspeople what it takes to be successful. Surround yourself with influential people and listen and learn how they make things happen. Whatever the method, never stop learning!

Sometimes in our professional lives, the learning element comes natural due to new or changing responsibilities, advancement opportunities or just by being around intelligent and motivated co-workers. But what about in our personal lives? There's a number of opportunities to continue to develop and learn outside of the office, but we rarely seek them out or take advantage of them. Do you find yourself progressing toward your goals? Do you even have any goals? Many of us get comfortable with our day to day lives, thinking that we're on the right track because we're able to keep up with our bills and various responsibilities imposed upon us, but is that really helping us get to where we want to go? It's equally important to continue learning as an individual. The more we know and learn, the more we can help our children, the more we can apply toward our goals and the more we set ourselves up for the endless possibilities that still exist for us!

Here's the Point:

No matter what your excuse may be, never stop learning, because "when you're through learning, you're through!"