I posed a question on Twitter recently, asking folks what their habits were for lifelong learning. I appreciated reading responses and revisiting this idea of making active learning something we constantly pursue.

The article I shared with my tweet was from Jeff Goins, author of The Art of Work, and it included three habits of lifelong learners:

  • Realize how little you know
  • Act like an apprentice
  • Become someone’s case study

While those are terrific thought-starters, how you become a lifelong learner is up to you. In one of my first blogs, I talked about this concept – that there’s a lot more to getting ahead these days than just good grades and smarts.

By that, I mean the brightest of the bright can sometimes get derailed by what they’ve learned and how they react to change. Their past success just doesn’t wire them for winning in today’s fast-paced and changing landscape.

The same is true now – years later – as the rapid rate of innovation and change only accelerates. Being agile – adapting and learning – is crucial, so we’re not falling behind.

How you get there is up to you. But it requires an active and lifelong learning mentality. To succeed in today’s innovative culture, we all have to act differently, be willing to test and learn, and pivot when the world takes us in a different direction.

As I noted in that earlier blog, be sure to stay curious and embrace change. Look for opportunities to pursue innovation with an open mind. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things. Let yourself fail along the way.

What other habits of lifelong learning do you seek? Here are what some ideas to get you thinking.

What would you add? Leave a comment here, or reply to my original tweet.