Staying hungry for new information can give you and your business an edge. In this blog post, I will show why continuous learning is the key to entrepreneurial success, and what steps you can take to become an outstanding learner.
Elon Musk Knows That Learning is the Key to Success
Elon Musk is the richest person in human history. At the time of this writing, he’s on track to surpass 300 billion USD in net worth, which would make him the first person in history to surpass that number.
The majority of his fortunes come from 2 of his current businesses; He is revolutionizing transportation both on Earth through his electric car company Tesla, and in space via his rocket manufacturing company SpaceX.
Musk has achieved great accomplishments with his aerospace company in particular. SpaceX is the first private company to successfully launch, orbit, and recover a spacecraft. On top of that, it’s the first private company to send astronauts to orbit and to the International Space Station.
Musk’s accomplishments are beyond measure, which makes his every move subject to public interest. When the entrepreneur is asked how he learned about building rockets, he often answers, “I read books.” And when talking about his first business, PayPal, he is quick to contribute his achievements to his childhood when he taught himself how to code. He tends to bring his success back to simple terms: It’s all about learning.
There’s no denying that Elon Musk’s continuous learning mindset has propelled him toward success. So, how can you become that way? And what does the process of learning new things on an ongoing basis look like, anyway?
What Does Continuous Learning Look Like?
Continuous learning is the process of learning new skills and knowledge on an ongoing basis. It’s all about taking the initiative to take on new educational challenges, whether that be through reading books, enrolling in online courses, or practicing a new skill.
A commitment to learning is especially important for entrepreneurs. Staying competitive in today’s marketplace means that businesses need to be innovative and adaptive. Achieving this depends on the knowledge of the entrepreneur leading the company, as well as the workforce driving it.
The great thing about learning more is that it’s never too late to start. There are many ways that you can take the first step:
- Join a book reading challenge on Goodreads.
- Find a new podcast and listen to it on your next commute.
- Meet up with someone you look up to and interview them on their success.
- Subscribe to a free newsletter, such as my very own, which also comes with a copy of my e-guide, The 7-Step Checklist for Launching a Business.
Here’s How to Make Learning a Rewarding Experience
If you want to take your business to the next level, you need to associate mundane but important tasks with immense pleasure. There are many essential chores that get placed on the back burner because entrepreneurs dread doing them:
- Generating digital content
- Tracking metrics for your business
- Networking with other entrepreneurs
- Following up with existing customers
The perhaps most important mundane task, which is not in the list above, is self-education. Many people associate learning with boring textbooks and memorizing irrelevant information. These negative experiences from school or college can keep us from taking out life to the next level.
It doesn’t have to be that way, though. Teaching yourself new things can be fun. The more often you reinforce learning with positivity, the more likely you are to turn it into something you like doing. Here’s how you can do just that.
1. Study What You’re Passionate About
A little while ago, I wrote a blog post on how you can find your passion. I suggest you check it out if you’d like to uncover your desires.
The reason I encourage you to follow your passion is because it simply makes life more enjoyable. Moreover, by focusing on what you’re enthusiastic about, you will reduce the pain that comes with learning.
For example, if you like bookkeeping, you can read a few books on how it can help your business. Similarly, if you enjoy social media, you can enrol in an online course that helps you develop growth strategies for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
What areas in your business are you passionate about?
2. Give Yourself a Reward in the End
Those familiar with my work know that I like to encourage rewards after doing something uncomfortable. By taking part in enjoyable activities right after you learn something new, you can form positive connections, and change your associations with learning.
There are many ways to treat yourself. Here are a few ideas:
- Eat a snack of your choice after you finish reading for the day.
- Go for a walk in your local park after you complete a video module.
- Play your favourite video game after completing an audiobook.
It’s important that you reward yourself immediately after you finish your learning session. That way your brain will be able to form a connection between the two tasks.
Furthermore, make sure that you don’t reward yourself during, but after you’ve completed your session. The longer you wait, the more anticipation builds up, and the more enjoyable the treat will be.
3. End Your Session When It’s Fun
Another way to associate learning with joy is by stopping when it’s fun. When you learn something new and find yourself saying, “Oh, that’s interesting!” or “Wow, I didn’t know that”, it’s best to stop in your tracks and end your session for the day.
I know this strategy might seem counterintuitive. After all, why would you stop when you’re having a good time?
When you come across new and interesting information, your brain will release a tiny spike of dopamine, a happy chemical associated with pleasure. Once the dopamine spike wanes, you will start to crave feeling good again. It’s your brain saying, “That was fun. Let’s do it again!” So, by stopping when it’s fun, you will experience more cravings and are more likely to return to return the next time.
This strategy has been shown to be an effective method for returning to an activity in many studies (It’s essentially the cliffhanger strategy in action). Though it takes some discipline when you first start out, it’s a powerful strategy that will allow you to connect pleasure with something you currently dread.
The Best Way to Remember What You Learn
A famous quote by Benjamin Franklin reads, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” If you want to make something stick in your memory forever, you have to practice and apply the information.
One of the biggest challenges that people face when they want to learn something new is that they can’t retain the information. This is often the case when people reads books; After reading a few pages, many people will tell you that they don’t remember what they’ve just read.
To make something stick in your memory forever, apply the newfound information to your own life. This is why I exclusively read books that help me solve bigger problems. It forces me to use the information and think about it more critically.
When I wanted to quit consuming caffeinated drinks, I read Allen Carr’s The Easy Way to Quit Caffeine. I applied the information immediately and haven’t had a caffeinated beverage since. When I wanted to take the same message that I share on this website to my Twitter, I read this book on mastering Twitter. I’ve been steadily growing my exposure on the platform ever since.
Application is the best way to boost retention. Give it a try and see for yourself. What problems are you facing in your business right now?
How to Adopt a “Learning Is the Key” Mindset
Becoming a lifelong learner is all about changing your mindset. You have to develop a genuine curiosity about new subjects that can enrich your life and business. Being curious is all about asking the right questions, listening to experts in your field, diving deep into new subjects, and being open to new information.
To get you started, consider taking these steps:
- Make a list of the topics that you’d like to study. Where are you and your business lacking?
- Select a new learning project and commit to it. Be sure to start with something that you’re passionate about.
- Find ways to apply the new knowledge to your life. It’s best to study and implement at the same time.
When you bring a new learning project to completion, take some time to ponder (This is best done with a reading journal, if its a book you just finished). And don’t take every piece of information for granted, especially when reading. As Maxim Gorky said, “Keep reading books, but remember that a book’s only a book, and you should learn to think for yourself.”