Learn and Live
In your career, business and life, the learning should never end.
By Manny García-Tuñón

I was driving my 9-year-old daughter to the orthodontist the other day and we were listening to one of the local jazz stations on the radio. (I am proud to say that my daughter can identify up to five different styles of the genre.) The song that happened to be playing was “Small Town Girl,” by Larry Carlton—a great jazz guitarist. Now, I’ve been playing guitar since the eighth grade and can hold my own, but this guy can do things with those six strings that I only dream of doing.

I lowered the radio and commented—mostly to myself—that I would love to be able to play guitar like that. My daughter heard my comment and asked, “So why don’t you?” I looked at her through the rearview mirror and said the first thing that popped into my head: “Because I can’t.”

She looked back at me and responded to my admittedly weak answer with a very direct question: “Why don’t you learn?”

From the mouths of babes. … Indeed, why don’t we learn?

What a simple yet powerful question. It’s still rolling around in my head, and I can’t seem to get it out: Why don’t you learn?

The only real answer to that deep question is that I haven’t felt strongly enough about it to dedicate the time and effort required to practice and learn. Each and every one of us could name a number of things we would like to do but don’t simply because we haven’t practiced or learned.

Perhaps it’s a hobby, or golf, painting, or writing. How many of those things not tried would further enrich our lives if we simply learned how?

But what if it’s more than simply leisure? What if that something you’re holding back on could positively affect not only you, but those around you? Your family, your team at work, your customers? What if you could make a significant contribution and as a result increase your income? An idea for a new product that will take your organization to the next level, or a way to improve your customer service? Maybe you want to become a better manager, or learn accounting?

Whatever it may be, the truth is that if you felt strongly enough about it, you would surely find the time and the means to do it.

What do you feel strongly about? For some, the answer to this question comes more easily than for others. These are the people who have set concrete goals for themselves. They know what they want and spend a great deal of their time and effort pursuing it. They have undoubtedly invested their time and resources in practicing and learning about that which they are passionate about. It’s as though they are on a journey with a definite purpose, a definite direction, and a definite destination. Regardless of what obstacles they may encounter along the way, if they feel strongly enough about it, they’ll make great headway. We can be sure of that.

If you find yourself in this exclusive category, you’re in great company along with all of the other doers of the world: the people who make things happen. If, however, you find yourself struggling with the answer (as most people do), know that there is something that you are being called to.

Everyone should be great at something. Only you know what that something is. In the past you may have been thwarted by a lack of experience or knowledge, which, in turn, leads to a lack of confidence.

The most difficult step is usually the first one—just getting started. But start we must. Taking action, gaining experience, practicing, learning, does wonders for your confidence. Once you take that first step, you will find that the process is not that difficult after all, and that the journey is as fulfilling as the actual achievement of your goal.

Abraham Maslow wrote, “We function best when we are striving for something we do not have.” That striving necessarily involves learning. Learning is a lifelong process. It is absolutely essential that we continue to educate ourselves in the areas of our goals.

Books, tapes, seminars, lectures. Get your hands on as many as you can. As you begin to take it all in, you will find yourself getting more and more excited about your goals, and better prepared to achieve success. Open your eyes, your ears, your mind and your heart. Learn. Learn. Learn.

The great Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, “Most of us go to our graves with our music still inside us.” Identify that which you feel strongly about. Set goals. Make a contribution to your your family, your nation, your team, your customers. It’s your time to make some music. Don’t know how?

Why don’t you learn?