Lifelong Learning, The Continual Pursuit of More.
- Michel Legrand.
The desire for more is often frowned upon, being greatly associated with a sort of materialistic greed and ungratefulness of all the things we have, yet take for granted. I need not waste time harping on about how lucky you are to even read this article, as half the world's population still doesn't have access to the internet, and a quarter to clean drinking water. But wait, take a step back. Instead of seeking more materialistic possessions, what would happen if we prioritised the need for education and a more rounded and complete self. It is with this logic that CEOs like Simply Business's Jason Stockwood, Harvard Business Review blogger John Coleman, and magic circle law firms stress the essential nature of the continual pursuit of growth.
The Daily Grind
I'd like to introduce you to Bill and Ben... (work with me here). Bill commits to a 1-hour learning session 5 days a week, whilst Ben commits to a 1-hour session on all 7 days of the week. After just one year, Bill has amassed a total of 261 learning hours, but Ben has a huge 365! At this rate, it would take Bill 21 more weeks to catch up with Ben, and in this amount of time Bill has probably already established his career, found a partner, bought a house and is considering retirement!
What's my point? That a tiny, almost insignificant change in the way you approach your work can lead to a tremendous competitive advantage over your peers. Whether revising for exams, training for a sport, or practising an instrument, putting in a few extra hours can differentiate you from the rest. With elite jobs in law and business being oversubscribed so heavily, a consistent 'daily-grind' approach can go a long way.
Going the Extra Mile
Drop your pen, leave your desk. While lifelong learning is an important concept for academic success, it can be applied to a far broader set of activities and interests. I take this quite literally, 'going the extra mile' with long-distance running, finding it a useful way to de-stress, stay fit and push myself in a more physical way. Recent Harvard Medical School studies have evidenced that regular exercise can 'reduce stress and anxiety', with Heidi Godman arguing that 'parts of the brain that control thinking and memory (the prefrontal cortex and medial temporal cortex) have greater volume in people who exercise versus people who don’t'. And if you don't like running, taking yourself on a short walk has tremendous benefits, temporarily removing you from your work environment and offering time to relax. This betters your ability to refocus and allows for a more productive use of your time.
I'm Quite Content
Try something new. No, not a different chocolate from that leftover selection box your uncle gave you. Try something that makes you uncomfortable, pushes you, and tests you, because being content is boring. The same safe space, not striving for more, not trying anything new. Same routine day in day out, and similar results. This isn't being ungrateful of what you have, and it's not to say don't be proud of your past achievements. You should be proud. Be proud, but never satisfied. If you continually push yourself in new directions and seek growth, you will learn to become a far more motivated and confident individual. A simple way to put this into perspective is your physical health and fitness. On the beach this summer, many will be happy with their 'average' physique, and although they may admire the toned guy with the abs, they don't have the motivation to go and get their own! Anything worth having takes discipline, time and effort. If it was easy, we would all do it.
Get Moving
Life is a lesson you will only sit once. While everyone will graduate in some way or another, only one can be the best. Expectations may be that you can only excel in your chosen field through having one specific focus, yet I urge you to learn something completely unrelated. This will teach you skills that other people don't have, it will let you grow, and ultimately you will learn more, faster! This is how you will differentiate yourself in a competitive field. It is the reason universities like Harvard place so much emphasis on extra-curricular because all applicants have the required grades, but few have the continual drive to strive for more...
Christian Hughes.
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