Thing 1: Lifelong Learning

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Habit 1: Begin with the end in mind

Habit 2: Accept responsibility for your own learning

Habit 3: View problems as challenges

Habit 4: Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner

Habit 5: Create your own learning toolbox

Habit 6: Use technology to your advantage

Habit 7: Teach/mentor others

Habit 7 ½: Play

When looking at the “Seven and 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners” I think the first, “Begin With the End in Mind” is the habit that comes easiest for me.  I am an idea person and it is very easy for me to see the big picture of things, sometime to my regret.  For example, I’m given a project for a class to write a paper.  The requirement of the paper is 10 pages long.  As I am researching I get a vision or idea of how I want to lay the paper out and what I want to say.  Most of the time I am over the 10-page requirement but I don’t stop writing until I am done with the vision I have created in my head (or run out of time).  Sometimes I will turn in projects late and take the penalty points just to finish up a project the way I want it to look.  Most of the time it is more important for me to do a job the way I think it should be done, or to my personal satisfaction, than it is to get full credit for an assignment.  While this habit is the easiest for me it at time is also my bane.

The habit that is most challenging for me is to “View Problems as Challenges.”  When I encounter a problem, I worry, fret, complain, get frustrated, etc., and basically do everything but look at the problem as a challenge or an opportunity.  I once had a boss tell me that sometimes when laying out a plan, “A...B...C...” sometimes my mind races ahead and sees a logical flaw or problem with “…J…K…L…” and I start bringing up objections and identifying the faults sometimes even before the presenter is done with the plan.  Through the years I have worked hard on listening, thinking, and taking some time (a day or two) before I speak, but still feel I have a long way to go before I begin to see problems as opportunities.  I’ve realized over the years how much time I have wasted fretting and worrying about a project or a problem instead of just jumping in and getting started.