Welcome to another article in the Success Story series. The Success Stories series provides answers to some of the questions about what it takes to become successful. While each of us is unique in our goals and aspirations, we have things in common with others. By consulting my LinkedIn network of over 9,000,000 people, I believe I can find ideas and solutions that may help you achieve some of your goals. While I may not agree with all of the comments below, I include each and everyone that is presented coherently and may help one of my readers.
The questions have been slightly edited for grammar and presentation. Comments and Kudos, while appreciated, have been edited out.
I have a Product Red Nano loaded with lectures. When I am shopping or doing dishes and sometimes when I am running I listen.
I have a book going in the bathroom (I think this is a man thing)
I am a member of Dan Kennedy mailings.
Click here to read more what I do with Product Red Nano during my Leisure time.
Click here to find the original question and answer on LinkedIn Answers
Success Stories are part of my Success Through Balance approach to life. I believe that Success comes from living a balanced life. You can read more about being successful and the skills required here.
President, Career and Life Mentoring
If you are aware of Maslow, he theorized that individuals pursue various needs at various times all dependent upon the context of their lives. Whether you buy-in to his Hierarchy of Needs theory or not, understanding his theory does facilitate my ability to convey to others where I am blessed to be right now in my life. I can definitely relate to the stage of Self Actualization as described by his theory. Maslow described it as a state of instinctual need… to make the most of abilities and to strive to be the best one can be.
There are so many topics, skills and areas of knowledge I am interested in, but like many of us, time is precious and often limited. I make up for these limitations by making use of my time more consciously than I find most others. I don’t necessarily seek certain kinds of learning – by topic or by source as I have found throughout my life that learning can and does come from everywhere. I find value in pursuing experiences with my family, with friends, with peers, and with the community at large. Through these experiences, I learn. I also seek challenging experiences that help me to analyze my belief system, my values, and my conclusions about the world around me so that I can explore them further and define them more deeply. I also seek what I call random access learning – exploring strange or random topics on Wikipedia, skimming through question and answer bulletin boards, downloading random podcasts.
Chief Technology Officer at Octavian, Inc.
In my opinion, leisure time is the opportunity to refresh, relax, and renew the spirit. If education provides an individual with leisure, wonderful.
It depends on the purpose of the educational pursuit. Some learning is for leisure (such as my personal interests and hobbies). Some learning is for love (such as how to change my baby’s diaper). Some learning is for necessity (such as learning a new software tool need now for my job). Some learning is for career growth (such as a college degree or acquiring a new employment skill).
I believe in separately leisure and family time away from job and career activities. Family time deserves your focus. Leisure time is a necessity for the enjoyment of life and for restoration of energy consumed by your employment. So then if I am learning for the purpose of career growth, I do not mix into my precious few moments of leisure.
Wisdom Teacher – Dedicated to helping people evolve and making the world a more beautiful place
I am a teacher and being committed to being the best I can be, I am always
open to and active in learning from others.
Active learning keeps me alive and fresh and young at heart.
Business Development / Research / Networking / Events
Whether it’s physical or mental, it’s a way for a person to find a true passion. By following their passion(s) they are more likely to succeed.
Seiser Institute of IdentityTherapy
You can’t think of what you never thought of.
Same garbage in, the same garbage out.
Stay open to what you think you already know.
[ZT - That’s an interesting point. You never know where inspiration is going to come from.]
Creative and Fun Strategic Leader with expertise in financial management, customer service, and inspiring teams.
I think it makes me a better person. Because of that I can participate in a greater variety of conversations. That means that I have more opportunities to make friends, build a network, and sometimes even impress people without showing off.
The education in my field helps me to prove that I’m an expert at what I do.
BCs, MSc; Systems Developer and Technical Contact at Momondo
As I walk to work in the morning, I most often listen to podcasts which helps me learn Spanish and also gets my mind going with some career thoughts. On the way back home I usually listen to music (non-vocal), giving a kind of meditative state for the mind to ponder what I have learned during the day and brainstorm for new ideas which often helps the next day (of course, I watch out for the traffic, so it’s not a completely freed mind and perfect meditation, but to balance it I keep a moleskin notebook for any great thoughts on the way). I really do recommend walking at least 30 minutes per day – besides the health benefits it gives you time to think and contemplate, and with a notebook in the pocket many thoughts could be golden for your future, letting you write them down at once instead of forgetting them on the way.
For example, during my second year of University studies, I found an interesting continuation for my education in Denmark, which I later found out was one of the most advanced (technologically, mathematically) in Scandinavia. As I found out about it I decided on taking lessons in Danish, going to a class once a week to learn the language. To sum it up, I had great success and the teacher early complimented my progress, and later I had no problem in getting in to the education I had aimed for. Currently I’m working for the future leading travel portal in the world, where they contacted me well before my thesis due date, and were happily surprised to find my skills in their language matched my skills for the role (and have since proved skills in multiple other areas, as a latest proof leading to amazed comments from partnering companies after at least doubling the joint revenue every month in four consecutive months)
Just Coach It for less stress, greater sustainable power, engagement, success in life, leadership and work
I am an avid learner and reader, but I have found that achieving maximum benefit for me means really going through my agenda for the week with a fine tooth comb and scheduling in learning as well as just plain leisure time. there is a whole body of study that shows that when we can relax, when we are even doing something repetitive that does not take intellect per say our mind has a chance to process what we have learned, to recharge if you will. I think that learning is critical, but so is really having time set aside just for R and R. The critical thing to me is being able to develop enhanced focus, whole brain thinking and maximize our brain power, retention power and also our ability to recharge and reboot with leisure time. I help my clients do all three and the results have been stellar.
Recruiter: TopLinked.com MyLink500.com Proud 3700+
I’d like to start with the observation that some people consider “Adult Learning” to be an oxymoron; hence the saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
But the trick to learning is the attitude of being teachable. How many teenagers do you know think they know it all – until they learn that they really don’t.
Teach-ability puts us in a great place of anticipation, of looking forward not back. Not knowing exactly what’s to come next, we can get excited, we feel alive.
It is sad that some of us live out our lives reliving a few memories of some golden age of experience. We all have that favorite song that takes us back, our first love, our first car. Often it’s a time of profound and sometimes tragic change; the military, war, the loss of a loved one, the time we gave our all and failed.
Some of us relive those times creating “what if” scenarios as if we could get back there and somehow make things right. Everything we learn from that point on is filtered and skewed by experiences that are long gone and no longer relevant. We stop living, we stop growing. We lay down on the rug like old dogs.
But the process of learning frees us up from the thinking that holds us down. Without exception, going back to school is a revitalizing experience. New friends, new concepts, ideas we heard before but didn’t get until now.
Everything changes. Business 101 is not the same as it was 20 years ago. It’s a basic class but well worth redoing. Class dynamics are not the same. People chat less and text more. Online classes can hold an infinite number of students – 125 students in on a 90 minute session can create a lot of energy!
Suddenly the old dog doesn’t feel like lying on the rug dreaming anymore. The reality that the world keeps moving comes out in active learning. One becomes alive. Isn’t being successful really about being alive, and engaged, and finding life interesting?
Freelance Translator & Conference Interpreter, Editor/Post-Editor and Language Consultant
A few years ago I started sponsoring a child in Bangladesh, and despite being close to 50 at the time, I decided to learn his language, Bengali. I wanted to able to communicate with him and his parents in their language, and sooner or later, to go and visit them.
Before I started, I couldn’t have imagined the wealth of new ideas, new concepts I was going to encounter, one thing leading to another. This has been a truly enriching experience.
I never drive my car without putting some interesting radio program on, be it cultural, political or business. I’ve listened to hours of good CDs while sitting in traffic jams or on long drives.
The good thing is, I don’t even have to learn in my leisure time. I am fortunate enough to have a job that helps me access a wide range of subjects, some of them really state-of-the-art, and I have been blessed many times, working for some of the most brilliant minds around. Work with such people is not work anymore, it’s plain learning.
I am devoted to education in general, and lifelong learning in particular, I think we can never know enough of the world around us, there are so many things to learn and I am always sad when I see people shrink back into themselves as they grow older.
I can’t say that I did have much “Adult Learning During Leisure Time”, but for sure I can say that I had (and will continue to have) a lot of “Adult Learning During Dead Time”!
Many people may think that they don’t have time to learn, but they will have if they use their Dead Time.
For example, I drive, almost all days, 2 hours from home to work and back to home, and I always listen to lectures and lessons in my MP3 player. In a week are 10 hours, in a month are 44 hours and in a year are more than 500 hours of learning. That’s a lot of hours!
General Manager
Instead of loading myself further while doing all these activities, I prefer to shell off the load by listening to birds chirping outside, sound of exhaust fan, music, admiring plants in my balcony, listen to the wind blowing swiftly, listen to silence etc. that makes good adult learning. There are two concepts – learn while play or play while learn!
Owner, Onset Management Ltd
I have always taken each new day as a learning opportunity, something I try and instill in my clients as well. In terms of leisure time learning, well, reading a good book can satisfy both. Whether it is a factual book or an accomplished piece of literature, the mind will take in new words and new contexts. Unfortunately in the UK (and I am sure elsewhere) leisure time is often seen as an opportunity to dumb down, rather than to invigorate the mind. Children benefit and will pick up on seeing their parents reading thus ensuring that the next generation also aspire to better things.
Marketing Manager at Sika Portugal, SA
It helps you acquire priceless knowledge which will facilitate you to be more efficient in your daily tasks, thus making you a more productive worker. What I’ve noticed in my daily experiences is that people think that they don’t need to study because they already have 20 or more years of work experience and a MBA. They all continue doing things the same antiquated way which be in some cases, is the wrong way!
We should all have milestones in our life, one of mine is to update and build on my current knowledge so I don’t become an obsolete professional. I try and read as much interesting business and marketing books that I can get my hands on and avoid seeing too much TV (chewing gum for our mind).
This constant proactive learning cycle has vastly improved my knowledge and facilitates my daily professional challenges. We should all exercise our mind as much as we do our bodies! It is vital if we are to succeed in this dynamic and competitive global business arena.
West Coast Regional Manager at IGEL Technology
Executive book summaries are great. www.summary.com
Learn as much as you can, make it fun to learn, learn while doing the mundane, you will then become smart.
Wisdom comes through from the lord. Proverbs – look it up. Lot of smart people do really horrible things.
Read your bible.
Business Consultant & Tourism Professional
I can’t directly map all my learning to career success. However, I think learning new things is a form of success in itself. In that case, my answer to you is a resounding YES. Lifelong learning is important to me. If I’m not in school, then I make sure to read. I like to read a mix of fiction and non-fiction (business, professional development, and other such titles). Most recently I decided to read “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking. Am I a physicist? No! Did I understand all that I read? Absolutely not. But did I benefit from it? Absolutely! If nothing else, I learned that the universe is becoming more chaotic and less orderly as our time progresses. This teaches me to stop expecting order; that way I’ll be less frustrated when I don’t find it!
Leisure time is just as important as learning. I make time for both.
(jason.patino@Latitudecg.com) MyLink500.com, 5700+ Connections- #1 Michigan Network
Learning in your leisure is one of the best things we can do as professionals and human beings to improve ourselves. I work for an online learning portal that allows members to teach or learn anything from anyone. The site is free to join and free to take free courses. If you are looking for things to learn in your leisure this is the place to go.
Latitudes free online learning portal: https://www.latitudeu.com/hr/user/signup.aspx?aid=JKP0001&tid=linkedIn
You can also join me at the following sites:
1) LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonpatino
2) LatitudeU LinkedIn Group!!! https://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/38901/6D1F5C3E1ACD
3) LatitudeU Yahoo Group https://groups.yahoo.com/group/LatitudeU so that we may discuss how best to use LatU to enhance your business.
- https://www.latitudeu.com/hr/user/signup.aspx?aid=JKP0001&tid=linkedIn
- https://www.latitudeu.com/?aid=JKP0001&tid=linkedin
Customer Understanding Connector, Moderator, Consultant and Facilitator
· It lets me meet great new people who are outside of my “everyday” circle.
· It helps me grow as a person.
· It keeps the synapses firing.
· It trains me to adapt to new situations.
· It creates positive energy, doing something from a place of desire, rather than of “require.”
Senior Manager, Director, Technology Architect
One of the best bits of advice that I could possibly give to anyone serious about developing themselves and their careers is to learn voraciously, both inside and outside of your area of expertise.
Adult learning by book, laptop, iPod, even (gasp) CD’s are all terrific exercises. For myself, I like using transit time for this; audio, if in the car, or visual on public transit. For me, it’s one of the largest benefits of taking transit, even in senior management positions. I recently brushed up on code generation in compiler back ends from a course at MIT; there were some useful pointers as to pairs of design decision that matter in compiler design, which reminded me of some useful coaching I could do on a problem at one of my recent positions…but I digress.
The key issue, it seems to me, is to use this ONLY for leisure time which is solitary, as it can be very isolating. Since several of us have said that, I’m not going to hammer on it, but it’s an easy enough trap to fall into. Enjoy your family and friends *now* while you can!
To mix these two thoughts: I did have the opportunity to share a podcast of “favourites” from Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Cafe with my wife on a recent driving trip, and I’d found this while on the subway on my iPod. Inspiration and synergy are where you find them.
I’d also second the recommendation for Executive Book Summaries, which are available in multiple media (see Josh Darville’s response).
Business Analyst
Learning during leisure time is critical.
In a technical position you have to constantly learn just to keep up with changing technology. And which field is not effected by technology ?
But learning goes well beyond professional learning, or at least it should. It’s important to become more aware, in any subject.
Learning and “having a future” are synonyms, as I see it.
Lastly, learning during leisure time can come from sources other than books and classes. For example martial arts teaches a great deal about how to handle stress, how to face disturbing situations, maintaining calm under pressure, respect, and even career issues (and I don’t mean just reading about martial arts or watching “Kung Fu” TV series reruns).
Director at Marmontvale P/L
I am a lover, liver and a learner of life and what better way is there to advance yourself than to continually absorb information relative to your own journey from all forms of media.
CRM consultant & Information Technology Business Development Professional
I would rephrase your question to be in my idle time instead of leisure time.
The idle times I spend on audio books has helped me go through a lot of the books and topics I wanted to read, but had no time to cover. I am now an Audio book addict and can not do without them.
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