Lessons in Learning - Lesson 10 of 10 for 10 Years

Curiosity Killed the Cat…

Did you know, that that is not the actual saying? And I’ll give you a gold star if you can finish it off.

And just in case you can’t I’ll tell you now – the full saying is actually ‘curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction bought it back’.

Everyone uses that saying- even my mother I might add- like a dire warning about being curious as if somehow wanting to understand something is a bad thing.

And in reality, it’s actually a saying about the exact opposite,

Okay, so there are times that being curious can be a bad idea – like testing how hot the stove is by touching it; or wondering what a litre of vodka does to you by downing it in one go… but that doesn’t mean that all curiosity is bad.

I wrote a similar blog to this years ago, not long after I had started, and this is where I stopped. This time I have more experience and more to share so I’m going to keep going.

To me there are two types of curiosity.

Number one is the urge to question things- not just take everything at face value and when it comes to working with clients, I think that’s really important. Never just nod and smile and walk away, ask why, ask how, ask how long... it’s important to understand requirements and motivations fully so you get things right first time for your clients. But not only that it’s important for life, constantly questioning everything and learning as much as you can is a good thing.

Number two is your natural urge to learn and develop. Be curious about topics someone else is passionate about and don’t be ashamed to admit you know next to nothing. I recently started reading about the history of mathematics because I met someone who made it sound interesting and it’s not something I’ve ever thought about before! Always be curious about topics, new ideas, different subjects.

So how do you build lifelong learning (and curiosity) into your day-to-day life (and juggle it with the running of your business)?

Say Yes

If you’ve ever read that Richard Branson quote: “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!” then you’ll know exactly what I mean. When I first started my business I had experience in corporate marketing, project management and being a small cog in a huge machine… had I only said yes to jobs I could do easily I wouldn’t have got anywhere. To be honest, when I was starting out, I was in survival mode and said yes to everything but that meant taking on a lot of stuff I had literally no idea how to do.

Here's where I shout out to research, YouTube, blogs and guides and the power of self-learning. There is so much information about there that it is possible to be self-taught on almost anything but, make no mistake, this is not an easy route – it takes time, trial and error and commitment. There are still things now I work out how to do, just because I’m interested and because I never want to stop learning – you’d be surprised how many random things I can actually do inside and outside of work!

So, my first tip would definitely be to say yes – to the things you love, to the things you’re interested in, to the things that scare you. Say yes and see where it takes you.

Invest

Sometimes there is no replacement for formal training delivered by an expert. And, by that I do mean an expert. There are hundreds of courses out there, taught by lots of different people, when you are looking to invest in training or in mentorship make sure you do your due diligence, read review, talk to people, look at the outputs and what you’ll get from your investment.

It would be fantastic if we all had deep reserves of cash we could plumb into when we wanted to make an investment in training but for most of us that’s not the case, therefore when we make these choices, we need to be incredibly intentional about it.

I have made several major investments in my business over the years which have made a significant impact, and each one has been a huge leap forward for me.

The first was in a social media management course (the only government recognised one in the UK), this was amazing for teaching me new skills, solidifying my existing knowledge and giving me confidence to charge my worth as a digital marketing expert. It also opened doors and relationships for me that continue to be impactful.

The second was Amazon, I spent hours trying to learn Amazon but if you’ve ever tried, you’ll know how flipping hard that is, there is so much information out there and so many nuances, not to mention territories to think about that I knew I needed extra guidance. Working with someone on a practical 121 level to guide me through the process was invaluable and has given me a new service to offer to clients.

Those first two were about services, physical things I could offer to clients although both had the added benefit of giving me increased confidence.

The third investment is more recent and is a major investment in the most important aspect of my business, me. This is a mastermind and a focus on who I am and who I want to be. It’s already elicited massive change in me and my business.

Be a People Person

Your strongest and best way to learn is by using those two jug handles on the side of your head. The people that you surround yourself with, that tribe that you’ve found to be a part of are the single best source of knowledge and learning that you will find.

Being curious, being interested, actively listening and having a wide network are a shortcut to being able to fill your cup with belonging and with knowledge.

Have you ever been to one of those networking meetings where people ask who you are and what you do and then their eyes glaze over when they realise, you’re of no use to them and they’re gone quicker than you can blink?

Do not be that person.

Not everyone needs to have a financial value, people can have all sorts of value in all sorts of different ways, and you need to be open to relationships to accept those gifts. The broader your network, the broader your chance to learn.

I have learnt over the years that a lack of commitment to learning means that it gets pushed to the bottom of the list. I have had to make conscious efforts to block time for myself and for my development:

·       When I have signed up for a course, I have made sure to block out all of the live trainings and time after each one to reflect and do any actions.

·       When I want to learn something new, I block time in my diary for the research but also the trial and error

·       When I do self-study for a new skill, I like to test it on clients or on myself (at a reduced cost) much like a beta testing

·       I network and make time for maintaining and building relationships, I’m happy to give time to people

·       I take advantage of opportunities because you don’t know what amazing thing might happen

So go out there, be curious and never stop learning. It’s worth it.