Lifelong Learning: The Only Approach You Need To Be Successful

Lifelong learning is a voluntary, ongoing process of learning for personal or professional reasons. It is a linchpin of staying competitive and adaptable. Professions typically recognize how critical it is to hire and produce lifelong learners. Many licensors even mandate that their members continue learning to maintain their credentials. The term, first uttered in 1993 in a school district’s mission statement, recognizes that learning is not confined to childhood but takes place throughout life. Hence life-long.

They tend to find higher-paying jobs, leave monetary, cultural, and entrepreneurial impressions on communities, and achieve more overall personal and professional success. They are lifelong learners. All the learning we undertake throughout life, with the aim of acquiring knowledge or skills, is considered lifelong learning. Books. Magazines. Hands-on practice. Courses. Seminars. Traditional education emphasizes learning to know. Lifelong learning typically addresses the other three: learning to do, to be, and to live together.

In an era of rapid technological change and shifting global landscapes, it comes off as no surprise that lifelong learning is taking off. It is the process of seeking and acquiring knowledge to adapt, grow, and thrive. Who doesn’t want to adapt, grow, and thrive? Raise your hand. The idea is that abilities can be developed through dedication and effort. The soi-disant growth mindset. This matters because industries are ever-evolving. Staying relevant requires constant upskilling. More than ever. Lifelong learning thus helps you keep pace with trends and technological advancements.

Next to keeping you competitive, lifelong learning sports innumerable other benefits. It keeps the brain active. An active brain is a happy brain. Better memory, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, to name a few. A passive brain atrophies, like an inactive muscle. This can manifest in it’s literal form. Cognitive decline from aging. Resulting in eventual dementia or a neurological pathology. So learn. Learning opens you up to opportunities. Acquiring new know-how brings joy, confidence, and a sense of purpose. Broad knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions. What’s not to love?

Lifelong learning isn’t just the mere act of acquiring knowledge. It’s a framework for adapting to an evolving world. A mindset. A different way of seeing things. The mental model empowers individuals to think critically and holistically, to connect ideas across disciplines, and to view learning as an ongoing process in lieu of a destination. The priority is curiosity and adaptability. Become stronger through challenges. What does not kill you makes you stronger. What teaches you… I’ll leave the last sentence to your imagination.

Real life implications of lifelong learning:

• Career advancement: stay ahead in your field by learning industry-specific tools, certifications, and techniques, like mastering SEO trends as a marketer or bolstering emotional intelligence as a sales rep;

• Career changes: lifelong learning helps you navigate career pivots as well, whether this is transitioning to a new field or adapting to automation’s impact on jobs;

• Personal: pursue hobbies or interests to cultivate creativity, reduce stress, and boost well-being, like a musical instrument, gardening, or a language you have been putting off;

• Social contribution: lifelong learning builds empathy and awareness, empowering you to contribute to causes, mentor others, or solve community- and society-wide problems—when you understand how big the issues are, you are more eager to solve them;

• Technological literacy: keeping up with tech is essential in today’s digital atmosphere, and learning to use these tools effectively and securely is part of any good lifelong learner’s stack;

• Business: entrepreneurs benefit from learning diverse skillsets like leadership, financial management, and marketing, enabling them to switch roles, adapt, and innovate—small business owners are known to wear all the hats, and this is why companies are eager to hire past founders;

• Health: learning about nutrition, exercise, and mental health results in better lifestyle choices and holistic well-being.

How you might cultivate a lifelong learner’s mental model: (1) adopt the growth mindset, believing that skills and intellect are not static but can be developed; (2) embrace curiosity, following your inner child and interests to explore—question the world around you; (3) make learning a habit, dedicating time to it daily or weekly, setting aside a budget for reading or course material; (4) identify what you want to learn and why—a goal can provide motivation and direction; (5) use a mix of sources, like online platforms—Coursera, Khan Academy—books, podcasts, scientific articles, mentorships, and hands-on practice; (6) reflect and apply your knowledge, as the best way to learn is to use; (7) leverage technology, like spaced repetition apps for memorization—Anki, SuperMemo—skill platforms for specialized skill acquisition—Skillshare, LinkedIn Learning—and AI tools—ChatGPT for brainstorming; (8) celebrate progress and keep going!

Thought-provoking insights. Lifelong learning promotes anti-fragility. Anti-fragility means thriving amidst uncertainty and change. Thriving when everybody is struggling. Knowledge accumulates like compound interest. The more you learn, the easier it becomes to acquire more information. The environment is evolving. Can you keep up? As Henry Ford said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty eight or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” He wasn’t the only smart man to point it out. “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” says the man on the hundred-dollar bill. Make learning a habit.