Self-education should be a lifelong pursuit. In a rapidly changing world, continuous learning is essential for both personal and professional growth. Jim Rohn, an influential personal development speaker and author, emphasized the value of self-education in the following quote:
“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”
Rohn understood that going to school and earning degrees and certifications will provide you with skills to secure a job and earn money. However, taking your education into your own hands, beyond traditional schooling, is what enables massive success and fulfillment.
There are numerous reasons why self-educating continuously is so valuable.
The Benefits of Continuous Learning
A commitment to self-education offers many advantages:
Expanding Your Knowledge and Skills
Learning doesn’t stop when you finish school or university. There will always be more to learn. The world is changing rapidly. What is true today may not be true tomorrow. Dedicating time each day to reading, courses, podcasts etc. prevents your knowledge and abilities from becoming outdated. It enables you to continually expand what you’re capable of.
Adapting to Change
Technology, globalization, automation and more are dramatically impacting many industries. Jobs that existed for decades may disappear. New opportunities arise constantly. By actively educating yourself, you’ll be able adapt as the world changes. You’ll spot emerging trends before others and be able position yourself to benefit.
Staying Relevant
No matter your profession, resting on your credentials risks irrelevance. Lawyers, doctors and engineers can all become outdated quickly if they don’t make learning an ongoing habit. Even in competitive fields like technology and business, skills and knowledge have very short half-lives. Staying relevant takes daily self-education.
Making Time for Self-Education
With busy lives, finding time to learn new things consistently presents a challenge. However, with intention and planning, time can usually be found.
Scheduling Time to Learn
The easiest approach is to intentionally schedule time for learning new skills just as you would for meetings and other commitments. Use calendars to block off dedicated time, guard that time zealously, and utilize it fully for self-education.
Utilizing Small Windows of Time
Self-education doesn’t necessarily require large blocks of time. Small windows of time between meetings, while commuting, waiting in line etc. can also be leveraged. Short podcasts, digital courses divided into small lessons, and blog posts are all good ways to learn and expand your knowledge bit by bit.
Leveraging Commutes and Waiting Time
Time spent commuting or waiting around is great for self-education. Audiobooks and phone-friendly learning tools enable you to make your travel time or waiting time more productive and grow your capabilities.
Setting Goals and Tracking Progress
To actually improve through self-education requires setting learning goals and tracking the achievement of milestones.
Creating a Learning Plan
A learning plan works much like a business or project plan. Define what capabilities you want to build, by when, and what educational activities and resources you’ll use to develop them. Learning plans create clarity and focus.
Breaking Goals Down into Small Steps
Self-education goals and plans shouldn’t intimidate you. Large goals should be broken down into smaller milestones spread over time. Achievable bite-sized objectives that gradually build skills make self-learning progress manageable.
Using a System to Track Progress
Have some type of system to track skill improvement. Use a notebook, spreadsheet, or software to record educational activities completed, skills learned, resources utilized and goals met. Tracking progress helps sustain motivation and provides valuable feedback.
Celebrating Milestones
Take time to acknowledge and celebrate achieving smaller milestones on the path to larger learning goals. Progress is made step-by-step. Pause and feel good about small wins to fuel drive for the next step.
Resources and Methods for Self-Education
Many learning resources and self-study methods exist beyond traditional education:
Books
While becoming less common, reading remains one of the most effective ways to gain knowledge. Build reading high quality non-fiction books into daily routines.
Online Courses and Videos
Digital courses and videos can teach almost any skill online at your own pace. Platforms like Udemy, Khan Academy, Coursera etc. offer affordable access to high quality instruction.
Podcasts
Hundreds of thousands of podcasts provide both entertainment and education. Podcasts conveniently turn spare time into opportunities for learning.
Newsletters and Blogs
Email newsletters and blogs related to your field are free ways to stay on the cutting edge. Subscribe to thought leaders and leverage synopses and recommendations.
Peer Groups and Mentoring
Connecting with groups of peers or finding an individual mentor who shares wisdom accelerates self-education through shared ideas and accountability.
Committing to lifelong self-education offers dividends across all of life. While formal education lays a foundation, self-motivated continuous learning leads to endless possibility.
Conclusion
Self-education permits achievement far beyond what formal education alone enables. The savviest and most successful individuals across nearly every profession engage in continuous self-education. With so many high quality and accessible resources at the world’s fingertips today, there are no good excuses to stagnate. Develop the habit of self-education to maximize both your potential and your life’s fulfillment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I quit my job to focus full-time on self-education?
Quitting work to pursue self-education full-time is almost never recommended. It is nearly impossible to replace professional experience that comes from years on the job with book learning. Self-education is far more effective when integrated into life alongside work, as an enhancement rather than an escape.
Does self-education require spending lots of money buying courses and materials?
Absolutely not. While excellent self-education resources exist for purchase online and offline, the majority of the highest quality self-education tools are 100% free. Podcasts, blogs, newsletters, books from public libraries etc. enable constant growth at little or no cost.
If I commit time to self-education, does that mean I need to eliminate entertainment and downtime?
Work-life balance is essential for health and sustainability when pursuing aggressive self-education over the long-haul. Allow time for fun, relationships and relaxation as well as learning.
With some adjustment, even incredibly busy professionals find at least 30-60 minutes daily to dedicate to self-education. Incremental progress pays over time.
How do I stay motivated over years to keep learning and self-educating?
The key is pursuing self-education in areas tightly aligned with your strengths and interests. Learning for learning’s sake burns most people out quickly. Identify capabilities connected to what you love doing, link skill development directly to key goals, and track milestones achieved. Progress and purpose together drive motivation.
What if I don’t know specifically what skills I need for my professional goals?
Reading books by accomplished leaders in your field often includes their recommendations on both broader mindsets and tactical skills worth developing. Beyond specifics, building communication, marketing, persuasion, critical thinking, creativity and technical skills valued across nearly all industries.
