Jim Rohn has said that, “Life rewards serious students.” To those who have built, created, achieved and accomplished, it’s well known that ability is somewhat easily gained once your fundamental attitude is that of constant learning. No one who has done great things can honestly say they had the tools and knowledge they needed up front. In every case, we begin the journey ill-equipped and acquire what we need along the way.
Our own experience has proven this concept, and, quite frankly, some of our best projects have come from challenges that we had never tackled before. But, as a firm, we embrace and encourage constant learning and exploration, and we’ve seen each other rise to the occasion each and every time.
In fact, we believe in this concept so much that every employee at Ethos3 receives a free Kindle with access to an expansive library of business, management, leadership, personal growth and other books. Our people, regardless of title or position, are ascendant in their fields. It all starts with learning.
There’s no reason to be average at anything. The ideas are more accessible than ever. Devices put information at our fingertips everywhere. When we’re not building our skills in a certain arena, it’s simple because we haven’t prioritized it. When we devote just a little bit of regular time to developing ourselves each day, we grow. End of story.
We presenters could use some introspection on this point. It’s the nature of being human that, from time to time, even the “enlightened” among us accept excuses, second-bests, and a “not ready yet” mentality. Even the highest achievers have less strength of purpose when asked to assume a leadership position at center stage. Admittedly, it takes a certain level of hubris to be able to wield the laser pointer in front of an audience, and you’d probably be a sociopath if you didn’t have some reservations the first couple of times you did it.
But at the same time, everything you need to know to assume the mantle of leadership responsibility in your field is already out there, somewhere, in print, audiobook, or video format. If you want it, and you’re willing to learn, that version of your life you sometimes dream of is ready and waiting.
The question, at the end of the day, is if you really want it!
Question: What is holding you back from the next level of responsibility and leadership?