Learning for a Cause

Introduction: Learning for a Cause

These days, I am learning that it is okay to change my mind, and I am giving myself permission to do so. I am an advocate for reading more, but I am realizing that because I will make the time to read more books, not everyone is willing to do that because so many things are competing for the 24 hours in a day.

I am very busy as well because I am the president of the Toronto Chapter of Ellevate Network,  I am also on my Church Board, and there are many other activities competing for my time. The difference is that reading gives me pleasure, and it transports me into the minds of others, so I make time for it. Additionally, I am an introvert, and reading is one of the ways that I love to spend my time – it is a solitary activity.

Have you read?

How to Make Reading Books Like Playing a Fun Game

Reading is one of the ways that we learn things, and because of time constraints, we have to practice learning for a cause whenever possible, therefore, we have to have a powerful purpose for reading and by default learning. When I first started my informal liberal arts education, I was taking courses that I was interested in, but somewhere along the way, I realized that I was making the same mistakes I have made several times before.

It occurred to me that even though I was learning new and interesting things, the new learning was not improving my life in tangible ways. In one of the creativity models, in the first stage of information gathering, we gather specific and general information. Specific information pertains to the issue we are trying to resolve and gathering general information is something that we do throughout our lives, which ultimately aids in becoming more creative.

What I am realizing, is that even though it is good to build on general information, we have to be strategic about it. When I became more focused on the types of courses to take for my informal liberal arts education, that is, courses to improve my craft, I felt a shift take place, and I was building capacity and upskilling. What I was doing now had more meaning because I could see tangible results.

I would love it if you read more books, but I would like you to focus on reading books that can improve your work and life. I would love it if you capitalized on some of the free courses that are offered on the internet, but once again, take courses that allow you to build capacity and develop new skills. In other words, practice learning for a cause.

Although I would like you to become more intentional about learning, I do not want you to sacrifice fun. When learning for a cause, find creative ways to blend disciplines. This is something that I am still struggling with. To remain relevant, I have to find ways to create more value for my readers, and doing that takes experimentation. I have given myself permission to make changes to blog topics.

An example is I would write profiles of people who I consider wise, and now I am finding that it is more valuable to include the profile with each segment on personal libraries. That means that I will write a mini-biography for the person whose personal library I am showcasing. I am experimenting so I do not have the right formula yet. I am giving myself permission to rethink and redo things, isn’t that what life is about?

What do you think about learning for a cause? How can I change the content of my blog so it will aid your learning for a cause? I want to provide content that is compressed knowledge and accelerates your learning.

 10 Ways to Be a Better Learner The MacGyver Secret: Connect to Your Inner MacGyver and Solve Anything A Technique for Producing Ideas (Advertising Age Classics Library) by James Webb Young (2003) Paperback Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action Smartcuts: How Hackers, Innovators, and Icons Accelerate Success Mind Hacking: How to Change Your Mind for Good in 21 Days Decision Diagnosis: Seven Antidotes to Decision Procrastination