What did you learn?

“I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.” Winston Churchill

In addition to popping the champagne cork, making a list of resolutions (and I’ve written before about more effective strategies) and singing Auld Lang Syne, many of us reflect back on the passing year during the last days of December. What did we gain? Who did we lose? How did we do on last year’s list of goals? What did we LEARN?

I feel that if I am not learning my life gets stagnant, so I crave learning. However, this doesn’t mean I always enjoy it. It’s this dynamic, that learning is an essential though not always fun part of life, which I wish would gain mainstream acceptance. In my work I often see students and business people who are unwilling to do the hard, boring or unpleasant parts of learning, even though these pieces are often the key to obtaining true mastery and then success. And I will admit sometimes I am right there with them.

Do I enjoy relearning how to get through my workday when every software maker and online platform designer decides that updates are in order? No, not really. Many times I find the new versions of programs to be less useful than the old. However the whole process pushes me to develop—either find a work around, learn the updated version, or discover a totally new solution.

Do I like learning a new way to navigate travel each time a particular airline or airport discovers new and “improved” security measures? Uh, nope. Like many travelers I find the process of getting from the airport doors to my seat on a flight tedious, torturous and nerve wracking. Yet, I’ve learned to pack smaller and smarter and I’ve outlined many successful projects during flights, while I tune out the chatter.

It’s not only me. Every year we are ALL pushed and pulled to learn and develop by external market forces and by internal drives and discontent. If we don’t grow and change then we risk becoming out of touch. The fluid and ever changing world simply passes by those who refuse to learn. This knowledge alone can be a harsh lesson.

Every year I learn a lot about me, my profession, my friends and family and my place in community. Not all of these lessons are easy or enjoyable. Some are perfunctory and some are life changing. I wouldn’t have it any other way. So as you close out another year and go through your personal New Year’s rituals look in the mirror and ask: What did I learn?