If you want to earn more money keep learning about your area of work. The top earners, in any field, are also the top learners. Paul Zane Pilzer, author of "God Wants You to be Rich" says that wealth is a product of physical resources and technology. In other words, in this technologically advanced society, you need to have an excellent command over a range of current technology and you need to be able to put that technology to work in your business. This doesn't mean that you have to understand all the intricacies of specific technology but you need to understand its application and significance to your business and the business world at large. This alone means that you have to continually educate yourself and keep up-to-date. Many companies have fallen foul of this and it has cost them dearly."In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."
Eric Hoffer
For many individuals education stops when they leave school or college and, if you are an individual who regularly attends courses, conferences, seminars and the like, you are actually in the minority. One estimate is that only 10% of people continue with lifelong learning. It is also estimated that the top earners invest at least 10% of their income into their continued professional development.
There are many reasons why individuals are reluctant to invest in their continued education. Some think that education should be free as illustrated by the following remark to someone who was offering a course on wealth creation:
"If you've got such a grasp on quantum physics and wealth building, how come you can't give this course away? How come it costs so much?"
The course was priced at $227. I know that, without knowing the exact nature of the course, you cannot make a fair assessment as to whether this is a reasonable price for a course designed to help you improve your wealth. However, trust me that this course was conceived and developed by someone who is well-respected in their field and for whom other individuals including Rhonda Byrne, producer of The Secret, have worked with and achieved phenomenal results.
Surely, if you invest $227 in a course that is designed to help you create more wealth in your life you should be able to recoup that investment. However, herein lies another reason why individuals don't want to invest money in courses. Deep down they believe that their lives will not change as a result of doing the course. They believe that they will not be able to make good on their investment. And they're right - because that is their belief, their limiting belief.
In fact, only a small percentage of those investing in courses actually achieve a healthy return on their investment. One reason for this has already been mentioned - limiting or negative beliefs. Another reason is that many individuals purchase courses but don't complete them, far less apply their learning. Another reason is that, for those attending courses, many are woefully ill-prepared for the experience and so are unable to optimise the opportunity.
I've attended many courses and seminars where attendees don't even bother to bring pen and paper and then when the speaker says something noteworthy they are scrambling to find something to write with and on. Why would anyone attend a course or seminar and not expect that, at some point during the event, there might actually be something worth recording? You might even get a brilliant idea that you might want to note down so that you can examine it in more detail later. As Earl Nightingale said good ideas are like slippery fish, when you get one you've got to snare it with a pencil lest it get away. Taking notes is no guarantee that you will take action but at least it's a start.
Some attend courses with the attitude that they already know. What can you teach someone who knows it all?
"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows."
Epictetus
Others are highly sceptical and while a degree of scepticism is healthy it is important to have an open mind when it comes to learning. By all means keep asking questions of yourself and your tutor while learning as this will deepen your understanding of the subject matter. Keeping an open mind will also allow you to fully benefit from being exposed to new concepts.
One of the ways that the top earners continually expose themselves to new concepts is by reading. Nowadays, that includes ebooks and other online material as well as physical books. However, even the top Internet professionals are proud of their extensive and well-thumbed libraries:
"Some of you know that I'm a bookaholic. I have thousands of books. Whenever I take on something new I learn everything there is to know about it. I read books, I ask experts for help and I take action."
Joe Vitale
The last sentence is what actually distinguishes the top earners from others and it is something I touched on earlier. They take action on what they learn and they continually seek expert advice. This may initially have a high price tag but these individuals are confident they can achieve a great return on their investment.
The price you will pay if you don’t pursue lifelong learning will be very high. Conversely, if you are diligent in continuing your education than then not only will this put you in an excellent position to boost your income you will be among the movers and shakers who are literally changing the world.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
Nelson Mandela
earn money learn education
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