Until the Last Breathe is Taken…

by Marilyn Van Norman

In a recent conversation with a very wise and successful woman, the words in the title were used with passion. They came in response to a question about the importance of life long learning. She began by talking about the fact that at some point in her career she started to try to analyze why some people were successful and others were not. Many of the latter also seemed to be unhappy. There are of course many variables, but, a common feature she said of those who were successful was that they were vital, interested and interesting, curious and never stopped learning. She summed her observations up by saying “What these people had in common was a believe that learning was essential right up until the last breathe is taken.

This belief is widely shared and frequently observed to be true. Whether it be a family practitioner who is committed to staying on top of the latest techniques and medications, a career development professional who is constantly reading, attending conferences and professional development sessions in her field, a systems architect who strives to be on the cutting edge of technology or an eighty year old who regularly surfs the internet – all live the importance of life long learning.

As career professionals we KNOW the importance of life long learning. But, we seldom take time to inventory our own or other’s commitment to it. We seldom ask ourselves how does the inclusion of life long learning impact our careers. Is it part of our conversations with clients? Have we integrated it as an integral part of our life and career?

If you think about your partner, your parents, friends, colleagues, previous employers – are you able to differentiate between the people who you think practice life long learning principles and those who don’t? Is there a difference in the quality of their lives, of their professional success, the level of satisfaction with the work they do, how interesting they are as people and how motivated they seem to be.

Studies would indicate that people who continuously seek additional learning opportunities are in fact more successful in their careers and have a higher degree of job satisfaction. Those learning opportunities may take the form of additional degrees, field specific courses, individual learning programs, reading of professional journals, research, receptivity to technological advances, and attendance of conferences such as CANNEXUS 2009.

How you incorporate life long learning into your life and influence your clients to do likewise is unimportant. What is important is that you do it. I hope that for me that I don’t stop learning until the last breathe is taken……

Marilyn Van Norman is the Interim General Manager of CERIC and has enjoyed a rich career in student services and career development. She is the author of a number of books, with the latest – From My Perspective…A Guide to University and College Career Centre Management and From My Perspective…A Guide to Career/Employment Centre Management to be launched at CANNEXUS 2009 in Toronto.