The 7 1/2 Habits of Life-long Learners

These are the habits of successful life-long learners:
Habit 1 - Begin with the End in Mind
Habit 2 - Accept Responsibility for Your Own Learning
Habit 3 - View Problems as Challenges
Habit 4 - Have Confidence in Yourself as a Competent, Effective Learner
Habit 5 - Create Your Own Learning Toolbox
Habit 6 - Use Technology to Your Advantage
Habit 7 - Teach/Mentor Others
Habit 7 1/2 - Play!

I think that people who work in libraries are drawn to learning, and so we are by nature life-long learners. Of course, everyone has his or her own learning style, and that probably determines which of the 7 1/2 habits are easier and which are more challenging.

For me, the first habit - begin with the end in mind - might be the hardest, because my learning style is not usually very methodical! I tend to play around with things until I figure them out. Sometimes I don't even remember why or where I started looking into something new, but I do tend to remember the things I learn along the way.

My other choice for the hardest habit is the last - play! - at least in the work context. Not that I don't enjoy playing; I really think that it's an integral part of my learning style. But playing at work is a hard concept for me to assimilate! In all the years I've had a computer at my desk, I've never once played a game of solitaire, or any other game for that matter. I'm sure this is chiefly a function of my age (I'm a boomer), since I computer games didn't come into being until I was an adult.

The easiest habit is probably number 4 - have confidence in yourself. Over the years, I've always been able to learn new things, and this has strengthened my self-confidence.

All the habits are important, and I'm glad to have watched the podcast that elaborated on each one of them!