Do you have a knowledge plan?

Let’s talk a minute about your plans for increasing your knowledge and skills.

Do you really need a plan? YOU BET

Let’s first discuss the concept of the “Knowledge Doubling Curve”. This concept was created by Buckminster Fuller in 1982. By 1900 human knowledge doubled every hundred years. By the end of 1945 the rate had sped up to every 25 years. In 2013 the rate was considered to be 13 months. And soon the knowledge doubling rate will be a mere 12 hours.

12 hours.

How long ago did you graduate high school or college? Do you really think that what you were taught then is enough in today’s world?

Unless you graduated 12 hours ago the answer is no. And even if you did, you will already be a little behind tomorrow.

Sounds crazy doesn’t it? But it is true.

And although there is no way for any one person to fully keep up with the pace, each and every one of us needs a plan to grow our knowledge and skill set.

Your plan does not need to be complex or overwhelming, but it does need to be something you can follow on a consistent basis.

Here are a few quick suggestions to start:

1.      Read 1 book a month and take at least one class or attend a seminar at least once a year.

2.       Viewing one TED talk a week or even daily. They are under 20 minutes in length. I like them because they are short and introduce me to either a new idea or a fresh perspective I had not previously considered.

3.       Find a mentor to help challenge you to develop skills.

Any plan is better than no plan. I saw this quote earlier today: “No one plans to be fat, lazy, stupid or broke. It’s the people without a plan that end up this way”. A little harsh maybe but I hope you get the point. Without a plan you may easily end up somewhere that you do not want to be.

I challenge you to sit down at some point today or this evening and really think about a plan for improving your knowledge. What are you willing to commit to? What are you willing to give up? (More reading, less TV for example).

As I have noted in previous blog entries, we all have 24 hours in our days. No more and no less. Truly successful people use those 24 hours to their advantage. Unsuccessful people do not. Unsuccessful people let the day control them, instead of taking control of their day.

You were born with the ability to learn and develop. It’s up to you to devise a plan to use that ability to the fullest. Make it part of your plan to spend at least 30 minutes (preferably an hour) each and every day feeding thoughts, ideas, concepts, knowledge into your mind. Consistency is the name of the game. The more consistent and disciplined you are, the more you benefit and the faster you move towards becoming truly successful.

Make a plan. Make it happen.