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The Question that Can Take You to the Next Level

ByMaurilio Amorim

Recently I’ve spent time with two great communicators: one has sold over 37 million books and the other is a leader of one of the nation’s largest churches and an amazing teacher. For all practical purposes these men are “on top of their game,” after all they have achieved the kind of professional success most people only dream of achieving. Interestingly, each of them independently of one another asked me the same question:

How can I get better at what I do?

 

 

 I’m sure the very reason for their success is, what I call, “the life-long learner syndrome.” I was first introduced to it but an 83 year-old camp cook in South America when I was only 15. She called me in the kitchen and ask me to show her how to make Brazilian Stroganoff. She had been cooking five times longer than I had been alive, and yet, she was willing to learn from me. She was gracious and kind and did everything I ask her to do. There was no fuss, attitude, nor even the occasional “here’s a better way to chop onions.” I taught her how to make a dish, but she taught me a life lesson I have never forgotten: it’s never too late to learn. I blogged earlier about another life-long learner here.

From time to time, I also find myself asking: How can I get better, what do I need to change or learn? It often means reading a new book, attending a seminar or meeting with an expert who can help me break through a problem or a plateau.

What about you? How do you keep from getting stuck in your professional life?

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