Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1070459
USICERINKS.COM JANUARY.FEBRUARY.2019 / 17 any talented people feel that they do not have anything new to learn in their chosen field. They believe what got them there is enough. Those who are determined and who work hard often spend a lot of time and effort to learn new skills and maintain their existing ones. They display the most current knowledge of new technol- ogy and ideas. Having employees who will improve themselves over and above the company-sponsored training is criti- cal to an organization wanting to inno- vate and improve. Eleven years ago, Ben got a job work- ing in the mail room at a local business during the summer before starting col- lege. The company had been in existence for more than 60 years and was currently being led by Jack—a long-time employee and company legend who started in the mailroom. Three weeks into the job, on his way from the basement to the top floor, the elevator stopped and who should enter the elevator but Jack. He smiled at Ben, introduced himself, and mentioned that he started out in the mail room. Ben was a little starstruck, but as they both exited the elevator, Ben asked if Jack had any advice for him. "Never stop educating yourself," Jack said. "In fact, come into my office and let me elaborate. I have 15 minutes before my next meeting." Jack proceeded to share these five pil- lars for continued education: 1. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR EDUCATION You alone are responsible for your educa- tion. Whether or not it makes sense to invest in a formal education, there are free and for-fee learning opportunities available to everyone. The public library and the Internet are two examples. Another invaluable source of education is through people. Spend time with people who can do things that you can't. It may mean volunteering to stay late to observe someone, going to lunch with more experi- enced associates or finding a mentor. You can also learn by taking on chal- lenging assignments that are above your skill level. Discuss the help you will need to be successful and the company leadership may reward your initiative by providing an experienced staff member to oversee your on-the-job training. You can learn pretty much anything, if you work hard at it. 2. NO ENTITLEMENTS Time in service should be no guar- antee of advancement in a successful business. It is what one learns with his or her experience that determines the value of the service time. In other words, if you put in your time, you are guaranteed nothing. M HAVING EMPLOYEES WHO WILL IMPROVE THEMSELVES OVER AND ABOVE THE COMPANY-SPONSORED TRAINING IS CRITICAL TO AN ORGANIZATION WANTING TO INNOVATE AND IMPROVE. , Learn from others in your industry—you never know what trick of the trade they might have learned and are willing to pass along to you.