Watching my two and four-year-old daughters learn about life can be a little disconcerting at times. They fall down trying to do something new, cry because they’re frustrated with a difficult task, or they try to get mommy to do it because it’s hard.

As adults, we forget how painful real learning can be. (A two hour professional development seminar ain’t real learning folks, no matter how painful it feels at the time.) And we also forget how valuable falling down can be. Painful situations are usually avoided by adults simply because of the hurt and embarrassment they can cause.

Learning can feel especially dangerous in professional situations. But it’s really more dangerous not to try something new. Because while you may look like an ass trying to figure something new out, you’ll be made more valuable by the knowledge you’ve acquired.

Posted on: April 22, 2010, by : Jimmy Gilmore