Where Do You Go For
Your Intellectual Feast
by Jim Rohn
Pity the man who has a favorite restaurant, but not a favorite
author. He's picked out a favorite place to feed his body, but
he doesn't have a favorite place to feed his mind!
Why would this be? Have you heard about the accelerated learning
curve? From birth, up until the time we are about eighteen, our
learning curve is dramatic, and our capacity to learn during this
period is just staggering. We learn a tremendous amount very fast.
We learn language, culture, history, science, mathematics . . .
everything!
For some people, the accelerated learning process will continue
on. But for most, it levels off when they get their first job.
If there are no more exams to take, if there's no demand to get
out paper and pencil, why read any more books? Of course, you will
learn some things through experience. Just getting out there – sometimes
doing it wrong and sometimes doing it right - you will learn.
Can you imagine what would happen if you kept up an accelerated
learning curve all the rest of your life? Can you imagine what
you could learn to do, the skills you could develop, the capacities
you could have? Here's what I'm asking you to do: be that unusual
person who keeps up his learning curve and develops an appetite
for always trying to find good ideas.
One way to feed your mind and educate your philosophy is through
the writings of influential people. Maybe you can't meet the person,
but you can read his or her books. Churchill is gone, but we still
have his books. Aristotle is gone, but we still have his ideas.
Search libraries for books and programs. Search magazines. Search
documentaries. They are full of opportunities for intellectual
feasting.
In addition to reading and listening, you also need a chance to
do some talking and sharing. I have some people in my life who
help me with important life questions, who assist me in refining
my own philosophy, weighing my values and pondering questions about
success and lifestyle.
We all need association with people of substance to provide influence
concerning major issues such as society, money, enterprise, family,
government, love, friendship, culture, taste, opportunity, and
community. Philosophy is mostly influenced by ideas, ideas are
mostly influenced by education, and education is mostly influenced
by the people with whom we associate.
One of the great fortunes of my life was to be around Mr. Shoaff
those five years. During that time he shared with me at dinner,
during airline flights, at business conferences, in private conversations
and in groups. He gave me many ideas that enabled me to make small
daily adjustments in my philosophy and activities. Those daily
changes, some very slight, but very important, soon added up to
weighty sums.
A big part of the lesson was having Mr. Shoaff repeat the ideas
over and over. You just can't hear the fundamentals of life philosophy
too often. They are the greatest form of nutrition, the building
blocks for a well-developed mind.
I'm asking that you feed your mind just as you do your body. Feed
it with good ideas, wherever they can be found. Always be on the
lookout for a good idea - a business idea, a product idea, a service
idea, an idea for personal improvement. Every new idea will help
to refine your philosophy. Your philosophy will guide your life,
and your life will unfold with distinction and pleasure.
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
This article was submitted by Jim Rohn, America's Foremost Business
Philosopher. To subscribe to the Free Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine
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