Never stop learning! Flexing your brain muscles keeps your mind sharp and your skills updated.

1. LIFELONG
LEARNING
AND
SELF-DIRECTION
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2. What is Lifelong Learning?
“The continuous building
of skills and knowledge
throughout the life of an
individual. It occurs
through experiences
encountered in the
course of a lifetime.”
Wikipedia

3. What is Lifelong Learning?
Learning that doesn’t
necessarily happen in
school or a classroom;
an ongoing journey of
learning through
experiences.

4. “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at
twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning
stays young. The greatest thing in life is to
keep your mind young.”
Henry Ford once said…

5. Lifelong Learning Is About
 Acquiring and updating all kinds of abilities,
interests, knowledge and qualifications
 Valuing all forms of learning
 Taking more control of our futures

6. Lifelong Learning
 Makes us more interesting
 Provides us with a fresh perspective
 Allows us to make better, more
informed decisions
 Assists us in becoming more
successful in our life and career

7. Why is Lifelong Learning Important?
“As we enter the 21st century, the information
age, your ability to expand your mind and
strive for continuous education is critical to
your success.
By dedicating yourself to lifelong learning, you
can leapfrog ahead of your competition.”
Brian Tracy

8. Why is Lifelong Learning Important?
That means your
knowledge has to double
every 2-3 years just to
keep up!
Information and
knowledge
in every field is
doubling every
2-3 years.

9. The Road to Career Success
It’s rare for people to
advance in their careers
without:
 Career Assessment
 Career Exploration
 Career Development
 Continuous Learning

10. Career Assessment
 Know yourself
 Who am I?
 What are my strengths?
Weaknesses?
 What can I bring to the
table?
 What are the priorities in
my life?
 What do I enjoy doing?
 What am I interested in?
 Am I a “people person”?
 What goals have I
accomplished?
 Where am I right now?
 Where do I want to be in 5
or 10 years?

11. Career Exploration
 Explore career possibilities (O*NET)
 Conduct informational interviews
 Network
 Find a mentor
 Job Exploration and Research

12. Increasing Skills & Gaining Experience
 Internships
 Volunteering
 Job shadowing
 Practicing
 Education/training
 Researching

13. Career Development
 Initiative
 Competence
 Continuous Improvement

14. Taking the Initiative
 Be motivated
 Do your job well and
do it right
 Finish what you start
 Seek new
opportunities
 Use your time wisely

15.  Perform job duties in a proficient and
efficient manner
 Possess the skills and knowledge to
do the job well—be a “paid expert”
 Seek out ways of staying
current with skills
Demonstrating Competence

16. Keys to Learning from Mistakes
I. Admit that you’ve made a mistake
II. Accept responsibility
III. Understand why the mistake occurred
IV. Reflect on the lesson you learned
V. Try to avoid repeating the same mistake
“Mistakes are lessons of wisdom. The past cannot
be changed. The future is yet in your power.”
Hugh White

17. Learning from Your Mistakes
 We’re taught to feel guilty when we make
mistakes and do everything we can to
avoid them
 Look at mistakes as learning opportunities
 Mistakes can make you both stronger and
smarter
“Mistakes are only part of being human.
Appreciate your mistakes for what they are:
precious life lessons that can only be learned
the hard way.”
Al Franken

18. Continuous Learning
 In order to advance in your career, you
need to learn continuously
 The more you learn, the more you realize what you
don’t know
 Learning is limitless
 Never let yourself be tired of learning new
things, skills, and ideas

19. Top 10 Benefits of Lifelong Learning
I. Develops natural abilities
II. Opens the mind
III. Creates a curious, hungry mind
IV. Increases wisdom
V. Adds value to society

20. Top 10 Benefits of Lifelong Learning
VI. Helps adapt to change
VII. Helps find meaning in life
VIII. Involvement as an active contributor
IX. Develops new, valuable relationships
X. Leads to an enriching life of
self-fulfillment

21. Exercise Your Brain!
 Lifelong learning is essential to living a full
and healthy life
 You need a continual development of your
knowledge, skills, and attitude—especially
in the workforce
 Lifelong learning keeps
our minds sharp, improves
memory, and increases
confidence

22. How to Exercise Your Brain
 Read often
 Learn new skills
 Put skills into action
 Learn in groups
 Play games and puzzles
 Learn new words
 Practice your math
 Draw or paint
 Never avoid breakfast

23. Dedication to Lifelong Learning
“Knowledge is the primary source of
value in our world today and your
ability to expand your mind and devote
yourself to lifelong learning
is the key to breaking any
success barriers that may be
in front of you.”
Brian Tracy

24. Like what you saw?
We hope you found this information helpful. Check us out at
www.miworksmo.org.
• Give us any questions/comments/concerns
• See our workshop schedule
• Learn more about Michigan Works! Muskegon-Oceana

25. SOURCES
 ACT, Career Ready 101, 2008, Thinking Media, a division of SAI Interactive, Inc. “What is Career
Readiness?”
 Berkun, Scott. “How to Learn From Your Mistakes.” Scottberkun.com. July 2005.
 Career Advancement Instructor Guide. Goodwill Works Curriculum. Goodwill Industries International, Inc.,
2009.
 Career Advancement Participant Guide. Goodwill Works Curriculum. Goodwill Industries International,
Inc., 2009.
 “How to Learn From Mistakes.” Strategicbusinessteam.com. How to Start a Small Business and Invest
Your Money Wisely. 2009-2011, Strategicbusinessteam.com.
 Quotationspage.com. 1994-2010, Quotations Page.com and Michael Moncur.
 “Lifelong Learning.” En.wikipedia.org.
 “Lifelong Learning Attributes for Career Advancement – Perspectives from Chinese Proverbs.” Career-
success-for-newbies. 2006, career-success-for-newbies.com.
 Mills, Chris and Amanda Whitmore. Job Institute Manual. Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids.
San Francisco, Cal.: Creative Commons, 2010.
 Pettinger, Tejvan. “How to Learn From Mistakes.” Pickthebrain.com. Web. 2011, PickTheBrain.
 “Take Initiative at Work, Take Success Home.” Career-Tools-HQ.com. 2008-2009, Career-Tools-HQ.com.