Commit to Lifelong Learning to Achieve 
Professional Success

by Debra Pestrak
Being the best in anything requires long hours of practice and a commitment to lifelong learning. From the greatest athletes to the most talented musicians to the world’s prolific writers, these people dedicate themselves to their chosen profession and continually strive to improve themselves. They know that self-improvement is the key to success, and they make a daily effort to hone their talents.
Success in business is no different. In order to be an expert in your field, you must continually improve your business skills and stay on top of business trends. The more you commit to self-improvement and learning, the better you will become and the faster your career will excel.
In order to stress the important correlation between learning and business success, several Fortune 500® executives recently explained how self-improvement paved the way for their rise to the top. Their insights and advice go beyond traditional business school teachings and encompass vital learning's that all workers at any level should heed.
Learn From Those Around You
After spending anywhere from 12 to 18 years in school, many people embark into the business world believing they have all the knowledge under their belt that they’ll need. In reality, quite the opposite is often true. Real business learning begins your first day on the job and it continues until retirement. Those people who accept this fact master business trends and advance their careers faster.
One of your most vital learning resources will be your senior co-workers. They have experience you can learn from and can guide you to correct decisions. Jean Hamilton, Chief Executive Office, Prudential Institutional, cites her mentors and co-workers as her greatest teachers. She says, “I’ve been lucky to work with a number of people from whom I’ve been able to learn. I’ve used them as role models, carefully watching to see things they do well and thinking about how I can emulate them in what I do…. Listening to what others have to say, observing success, and then finding a way to personally incorporate that into your own set of goals and standards—all of that is critical.” By following the lead of these people, Hamilton was able to push past her limits and hone her business judgment.
Similarly, Ellen Hancock, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Exodus Communications, reveals that she acquired most of her communication, leadership, and influencing skills through on-the-job training. When she began her career, she made it a point to meet with her mentors monthly. 
She believes having a mentor is vital to success because the learning “becomes more of a personal experience rather than just an assignment.”
To adequately learn from others, look around your current organization and find someone who represents your values. Align yourself with that person so you can continually learn how to best do your job and how to improve your business skills. As you discover the type of support you need to advance your career, you can build a support network of those people who can best assist you with attaining your goals.
Learn From Your Own Mistakes
While mistakes and failures are often painful experiences, they are wonderful learning opportunities that can guide your career and self-development. Too often, people are afraid to make mistakes. They prefer to take the safe route and don’t challenge themselves to achieve more. Those at the top of their field are not afraid of mistakes. They know the importance of risking and learning from their mistakes and are able to move on to achieve greater things with the lessons their mistakes teach them.
Anne Sweeney, President, Disney/ABC Cable Networks and President, Disney Channel, agrees that mistakes are vital to career success. As she says, “I believe that if you stay in jobs where you know you cannot fail, you will never grow. Along the way, you must be prepared to take risks and make mistakes. I mean big mistakes. Mistakes that people know about. Mistakes that people may even write about. Mistakes that will make you question whether you have in fact chosen the right path. This sort of risk-taking constitutes an act of faith in yourself.”
Learn From Training Opportunities
In order to advance your career, you must also take advantage of every training opportunity, whether it’s from your company or an outside source. Why? Within most organizations, knowing various areas of the business is a prerequisite for a move into the executive ranks. You may be able to move close to the top as a specialist, but most organizations will not give you a policy- or decision-making position without knowledge of other areas of the business. This is why you must expand your knowledge base and seek out new ways to gain useful information.
When it comes to learning, Shelley Broader, Senior Vice President, Hannaford Brothers, is a pro. Throughout her climb to the top, she took advantage of every training session she could. She now advises aspiring businesspeople to do the same. “Take advantage of cross-functional learning opportunities and don’t pigeonhole yourself with a single set of skills,” she says. “I’m not practicing what I learned in college by any means, technically. Yet, I have a marketable set of skills and I can learn any tactical function. I can manage people and manage process. I can learn the tactical function that I’m managing.”
To gain hands-on learning, volunteer for new teams and task forces. Read your company’s annual report. Also, look to outside sources, such as trade journals and industry newsletters, for up-to-date market information. The more you know about your company and your industry, the higher you’ll go in your organization.
Learn Something New Today
Career advancement is possible when you make lifelong learning one of your top priorities. As you gain new knowledge and insights, you can continually evaluate the path you’ve chosen to be sure you’re on the right track. By committing yourself to be an eternal student of business, you can rise to the top of any organization.
Read Only © Copyright 2002 Debra Pestrak Used with permission of copyright holder

Debra Pestrak is an expert at helping people unleash their success, allowing people to be more productive and getting what they want out of life. She is an award-winning speaker, author, business consultant, educator and coach. Pestrak is founder and CEO of Success UNleashed, Inc.®, a company dedicated to delivering high-impact and empowering programs. Visit www.debrapestrak.com for more information on Debra and her programs.

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