WHERE DO YOU GO FOR YOUR INTELLECTUAL FEAST?
by Jim Rohn (excerpted
from Leading an Inspired Life)
Pity the man who has a favourite restaurant, but not a favourite
author. He's picked out a favourite place to feed his body, but he
doesn't have a favourite 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