90% of Learning for a Better Life Happens After School

Practical learning for better living happens after formal education.

Albert Einstein explains it beautifully, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.”

Schools provide the foundation for life, but it’s unstructured and self-directed learning that equips us with wisdom for life.

School is designed for grading and certification.

Learning in school is a good start, but it doesn’t capture all of the things we need to know to succeed in life.

It’s our responsibility to prepare ourselves for a better life outside school. The most important life lessons and skills are acquired in the real world. “As long as you live, keep learning how to live,” Seneca said.

That means learning how to learn, finding better wisdom for thriving in a work environment and learning how to spend your limited time on earth.

Almost all institutions imparting knowledge are structured to test what you know and measure skill proficiency. What happens after that is up to you.

If you want something else (how to live a better life or make the most of life), you have to make time to learn it yourself.

Here’s what I wish I had learned in school: making better and rational life-changing decisions using mental models, investing time (and money) wisely for better returns, getting control over my emotions and optimising life for health, wealth and happiness.

Learn to become a learner of life, for life!

“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” Real-life learning happens outside school.” — Mark Twain

Successful people don’t stop learning — they make learning a daily habit.

Life learning as a skill is undervalued in modern societies: but our success depends on it. The only real learning is self-directed learning.

Want to learn how to start and maintain a successful career?

You have to learn from people who have made it in your industry or learn from the experiences of others on your own. And most importantly, put what you learn to practice.

“The goal of all learning is action, not knowledge,” John C. Maxwell said.

Want to learn how to cope with emotional stress? You have to find better knowledge in great books and learn from experts on the topic. And again, take action and practice the new habits in your life.

We learn best by trial and error — and learning from experience.

Real learning for life begins when you realise you have more to learn after school than you can ever imagine.

Learning is a lifelong pursuit. “Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will,” Vernon Howard said.

In the age of knowledge abundance, wisdom can be accessed anywhere — take advantage and make time for life learning.

Learning is a skill that can be applied to every area of life, and your ability to learn will set the stage for success or failure in nearly everything you do.

The more you know, the more opportunities are open for you, and the better chance you have at living a successful and fulfilling life.

Our lives and careers change so much — accumulating good knowledge for life is the only way to make good progress over time.

“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realise, the less I know,” Michel Legrand said.

Whether you decide to read a book, listen to a podcast, read a newsletter, take an online course, learn from a mentor or watch videos, choosing what you want to do with your learning time can be an empowering experience. Your future self depends on it.

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This post was previously published on Thomas Oppong’s blog.

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