General Mattis on reading:
…The problem with being too busy to read is that you learn by experience (or by your men’s experience), i.e. the hard way. By reading, you learn through others’ experiences, generally, a better way to do business, especially in our line of work where the consequences of incompetence are so final for young men.
Thanks to my reading, I have never been caught flat-footed by any situation, never at a loss for how any problem has been addressed (successfully or unsuccessfully) before. It doesn’t give me all the answers, but it lights what is often a dark path ahead… – General James Mattis
https://www.businessinsider.com/viral-james-mattis-email-reading-marines-2013-5
What can you do individually and as an organization to promote learning at your organization? The following are a few ideas:
- Required reading list for all employees.
- Access to education resources for all employees at minimal or low cost.
- Education and learning certifications for all employees.
- Centers for learning and teaching.
- Lending library for books, videos and educational resources.
- Learning groups for all employees.
What can you do to start learning today? What resources can you utilize? What are your reading and learning goals?