“Learn all you can, so you can contribute all you can.” – Ron Goch
“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo
One of my new year’s resolutions in 2010 was to invest 2 hours of my work time learning every week. I considered this a good investment of my time because spending time learning would help me to grow and be better at my job. So every week, I scheduled these 2 hours into my calendar, no matter how busy I was.
I really enjoyed those 2 hours. I would read articles that people had emailed me, books I borrowed from the library, and watch videos like TED talks. I wanted to learn from the best and brightest people in the world, and I always left those times inspired to think bigger and do better. Years ago I heard a speaker say that the best investment you can make is in yourself, because the greatest gift you can give to the world is yourself. If I become a better and wiser leader, my co-workers will benefit, my family will benefit, my friends will benefit, and my church will benefit. Everyone I interact with will benefit. Is not that a good investment?
This year I decided to invest some time in Twitter. Why? Because it is an excellent tool to help me to continually learn from the best and brightest people in the world. I am able to follow the top leaders and experts in areas I want to grow in, and Twitter collects all their thoughts together in one place.
Here are some tips on how to get the most out of Twitter:
1) Choose a few areas/subjects you’d like to grow
2) Find the experts and leaders in that subject and follow them
3) Spend time regularly reading your Twitter feed
4) Re-post the most helpful articles, quotes, and videos you have seen
These are the areas I want to grow in and some of my favourite people I follow in each.
Spirituality and Faith
C.S. Lewis (@cslewisdaily)
Tim Keller (@dailykeller)
John Piper (@johnpiper and @desiringGod)
Mark Driscoll (@pastormark)
Donald Miller (@donaldmiller)
Relevant Magazine (@relevant)
Leadership
Michael Hyatt (@michaelhyatt)
John Maxwell (@johncmaxwell)
Bill Hybels (@billhybels)
Business
Harvard Business Review (@harvardbiz)
Forbes Magazine (@forbes)
Seth Godin (@thisissethsblog)
Pat Flynn (@patflynn)
Social Enterprise and Innovation
Vancouver for Acumen (@van4acumen)
Bill Gates (@billgates)
Every day I try to get my 30 minutes of learning from my Twitter feed. If you’re interested in what I’m learning, follow me at @timtchan or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/timchan).
Are you on Twitter? If so, who are the favourite people that you follow?