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Fritzie Reisner

Educator/Researcher/Writer,

TEDCRED 100+
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How important is it to you to take action on the basis of what you learn?

Some of us learn almost entirely for the pleasure of it. Others see learning primarily as an investment in career. Others feel compelled to use their learning for a tangible productive purpose beyond achieving understanding and beyond providing commentary from the sidelines on other people's actions (or lack of sensible actions).

How important is it to take action on the basis of what you have learned? Is taking significant action a regular part of your life or more an intention for the future?

Topics: action learning
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    Gail . 50+

    • +1
    Jul 28 2012: Taking action on what I have learned is essential. In fact, it's unavoidable.

    When I learn something, my worldview changes. As my worldview predetermines my actions, then the new learning integrates itself into my behaviors.

    On a less existential level, some things that are learned need practice. Others need testing. Others need talking about so that I can see myself think - thus exposing what I have learned to constructive criticism.

    I learn for the sheer joy of learning. I differentiate between "formal education" and "education". The first has done too much damage to my life. The second has brought joy and purpose that is not money driven.
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      Jared Kirschner

      • +1
      Jul 28 2012: What defines "taking action" for you? I struggle with the fact that there are many new things I learn that I don't feel empowered to take action on. For instance: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/aaron_huey.html. There are so many learnings upon which I could take action. How do you decide which ones to take action on? There are so many considerations: How long will it take me to create lasting, worthwhile change? What is worthwhile change? Is there something better I could be working on? How much would I enjoy acting on this learning? How do you walk this balance?
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        Fritzie Reisner 100+

        • +1
        Host
        Jul 28 2012: What a thoughtful and well-articulated reply. It is so productive to pose to ourselves the question of where our time and talents are best spent.
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        Mariah (McMillian) Bohannon

        • +1
        Jul 29 2012: Well, after determining if your planned action will be effective for those involved, I think it would be best if you look into your personal values. Sometimes it can be a difficult decision to make but only you can make that decision.

        Try creating a life purpose statement that describes HOW you want to live instead of WHAT actions you will take during your lifetime. Then go back to your life purpose statement before taking action to make sure it aligns with how you want to live.

        It may not be perfect, but at least it gets you moving if movement is what you seek.
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          Fritzie Reisner 100+

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          Jul 29 2012: People have different ways of doing this. The more verbally-focused person may use a personal mission statement. I have known others to create vision boards to this same end, to create an over-arching picture of which worthwhile projects and actions also align with the person's big picture of where he wants to focus effort. There is also a thread underway at this time through which people are sharing personal mottos, which may in some cases offer similar focus in self-organization.

      • JEFF D.

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        Jul 29 2012: FIRST YOU GOT TO DEEPLY KNOW YOURSELF. AND BE AWARE OF YOUR CURRENT STATE.. EXAMPLE----KNOW HOW GOOD ARE YOU PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, ARE YOU HAPPY OR NOT ETC.
        THEN YOU CAN FIGURE WHAT YOU LIKE DOING (ALONGSIDE OTHER THINGS YOU CAN ALSO FIGURE OUT)---IT COULD BE MORE THAN ONE THING, OR IT COULD ONE MAIN THING, AND A LOT OF OTHERS THINGS NOT AS IMPORTANT. YOU WOULD KNOW WHICH THING/S YOU LIKE TO TAKE ACTION ON, WHEN YOUR BRAIN, HEART, SOUL, SUBCONSCIOUSNESS ETC--ALL AGREED. YOU WOULD LIKE DOING WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE.... YOU WONT EVEN MIND NOT GETTING PAID FOR IT. THEN ONCE YOU CHOSEN THE THING/S YOU REALLY LIKE TO DO, ENABLE YOURSELF TO DO IT. (SOMETIMES PEOPLE CHANGE, BUTS THAT'S OK, EXPLORE UNTIL YOU FILL COMPLETE DOING WHAT YOU DO) EXAMPLES------EINSTEIN LOVED SCIENCE/MATH ETC THAT'S ALL HE THOUGHT ABOUT ALL DAY, EVERYDAY. , MAGIC LOVED BASKETBALL THAT'S ALL HE DID, AND THOUGHT ABOUT. WHEN YOU DO WHAT YOU LIKE, IT DOES NOT FEELS LIKE WORKING, IT FEELS LIKE DESTINY. ANY OTHER MOTIVATIONS WILL NOT MAKE YOU WORK AS HARD AS YOU SIMPLY BEING EAGER TO DO WHAT YOU LIKE---NOT MONEY, NOT AWARDS, ETC. AS FOR MYSELF I LIKE TOO MANY THINGS-THEREFORE I WILL DO ALL OF THEM.

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