Real, Live Experiences Still Matter

We live in a world where every piece of information big or small, is at the tip of your fingertips. Thanks to smartphones and Google, our lifelong questions can be answered in 30 seconds while standing in line at Starbucks, no shrink or counselor required. Yet, the more we learn, the more questions we have. And the more we learn, the more we have to teach.

There is still something to be said for learning experiences that happen in person too. Often times, these are even more powerful…and meaningful too. Recently, I had the pleasure of witnessing team members of the DG-Spec Racing Team www.dangardnerspec.com share some of their knowledge with students at a local university.

As a big believer in the power of education, I was looking forward to this exchange. I expected that this particular event would be more of a reconfirmation or swapping of ideas; both the panel and students were rather advanced in their respective fields. I have to say my expectations were truly exceeded! I marveled at the magic that happened when the team passionately shared their insights and stories. The students were hanging on every word, and were eager to find ways to put their learnings into action.

The moral of the story is this: we tend to assume we’ve seen and heard it all. Yes, we can learn a ton of things through the Internet, but there are sometimes better, more impactful means to learning. Make it personal. Get in the room. Make contact. Be inspired. Be inspiring.

If you have an experience worth sharing, make the time to teach. If you are a student, take the time to listen and learn. We are all always students in some form! I truly believe a 4-year-old can teach an 80-year-old about right and wrong. And I’m pretty sure that an 80-year-old can teach a 4-year-old how to really dance. Keep reading, keep writing, keep teaching, keep learning. Learn. Teach. Share.