Learning is one of the most magical experiences you will ever enjoy. As a child, you learn to feed your curiosity and have fun but as you grow up, your motivation to learn tends to change. Why do you learn anything at this stage of your career?

In the beginning, you realize learning enough information earns you a piece of paper that grants you the opportunity to get a job. This brings with it money which you can use for all sorts of stuff. Then you realize to earn more money you need a promotion, which often requires a certification (PMP, PRINCE2, etc). At a later point in our careers learning a lot of information brings with it prestige (PhD, a fellowship, etc). After that, what is the goal of learning? Why do folks continue to learn?

I like to think you come full circle and arrive back at the point where you started. At that stage, learning feeds your curiosity and you equate fun and excitement with learning.

What if instead of learning to earn money, then a promotion, and then prestige, we learned simply for the sake of having fun and feeding curiosity? If we focused on the fun part of learning, then won’t the other stuff I have mentioned take care of itself?

If I learn because I am having fun, then I will study topics I enjoy and become an expert in those topics. As I grow older, I will apply for jobs that require expertise in those topics and let’s assume I earn such a job. It also can be safely assumed if I am having fun, my work ethic will increase and I will provide my company with qualities that many times can’t be measured but are probably the most valuable qualities to possess; dedication, persistence, trust, etc.

As I continue to progress in my job, assuming I am still having fun and working hard, opportunities for promotion will be presented and hopefully I am able to benefit and move up. Of course certifications will increase my chances of being promoted and I will probably seek out certificates that apply to my career field. Then as I mature and continue in my career, thanks to my hard work and credible reputation, the prestige I desire will be bestowed upon me. It is similar to the phrase, you cannot ask someone to love you, all you can do is be loved. The same applies to prestige and promotions for that matter, you can’t ask for them and expect them to be delivered on your doorstep, you can only earn them when you have gained the trust of those you lead and serve.

So, why do you learn anything at this stage of your career? Better yet, are you having fun learning at this stage of your career? If not, I suggest you focus on having fun and the learning will take care of itself.