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Monday, January 18, 2010

Education vs. Learning

I wasn't always an avid reader. In fact I used to quite literally hate it. But around my junior year of college, all of the sudden I found out there is this wealth of knowledge and interest, mindtrips lets call them. A 'mind trip' would be anything that completely turns your head upside down and makes you stop everything you're doing to say...wow.

I had been turned on to some really good resources of which changed my life in many ways. But the point is books are incredible, they are cheap, and packed fulla learnin (to speak in my native tongue. Just kidding, but only a little).

But to be honest I went through college, it was okay. I don't really want to speak bad about it., college definitely has it's purpose, but I'm also not one to hold back his opinion. It taught me how not to drink, act, or eat, and that you can borrow absurd amounts of money to do close to nothing for four years. But someone will hand you a job because of a little piece of paper.

I'm not against all education, but what I am for, with every part of me is learning. I don't know how many books I've read in the last 3 years but I know I learned more from just one of them than I learned from 4 years of college. Think I'm exaggerating? I'm not.

You're trying to get into better shape? Find a book that inspires you. Want a better life? Pick up something on life style design or that you are passionate about. You want better relationships? Pick up something on self help? Because it's not you it's me? Yeah right. It's always the person in the mirror.

What I've found that works for me, is I go to people I know of that are in positions I'd like to be and find what they recommend and I buy it. Don't ask questions, just do, and follow through.

Here's one to start you out. It might seem stupid but to be honest I wish someone would've given this book to me when I was 14 or so. It's called The Inner Game of Tennis. Although I'm not a tennis player I still think it is a great book for any athlete in any sport, and Pete Carroll says so too.

The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance

It's actually extremely good. Short read, which is nice for young athletes with the attention span of zilch. There are a couple chapters devoted to tennis technique, so you can probably skip those if you're not interested in tennis, but otherwise it's a great book to keep around and read regularly.







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