“The illiterate of the twenty-first century will not be those who cannot read and write, but rather those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” ~Alvin Toffler, Futurist 

Our world—the ways in which we conduct business, connect with others, and market products and services—has changed to such a degree over the past decade, that only those who become adept at unlearning outdated modalities and paradigms will survive the pace of changes yet to come.

It’s easier to learn than to unlearn.

A lot of adults approach learning (read: change to the status quo) with suspicion and trepidation, which doesn’t help a change endeavor of any kind.

Not so with children. Think of a child learning something new, something they’re interested in; their faces will light up with eager curiosity.

They’re excited by the newness, not frightened by it, and engage freely. (Click here for example)

Later in life we seem to lose that essential aspect of learning, curiosity, and an openness to newness. We become eager to display what we know, closing doors to conversations and opportunities that might have been.

As we grow up we begin to unlearn what we once knew: that the world is an ever-changing kaleidoscope of experiences with something new to be learned everyday.

But, we can relearn that.

The single biggest blockage to learning something new is seeing past what you think you already know.

But relearning, when entered into eagerly and conducted with curiosity, can be as meaningful as it is productive.

And a lot more fun.

“It’s what you learn after you think you know it all that counts.” ~John Wooden