5 Ways to Learn Stuff That Actually Matters in the Real World

5 Ways to Learn Stuff That Actually Matters in the Real World5 Ways to Learn Stuff That Actually Matters in the Real WorldSome people dont read a single book after they complete their formal education. In his wealth attraction seminar, Dan Kennedy said that 80% of the books purchased on Amazon are not for personal consumption, but as gifts.But when we stop learning, we stop growing.Ive said before, I dont think that business school teaches you everything you need to know about running a business. And a formal education doesnt necessarily teach you much about how to navigate the real world. I was looking at my bookshelf this morning and realized that in the belastung few years, Ive read mora books than I did in the entirety of school.With constant information, resources, and knowledge at our fingertips, we have the ability to give ourselves our own version of an education. As Seth Godin has said in several podcast interviews, Anyone listening to this has more resources than the King o f France did 200 years ago.So where do we begin?1. ReadOf all the expenditures Ive made in my life, books have had by far the most tangible return on investment.Theyve played a pivotal role in my seven-year journey from blog to book deal.I can trace back how I developed my habit of writing 1,000 words a day to a specific text The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. This is just one of the many benefits Ive derived from my books.Theyve served as an ongoing source of inspiration for my own work. If you want to be a prolific writer, become a voracious reader.Every book you read adds to the foundation of your informal education. And if you dont have time for a whole book, try reading news or industry articles online- it works just as well.2. Take an Online CourseOne of my friends didnt know a thing about writing code. He had an app that he wanted to build, but couldnt afford to hire anyone. So, he took a course on OneMonth, and by the end of the month, he had taught himself Python.As so mebody who actually got an MBA, when Im asked about whether people should consider one, I always tell them to check out Seth Godins AltMBA first. Its expensive for an online course, but less expensive than business school and probably has a more significant ROI. Heres what else you can doVisit one of these 62 web sites that will make you smarter.Find the best online courses for what you want to learn, or check out these options hand-picked by career experts.Theres no shortage of worthwhile opportunities to learn from the internet. 3. Build or Make SomethingWhile consumption causes us to learn, creation gives us the opportunity for a practical application of whatever weve learned. The internet rewards creators far more than it rewards consumers. I will probably gain more out of writing this than you will from reading it. Build something, make something, and give people a reason to find you interesting- it doesnt even matter what you create.4. ConnectThe internet has given us access t o the thoughts and ideas of some of societys greatest minds- use itSubscribe to newsletters like Peter Diamandis Abundance insider, Kevin Roses journal, and many others.Follow your heroes and role models on social media. Youll learn what books they read, what news they think is important, and much more.As Benjamin P. Hardy said, surround yourself with people who hold you to a higher standard- even if you dont know them personally.5. Listen and WatchListen to podcasts. Watch TED talks. Between iTunes and YouTube, you have a fountain of knowledge that could last you a lifetime. Theres probably a podcast, video, lecture, or channel for virtually any subject you might be interested in, so go out and find it.School might be where your formal education ends, but it shouldnt be the place where learning does. Make a commitment to lifelong learning, and youll give yourself an informal education that kicks the crap out of your formal one.This article was originally published on Medium. It has been republished here with permission.