One of the greatest advantages you can have over others in a competitive world is to have more knowledge. The world’s knowledge is expanding at a geometric rate and while it would be impossible to keep up with all of it there are several areas where continuous learning and improvement will greatly benefit you.

Formal education and self education

Formal education is important and it is wise to get as much as you can. However formal education only provides a basic foundation to what you ultimately need to know. Success in nearly every area is enhanced by learning as much as you can in that area. If you want to be a great doctor you must continue to study medicine long after medical school. A great lawyer must continue to study the law and the changes in law throughout her career. A great teacher must keep up with the developments in his field of teaching all the time to remain relevant.

To build financial security, or otherwise said, wealth, you must also continuously learn. As Jim Rohn said, “Formal education will make you a living; self education will make you a fortune.”

Successful people are continually reading, learning, taking courses and observing the world about them to learn more about it. The more successful a person is the more likely it is that they will be a lifelong learner.

One great benefit to learning is that it is a form of wealth in itself. You can lose all your property and all your money, but you cannot lose all your learning. Bernard Meltzer observed, “The real measure of your wealth is how much you’d be worth if you lost all your money”. And contemporary economist and entrepreneur Paul Zane Pilzer has observed that “prosperity belongs to those who learn new things the fastest”.

Most of the time formal education is very expensive. Self education however can be very inexpensive. Your public and university libraries are filled with thousands of books full of useful knowledge which is mostly free. Free is an awfully reasonable price. Even purchasing new and used books is relatively affordable compared to formal education. There are also many educational programs recorded on CD or DVD available teaching very subject imaginable. And of course the internet can be a source of endless information on nearly any subject.

Nothing however is as useful as a good book on a subject written by someone who has studied the subject extensively or has practical experience to offer.

Your Educational Program

Like any other important discipline learning must be planned and the plan followed through on. You will greatly benefit from setting aside a regular amount of time each day to read and study. Your best time may be first thing in the morning before the day’s interruptions can interfere or last thing in the evening before bed. Just 30 minutes a day can result in three or four books a month or 50 a year. Imagine what you can learn from 50 books. Imagine how far you will be ahead of others in your field if you read 50 books a year.

If you are in your field of work for 25 years you can easily read over a thousand books in that field in that time. You would clearly be an expert and rise to the top of your field.

Whether you read 15 minutes a day or two hours a day, just make sure you do it. Read every day. The key to learning is sustained effort.

The highly successful author and public speaker Brian Tracy has written over 50 books and countless taped programs. He travels the world speaking to thousands and consults with leading business leaders. If Tracy has time to read anyone has time to read. Tracy reads on average two to three hours a day. Is there any doubt as to why he is a leader in his field?

Serious study and reading is labeled in school as being bookish or nerdy. It can carry a stigma that lasts for people the rest of their lives. Do not permit this silly school age prejudice stop you from being a serious student.

It is not enough to be a serious student. You must be a serious student of the kinds of books and knowledge that you can use in your work or that you can use to build wealth. You can use it to improve your skills and acquire new ones. You can learn new languages. In today’s market the more you know – the more useful knowledge you possess – the more valuable you will be in that market.

Read constantly. Study deeply. These can be the first steps toward success and the critical steps to sustain success.

Daniel R. Murphy writes on personal development, leadership skills, time management and how you can build wealth and financial independence.