When I was in High School, I was on the school golf team. I did this because I enjoy playing golf, and it gave me something to do before wrestling season. The golf season was done early, so I could still go to the preseason wrestling workouts, and it was not too stressful, so it was a good match.
However, I did not participate on the team during my senior year. This is because of a lead-up of events between me and the coach. I was convinced that he was a terrible coach (even looking back, he wasn’t good, but he was not as bad as I thought). We just didn’t get along.
This particular coach was the kind that promised us things, such as sponsorships, program-funded clothes and equipment, and events, but then get mad at us when we asked why we weren’t seeing the results of his promises. He knew what he was talking about when it came to coaching golf, but he did not make the experience for the team a good one.
The thing is, I’m not even mad at him. I have seen him in public (after having left the team), and I shook his hand and thanked him. He taught me a lot about living, about being a man, and meaning what you say, albeit in a negative way.
That leads me to the purpose of this post:
You can learn from everyone.
Every encounter that you have, has some potential to be a learning experience.
Whether you’re talking to a millionaire, or a convicted felon.
A CEO, or a janitor.
A businessman, or a homeless person.
EVERY single person you meet has something to offer.
I challenge every single person reading this to be mindful of these things as they go about their daily life. Instead of thinking “This person is poor, what do they know”, think “What can I learn from this person?”
Trust me, it will make a world of difference.