Erika Andersen, writer and speaker, says that increasing your learning requires attention to your ANEW skills. Here’s what she means:

• Aspiration – To aspire to learn is to be ambitious about adding to your skill set and to approach each opportunity with intention.
• Neutral Self-Awareness – This is about being humble in your assessment of what you know and what you think you know. Learners enter every training opportunity appreciating the benefit of coaching, knowing that there is always more to learn.
• Endless Curiosity – Recognizing that there is always more fuels curiosity. Learners are inspired to dive deep into new learning environments and are driven to master their craft.
• Willingness to Be Bad First – Embracing the learning curve means acknowledging that being new often comes with mistakes. Many resist trying new things out of pride and the fear of appearing inept, but the humble learner suspends judgment during the early, awkward steps. They hold a growth mindset that believes with teaching and practice, anything is possible.

If you don’t aspire, you won’t dig.
If you are complacent, you lose the opportunity for honest self-assessment.
If you think you know it all, your curiosity will dull.
If you are prideful, it will dull your desire to risk something new.

-Howe Q. Wallace Jr