Every year, in the month of September, parents send their kids off to school with a sigh of relief. But as the kids return to their “job” of learning, what are the adults doing? Do we also need to go to go back to “school”? Things are changing faster now than in any other time in recorded history. How do we as cat breeders and exhibitors keep up?
Fortunately, we live in an Information Age. There is bound to be a website, video or podcast with the information you need and want. In fact, we can learn about almost anything in the world — as long as we are eager to seek out the knowledge.
Knowledge is Power
Never stop growing means never stop seeking more knowledge and more understanding.
Bill Gates, the multi-billionaire founder of Microsoft says, “Every now and then I like to pick up a copy of Time magazine and read every article from beginning to end, not just the articles that interest me most. That way I can be certain to learn something I didn’t know previously.”
Trusted Sources
The challenge in seeking knowledge in the digital age is where to find accurate and reliable information. For the cat breeder this means looking for trusted sources. Breeders and exhibitors have been relying on the online cat magazines PandEcats.com and ShowCatsOnline.com for more than two decades. Reading one of the ezines is a good starting point for finding true, useful and proven information about breeding and showing felines.
Keep An Open Mind
The ability to be open to change and to continue to try and improve oneself is crucial to success. Do not be afraid of change. If you ignore your surroundings and stop asking questions about how to improve, you will be destined to failure.
Set Goals
Set goals for the coming year, and embrace the privilege of being a lifelong learner. Write your goals down and be specific and detailed. Make a concrete plan. Dream big.
Final Thoughts
The cat fancy keeps evolving. Be active, search for and discover new ideas. Never underestimate your ability to learn more. If you never stop learning you will always have knowledge as your most valuable resource. Reach for things beyond your grasp. Extra purrs and chin rubs will come your way…
