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ARE YOU TEACHABLE

The Governor of North Carolina once complimented Thomas Edison on his creative genius. "I am not a great inventor," countered Edison. "But you have over 1,000 patents to your credit," the Governor stated. "Yes, but about the only invention I can claim is absolutely original, is the phonograph," Edison replied. "I'm afraid I don't understand," the Governor remarked. "Well," explained Edison, "I'm an awfully good sponge. I absorb ideas wherever I can and put them to practical use. Then I improve them until they become of some value. My ideas are mostly the ideas of other people who didn't develop them themselves." Edison was a lifelong learner. He stayed open, hungry for knowledge, and teachable. And to succeed, you must too. To know whether you're teachable, ask yourself:

(1) Am I open to other people's thoughts and ideas?

(2) Do I listen more than I talk?

(3) Am I willing to change my opinion based on new information?

(4) Do I readily admit when I am wrong?

(5) Do I think and observe before acting on a situation? (6) Do I ask questions?

(7) Am I willing to ask a question that will expose my ignorance?

(8) Am I open to doing things in a way I haven't done them before?

(9) Am I willing to ask for directions?

(10) Do I act defensively when criticized, or do I listen openly for the truth? The Bible says: "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice."

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