More Than Work: Learning, searching should take precedence over awards

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Tim McGuire is a past president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors and former editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He writes about workplace issues.|ret||ret||tab|

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In seventh grade, Sister Regina gave me a great gift. To encourage us to read, she announced an award for the student who read the most books. I read 108 books. I remember that number as well as my phone number. Nobody came close to my total.|ret||ret||tab|

But while Sister gave me the gift of reading, I fell into a competitive trap I've struggled with all my life. Winning that contest was more important to me than savoring the knowledge and storytelling in those books. I couldn't run faster or throw the ball farthest, but I could read more books. I had to win.|ret||ret||tab|

Accomplishment and achievement marked all my efforts. I debated for the competition and honors and not the intellectual rigor. I collected writing and speaking awards so I could show off to others. |ret||ret||tab|

In the early days of my professional life I greedily collected titles and honors. I focused on my career for achievements and accolades. I didn't spend a lot of time figuring out whom I was helping or how I was contributing to the common good with my work.|ret||ret||tab|

When my fast-track career was temporarily derailed, I went to law school to achieve some more. During law school my newspaper career was revived, but rather than quitting law school I had to achieve that degree and pass the bar exam. I always achieved my goals.|ret||ret||tab|

But a funny thing happened on the way to that sheepskin. I fell in love with learning. Inquiry became a great joy. Ruminating about bigger issues than yesterday's accomplishment became crucial to my life.|ret||ret||tab|

After law school I began doing weird things, such as exploring faith and reading the Bible for fun. I found that books on spirituality, meaning and reflection practically leaped off bookshelves into my hands. Suddenly, I was learning because I wanted to learn. |ret||ret||tab|

Gradually, the concepts of journey and search became at least as important to me as achievement and accomplishment. When I thought about studying, questioning and seeking, I found more peace. As I tried to let go of competition and comparison I constantly fell back into the traps of my old habits, but I also found new freedom.|ret||ret||tab|

I discovered that I personally owned my sense of search and journey. When I focused on achievement and accolades somebody else was always keeping score. Somebody else always decided if I was measuring up and if my achievements passed muster.|ret||ret||tab|

When I started searching for spirituality in work, when I started searching for the answers to work problems, and when I started to search for greater understanding rather than accomplishing a goal, I found that I was in charge.|ret||ret||tab|

Arrogance drives our desire for accomplishment and achievement. Humility drives our search because we're admitting we don't know how it's all going to end.|ret||ret||tab|

A few weeks ago I lectured at a prominent private university. By way of introduction the students were supposed to tell us their career plans. Only two or three of the 12 students had firm plans for their future, and those who didn't were profoundly embarrassed. |ret||ret||tab|

I didn't say anything and now I wish I would have. I wish I had urged them not to get hung up on goals and achievements. I wish I had told them to make seeking, searching and journey the key words in their vocabulary.|ret||ret||tab|

I wish I had told them to enjoy learning for learning's sake and reflect deeply upon how that learning can make them better citizens of the world.|ret||ret||tab|

And, I wish I had told them to avoid keeping score for as long as possible. |ret||ret||tab|

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Tip for your search|ret||ret||tab|

Write down five things you believe. The list might include your faith, your views on education, your ideas about management or unions and your perceptions of history. Now start questioning those beliefs. Go to the Internet and start reading up on one of those subjects. Go to the library of the bookstore. Seek out interesting people with different beliefs. Start studying that subject with an open mind. It's never too late to start searching.|ret||ret||tab|

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