11 Inspirational Quotes To Achieve eLearning Success
These 11 inspirational quotes may be short and succinct. But what they lack in length they make up for in motivation. Here you'll find notable remarks from world leaders, academics, inventors, and some of the top names in education. I'll also explore why these quotes are so powerful and how they can help you achieve eLearning success.
1. Winston Churchill: “Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
It's not about failing, but what you do after the fact. Every time you have a setback or deal with unforeseen issues you must move forward with renewed optimism. Success isn't about not failing. It's about retaining your dedication and determination in spite of the failures. You should still be enthusiastic about the next eLearning project because you now have more experience and wisdom to draw from.
2. Seymour Papert: "You can't teach people everything they need to know. The best you can do is position them where they can find what they need to know when they need to know it."
This is an eLearning variation on the "bring a horse to water" adage. As eLearning professionals, we have the privilege of showing people how to meet their goals. We give them the tools and techniques, but we can't learn for them. As such, you must provide your online learners with the online resources and environment they require.
3. Thomas A. Edison: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Every eLearning project is an opportunity to learn new things. Those things may come from mistakes that allow you to grow and expand your knowledge. When work or life doesn't go according to plan, you have the opportunity to cross another route off your map. That brings you one step closer to finding the road that does lead to success.
4. John Maxwell: “Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential.”
People who achieve their goals and those who don't may have the same skills and knowledge. But successful individuals know how to use their talents to fulfill their potential. You have to want to succeed and give it your all.
5. Abraham Lincoln: “If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first four hours sharpening the axe.”
Preparation, planning, and organization are essential. You can't just dive into an eLearning project thinking everything will go swimmingly. You must spend time mapping it out and dissecting every component to deliver an effective eLearning experience.
6. Donna J. Abernathy: “Online learning is not the next big thing, it is the now big thing.”
There's no time like the present. eLearning is happening right now. It's important to keep an eye on eLearning trends and emerging tech. However, you must also live in the moment and design for modern learners.
7. Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.”
It all starts with a spark. Ambition, dedication, and an idea are the seeds of everything that we do. Everything successful, that is. But it takes more than that to see it through to fruition. You must also put in the hard work and effort to make it a reality. An eLearning storyboard is just a storyboard until you turn thoughts into meaningful eLearning experiences.
8. John Holt: "Learning is not the product of teaching. Learning is the product of the activity of learners."
As eLearning professionals, we can provide resources to our online learners and hope that the ideas stick. However, that is not the process of learning. In order for that to occur, our online learners must play an active role and take charge of the eLearning experience. We can't force understanding upon them. They have to be willing and ready to understand the subject matter.
9. Jane Bozarth: "We complain that learners want to be spoonfed, but then we won't let them hold the spoon."
Online wizards, guides, and other eLearning aids will only get online learners so far. They must be able to learn by doing, by experiencing the subject matter first hand. Every member of your audience should have the opportunity to chart their own eLearning course. This is why personal learning paths are becoming the norm in eLearning programs.
10. Gloria Steinem: “Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.”
Sure, we have to stay grounded in reality. But there is something to be said for dreaming big and aiming high. Some of the most amazing inventions have started with fantastical notions. That being said, you must be able to translate ideas to practical uses. This usually requires lateral thinking, innovation, and a healthy dose of creativity.
11. Herbert Swope: "I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody."
Most of us have dealt with tough clients or team members along the way. That's a part of the eLearning life. But you can't try to make everyone happy. At some point, you just have to realize and accept that the greater good is the most important thing. Go with your instincts and do what feels right, rather than what pleases everybody else.
These 11 inspirational quotes can help you overcome eLearning challenges and achieve success on your own terms. Keep this list on hand for the next time the going gets tough, so that you can forge ahead and reach your goals.
Are you curious about what sets successful eLearning pros apart from the rest? Read the article 5 Things Successful eLearning Freelancers Do EVERY Day to discover some things that successful eLearning freelancers do every day to reach their potential.