“In times of change, the learners inherit the earth. The learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” –Eric Hoffer
As someone who loves to learn, this quote has always resonated with me. I have always believed that learning should be a lifelong process, one that we dive into with enthusiasm, curiosity and a sense of anticipation.
But, given the year we’ve all experienced, this quote feels more relevant than ever. We’ve been walking a very strange road with challenges, uncertainty and new things at every turn. We’ve had to turn on a dime, quickly doing things that not long ago we would have sworn we could never do, or we simply would have laughed off the possibility that we’d ever have to.
And yet we’ve done it — over, and over and over.
In the best of times, learning helps us to grow, to be better than we once were, and to move forward to benefit ourselves and others.
This year? So much of what we were, as Hoffer states, “beautifully equipped to deal with” did indeed cease to exist.
In that moment, we all had to figure out what to do next. Information became our most valuable resource. Our ability to continue moving forward absolutely depended on our ability to open our minds, try new things and take in information as quickly as possible.
We all became learners and we gained a new appreciation for just how powerful information can be.
At IIAV, we are committed to your success. We believe that being intentional about professional and personal growth is key and we will continue make sure you have access to the very learning opportunities, information you can trust, and subject matter experts who care deeply about you and the independent agency system.
We ourselves are learners, walking with you though not only the tough times, but the good ones as well. If we’re doing our job right, it’s a job that won’t ever be done.
So, as we face a new (and hopefully much less challenging) year, we look forward to learning with you. We are honored to be a part of your learning journey and we hope to see you in our classroom (whether physical or virtual) very soon.
Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia