Written by our Founder and CEO, the Celebrations Pulse letters aim to engage with our community. By welcoming your ideas and sharing your stories, we want to help you strengthen your relationships with the most important people in your life.
Think back to your school days. Remember cracking open textbooks, solving math problems, and exploring the world through history and literature? Back then, your brain was a sponge, soaking up every bit of information and every solution to a challenge. It was a time of rapid learning, and each day brought something new and exciting.
As we grow older, the pace of learning changes. Research tells us that by the time we reach adulthood, many of us notice that certain mental tasks — like quickly processing new information or tackling complex problems — become a bit more challenging. Scientists have identified physical changes in our brains that help explain this shift as we age.
But there’s good news: While the speed of learning might slow as we age, the ability to learn never stops. Research has shown that we can continue to expand our minds and acquire new skills as long as we’re willing to put in the effort.
In today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving world, this commitment to learning is essential. The world doesn’t stand still, and neither should we. Remember Newton’s first law of motion: Things in motion tend to stay in motion. If you didn’t know it, well, you just learned something new. Whether it’s adapting to new technology, exploring a passion, or simply staying sharp, being a lifelong learner is key to self-improvement.
A learning lodestar
When Dr. George S. Everly, Jr., and I began writing Lodestar: Tapping Into the 10 Timeless Pillars of Success, we knew we had to write about the importance of lifelong learning. Our experience found it to be a critical component of our own effort to improve.
There’s also a connection between learning and health — mental and physical. Studies show that engaging your brain can improve memory, creativity, and problem-solving skills, while also helping to stave off cognitive decline as we age.
And professionally, the benefits are just as big. In a rapidly evolving workplace, the people who succeed are those who embrace change and commit to learning. Whether it’s mastering the latest innovations, expanding your skill set, or stepping into a leadership role, investing in your personal development opens doors you may have never imagined.
But remember: Lifelong learning isn’t just about acquiring knowledge; it’s about maintaining curiosity, engagement, and a growth mindset no matter where you are in life. And continuously building on what you’ve discovered and putting it to use. There’s no better place to begin than at work.
Learning lessons
When individuals grow, companies blossom. At 1-800-Flowers.com, we prioritize making gifting simple and meaningful for our customers and recipients. We also focus on creating opportunities for our employees to keep learning and growing.
Through our “Bunches” mentorship program, along with training through in-person events and our online courses that we call “Fresh University,” we empower our teams to take ownership of their personal and professional development. And it prepares them – and the company – for all the change that is certain to come.
But you don’t need to rely on your company to embrace lifelong learning, says Dr. Daniel Willingham, a member of the 1-800-Flowers.com Connectivity Council and a psychology professor at the University of Virginia. As he puts it, “You just need to hack your own mind.”
One way to do that is to look at what captures your attention, which is the foundation of learning. Dr. Willingham points out that our brains are naturally drawn to and more likely to retain information from fun and engaging things. Regardless of what excites you, the key is to connect it to your learning goals, he says.
One of the most powerful strategies for lifelong learning is to leverage relationships. Dr. Everly, an associate professor at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, has made it a habit to reach out to the authors of studies that spark his curiosity. He starts with something simple: “Look, you don’t know me, but I’ve read your work, and I’m really interested in what you’re doing.”
That kind of sincerity breaks down barriers, and very often, people are happy to engage and share their knowledge. Over time, these connections didn’t just expand his understanding — they became his teachers and, in many cases, his close friends. (And, by the way, this is exactly how I met him — by sending a fan letter after I read one of his articles!)
Embracing the challenge
Adam Grant, the New York Times bestselling author of Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know, offers a similar perspective. He encourages us to cultivate what he calls “challenge networks.” These are the people who push us to think critically, question our assumptions, and identify blind spots in our reasoning.
Of course, learning requires a degree of humility. We all have blind spots; it’s part of being human. But as Grant reminds us, that’s not something to fear. Instead, it’s an opportunity: “If knowledge is power, knowing what we don’t know is wisdom.”
At its core, lifelong learning isn’t just about acquiring facts. It’s about broadening our horizons, deepening our relationships, and staying curious about the world around us. It’s about embracing change, staying adaptable, and recognizing that the journey of growth never ends.
Each new experience, conversation, or challenge becomes another step forward toward our better selves.
All the best,
Jim
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AUTHOR
Jim McCann is the founder, CEO, and chairman of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. as well as a business leader, author, and philanthropist with a passion for helping people deliver smiles. Devoted to helping others, he also founded Smile Farms, a 501(c)3 organization that provides meaningful jobs in agricultural settings to young adults and adults with developmental disabilities.
