When we think about repositories of information, most of us would list libraries, the Internet and encyclopedias as accessible sources. I'd add my sister Margaret to the list. Many a problem has been quickly resolved by giving her a call.

Margaret's not the only information junkie in our family. We all inherited a healthy curiosity from our father who loved odd bits of information. It's a tradition that carries on. 

Knowing that information exists that can answer almost any question is an enormous confidence builder -- but that fact is frequently overlooked. While the helpless loser goes around whining, "But I don't know how to do that," the successful among us are busy seeking information that will show them how.  Then they get busy putting what they've uncovered to work for them. 

This fascination with information is also necessary for entrepreneurial success. "In times of change," wrote Eric Hoffer, "learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."

Whatever your business is about, one of the best ways to ensure success is to make a commitment to becoming an Informed Source. Here are some ways to do just that.

• Make learning a priority and schedule time for it.  While just running a business can be a profound learning experience, we need other points of view, other bits of information in order to grow to our fullest potential. Make time for acquiring that knowledge by regular reading, attending seminars, meeting with other self-bossers who are farther down the road.           
• Learn from the best.  Jim Rohn was vocal in urging his audiences to seek learning from the best sources they can find. He said, "There are three ways one can go about learning from others: 1. Through published literature such as books and audio or video tapes. 2. By listening to the wisdom and folly of others. 3. Through observations of winners and losers. So become a good observer."
  
  The barriers that keep many people from learning from the best sources is that they either can't discern good from not so good or they start comparing themselves to those who are more accomplished and miss the lessons they could learn. It's far more effective to decide to find the best teachers you can and devour their experiences.          
• Learn to edit.  Editing is the process of sifting through large amounts of material and taking out the bad, the so-so, the mediocre, the unimportant, and leaving in the best.  Learning to edit is also learning to discriminate, to prioritize, to evaluate. As an Informed Source, your audience depends on you to deliver only that information which is pertinent.  Incidentally, being a good editor doesn't just apply to information: it's also a necessary skill for living your best life.     
• Be generous in sharing. Robert Allen earned his first fortune investing in real estate. He built a second empire sharing his successful system through seminars and books. Even if you have no interest in packaging information yourself, there are many ways to share what you know. For instance, one of the most popular guests on Minnesota Public Radio was Geek Squad founder Robert Stephens who frequently shared information on getting the most from your computer. That visibility (plus some fabulously creative marketing)  made him stand out from the crowd.          
• Put it to work.  "Knowledge is power is only half a truth," said Andrew Carnegie, "for knowledge is only potential power. It may become a power only when it is organized and expressed in terms of definite action."  

School was my favorite childhood game. I don't mean going to school. I mean pretending I was the teacher. Whether I was at home, staying with my grandmother or an aunt, I set up a classroom and spent the day teaching imaginary students.

When I added a teaching credential to my English/Speech degree, I imagined my mission was to share my passion for literature with high school kids. After a couple of years, however, I grew restless and at the end of my fifth year I resigned.

Eventually, I realized that I loved teaching, but I didn't want to do it every day. In fact, there wasn't (and isn't) anything I want to do every day. I assumed that my teaching days were over.

Then an amazing thing happened: I discovered self-employment and realized that I could create a business that included, but wasn't limited to, teaching. Eventually, I became a gypsy teacher, creating one of the most popular adult ed programs in the country, Making a Living Without a Job.

Not surprisingly, I included teaching as a fine addition to a self-employment portfolio.

I encouraged participants in my Establish Yourself as an Expert seminars to include teaching in their repertoires as well.

Lots of people liked the idea, but weren't sure they knew how to embark on a freelance teaching career. Thanks to Jennifer Louden and Michele Christensen, that hurdle is gone. This dynamic pair has created TeachNow, a wonderful program to show you how to move to the other side of the desk.

You can find out all about it by clicking on the link below. But don't dither. The current program closes on January 18.

TeachNow 

It's become trendy to pick a Word of the Year, but if you've been hanging out with me for a while, you know that I've been advocating giving a new year or a new project a theme for a long time.

I borrowed my theme for the year for the theme of the month at Buon Viaggio blog. After a year of nesting in my new home, I'm growing wings this year and to keep me on track, my theme is Build a Better Year. Stop by my blog and you'll find some of the tools, ideas and resources I'm using to do just that.

Buon Anno,

Barbara Winter