Here are some of my favorites:

The important thing is not to stop questioning. - Albert Einstein

The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn. Alvin Toffler

Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new.-Og Mandino

Contemplating whether I should choose “Sparkle-icious” or “Holiday Red” at my local nail salon, I overheard a group of women laughing with each other as they were enjoying their own manicures and pedicures. They were sharing with each other what was best about 2010. I heard “starting my new job”, “quitting my job”, and “taking 6 months off”. Then I heard the real question: “What did you LEARN this year?”  Silence—except for the sound of Frank Sinatra jamming a “Silent Night, Holy Night” tune. Finally, a soft voice chimed in—“I learned how to ask for what I want”….and another—“I learned how to delegate nicely”. The conversation got very lively and I could see the energy shift with the entire group. I’ve had this same experience so many times. A discussion shifts simply because of a powerful question—at a staff meeting, in a nail salon, or in a blog. So, what did you learn this year?  

I learned that “just one day” never comes. I have yearned for “just one day” to catch up on email, re-prioritize my projects, focus on big thinking, start that blog, and process my inbox. Instead, I am prioritizing the “HVAs—high value add” projects first, and getting the right things done (note that I didn’t say I’m getting everything done). “Just one day” has turned into “doing my days differently”.

I learned a lot more, but would love to hear from you. What did you learn this year? By the way, it was a unanimous decision for all of us at the nail salon.…sparkle-icious all the way.