Craig Andrews recently retired after 40 years in the insurance industry. The week before his retirement, he earned his tenth professional designation, Associate in Claims (AIC).

Why did he go through the trouble when he was nearing retirement? "I find that what happens is once you start taking courses, it becomes a habit," he said. "It's energizing to learn new things."

Andrews is among those who are lifelong learners, the type of people who don't feel that they are ever finished with their education. No matter where they are in their career — a week into their new job, a week after landing that big promotion, or even a week before retirement — they use learning as a tool to grow and achieve more. An active and challenged mind stays both sharp and flexible.

The key to career success

If you are looking for the key to career success, research has shown that continued learning is the best way to reach greatness.

You may have heard of the "10,000-hour rule," popularized in the best-selling Malcolm Gladwell book Outliers. This rule notes that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become great at anything, whether it's singing, playing basketball or underwriting.

Gladwell has since emphasized that the rule is less about the specific number and more about the fact that high achievers take much more time improving their skills than most people appreciate.

That concept was based on research by Anders Ericsson, a professor of psychology at Florida State University. Ericsson's work over several decades largely boils down to support one basic principle: Practice makes perfect.

In other words, while we often value natural abilities or point to high achievers as born leaders, the evidence is that all the talent in the world doesn't mean anything unless you're regularly taking advantage of ways to learn and do more.

This truth, combined with the evolving regulatory changes, emerging trends and industry developments, makes it clear that continuing education has never been more important to prospective leaders in the risk management and insurance field.

Barriers to unlocking career success

According to a recent report by the Pew Research Center, 73 percent of American adults say they are lifelong learners in some way, from reading books to taking classroom courses to exploring museums. However, only 36 percent of adults say they seek out extra knowledge to improve job skills or seek career advancement.

The Pew report also noted that there is a growing imperative to learn more in order to stay relevant and successful in the job market. With the recent economic downturn, many Americans are concerned about staying relevant in the rapidly changing market environment. That concern, combined with more access to information than ever before, presents a unique opportunity for professionals to advance themselves through improved skills and education.

A few barriers to continuing education remain. In some cases, your busy and complicated personal life gets in the way. In other cases, the proliferation of options creates a paradox of choice — too many decisions cause people to make no decision. Others may overestimate the time commitment necessary or underestimate the value of a professional designation or certification.

One other reason could be a lack of employer support. A report released earlier this year found that people are independently pursuing professional learning and training more so than they are with the direction and support of their employers.

Pursuing knowledge

For Craig Andrews, lifelong learning transformed his career. He first studied music and played in Las Vegas hotels before deciding to find a more stable career in the insurance industry. To orient himself with this new venture, he set a goal to earn his CPCU. After learning so much about his new profession, he joined the CPCU Society, became passionate about learning more and went on to earn nine more designations and certifications, including Associate in Risk Management and Associate in Commercial Underwriting.

"This is a highly technical business that demands current, in-depth knowledge," he said. "We have to maintain our knowledge and that sharpness or else everyone suffers — our clients, our companies and the industry."

Craig Andrews is just one example of how being a lifelong learner can carry a career to success. There are countless more, but all lifelong learners have one thing in common: a passion for the relentless pursuit of knowledge.

To get started on your path to lifelong learning in the insurance industry and learn about the profession's most respected certifications and designations, visit The Institutes' website at www.theinstitutes.org.

Special Reports /

The secret weapon for career success: lifelong learning

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