What is lifelong learning

There is no standard definition of the term. But from what I have collected on the Internet, it is best described as:

an acquisition of new skills and capabilities well past formal education years
an ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons
things you learn for yourselves, not for someone else. They reflect on what you are passionate about and what you envision for your own future
things that genuinely interest you even if you never enjoyed school

What are lifelong learners like?

curious
open-minded with a positive attitude
have a growth mindset
constantly and actively looking for opportunities to grow by expanding their knowledge
like reading books, learning new skills, and honing one’s expertise
agile and adaptable
challenge themselves with specific goals
believe it’s never too late to start something

curiosity and a growth mindset invite future possibilities
- curiosity is a “hidden force that drives learning, critical thinking, and reasoning” throughout our lives
soft skills are the critical skills for success
- employers now shop for workers based on skills rather than official qualifications because of increased digitalization and globalization
creates a personal brand that stands for dynamic need fulfillment
enhances existing skills to make current tasks easier or more efficient
genuine skill growth can open doors to new roles and responsibilities
develops cross-disciplinary awareness that makes it easier to uncover unexpected connections for pattern recognition and intuitive thinking
lets you remain agile, adaptable and ready to fill the next organizational gap

learning something new and enjoyable makes your life richer
changing your mindset gives you the flexibility to follow your curiosity and may lead to opportunities you would never have otherwise thought of
improve your self-confidence
reduce boredom, and make life more interesting

disinterest in learning how to advance your usefulness translates into disinterest in helping your employer

it is said that automation is predicted to replace 50% of jobs by 2025
while the exact numbers are something we cannot definitively declare, the technological changes underway will create more jobs in different sectors