Education is Being Curious

You know I’ve been highlighting a massive language shift for our industry. Just in case you need the latest copy of my Declaration, get it HERE. A key part of this language shift is evolving from training to education—more specifically, ‘continuing education.’

Our industry is ever-changing. Now more than ever, our ‘keep up’ rate is extremely high. I’ve recently had the opportunity to observe some excellent education classes and found myself being genuinely curious about all the technology being taught. This made me wonder about the students in the class: Did they approach their learning with a high degree of curiosity about the material they were about to study? Wanting to learn ‘Just One Thing.’

When students are curious or truly thirsty for education, they learn more, engage at a higher level, and challenge themselves to practice what they’ve learned within two weeks of completing the class. I hear this advice frequently: regardless of circumstances, practice new skills on a properly functioning vehicle first. This helps you understand where to connect diagnostic equipment, what normal waveforms look like, and builds comfort with procedures using a known good vehicle as a reference.

I can’t help but recognize the tandem effort required between specialists in the bays and owners whose reputation is on the line every day as they promise to repair today’s vehicles. Identifying what your specialists need to know and providing them with proper educational courses is absolutely essential today.

We often hear comparisons between our industry and the medical field. Their technology is changing rapidly, too. The advancement of medical knowledge, procedures, and treatments is happening so quickly that keeping up is challenging—creating a perfect parallel to our industry. The reality is simple: Be Curious and Educate or Evaporate!