Glenford Smith, Contributor

A man was out walking in the desert when a voice said to him, "Pick up some pebbles and put them in your pocket, and tomorrow you will be both sorry and glad."

The man obeyed. He stooped down and picked up a handful of pebbles and put them in his pocket. The next morning he reached into his pocket and found diamonds and rubies and emeralds. And he was both glad and sorry. Glad he had taken some - sorry that he had not taken more.

And so it is with education. Sooner or later you realise for yourself what your parents had been trying to tell you all along - education is the key to success.

And in the real world of work, relationships and money, nothing determines your earning as much as your learning. The advantage you have over the man in the story is that you can always 'pick up some more pebbles'. You can choose to learn more to earn more.

Learn more about what you do

To earn more at work, learn as much as possible about everything related to what you do. Many people believe that getting the job is what they were 'educated' for. Wrong, wrong, wrong. School certification is just the basic entry qualification. Real learning starts on your first day on the job. This is where you learn about dealing with adversity, trials, difficult people, impossible deadlines and what you are truly capable of.

Be the best at what you do, or try to find something you can excel at. Reading is the easiest and cheapest way to improve your knowledge of what you do. Invest your time and money in books. It's a no-lose proposition. Don't neglect the experience of senior people at your workplace. They have the experience you lack. Learn to ask for help and don't be afraid to say "I don't know, can you show me how?" Your goal is to get better and better.

Learn more about the science of success

Successis a science. If you create the conditions, the results must follow. Many people mistakenly believe that success is due to chance or luck. Or that God loves some people more than them. Wrong. Learn and adopt the mental attitudes and practical techniques of winners and you will be one. The easiest way to do this is to read and study the biographies of winners. Attend lectures, programmes, workshops or classes on success. Watch TV programmes about winners. Identify someone who is successful and ask them how they did it.

Those who are earning big has made learning a big part of their lives. You don't have to be 'sorry and glad'. Stoop down right now; pick up as many pebbles as you want - learn more to earn more.

Glenford Smith is a motivational speaker and peak performance coach. Email him at glenfordsmith@yahoo.com. Watch for his workshop on Turning Adversity Into Opportunity & Problems Into Possibilities on Wednesday, August 29, PCJ Auditorium, 36 Trafalgar Rd., Kingston.