Without question my best times for personal growth have come when I've been teaching. Whether it was a high school classroom, a pulpit, or a showroom floor, I always grew and learned the most when I was sharing my knowledge with others.

This is an important concept to grasp, especially in the car business, because we often find people who think there is nothing more they can learn. So let's put it to the test by considering this philisophical question from Jim Rohn (www.jimrohn.com):

"Can someone put more water into a glass that is already full to the brim?"

Think about it for a minute. The glass is completely full and you've got a pitcher of water. How can you possibly add more water? Won't it spill out or overflow? There's just no more capacity. This argument is similar to what we often hear from seasoned professionals. They say, "I've been in this business for 30 years and I've seen just about everything there is to see." Or, "You can't teach old dogs new tricks".

What's missing from this line of thinking is the concept of sharing. The thought of giving a drink of "wisdom" water from your glass to others who might be thirsty for it just doesn�t occur to most people. But as you can see, once you share from the glass, there is now room to add more water!

By sharing your knowledge with others, you not only create more room for new ideas, you also inspire others and create good will. This promotes positive attitudes which eventually impact your behavior and the behavior of those around you.

Each of us has an endless capacity for learning because we've all been given a glass. Some glasses are smaller than others, but those who are constantly filling the glass with new ideas - regardless of how small the portion - are the ones who will achieve the greatest results in the end. So give out what you get in and you'll be able to learn and take in new ideas for the rest of your life.