Weekly Live Show Recap - Ep. 13 - The Importance of Ongoing Education - Ft. Peter Hostrawser

Introduction:

For many, school wasn’t the most pleasant experience, especially middle and high-school. Depending on where you went and what you were studying, college may have been a little better. However, for the most part, not too many people appreciate education as much as we should. 

In this week’s episode, we explored that education doesn’t necessarily have to be institutionalized, and it can mean many different things. We can learn from just about anyone and anything. Today, everything is a Google or YouTube search away. 

Come join us on the journey to discover the importance of ongoing education and skill building in this week’s episode and discussion. 

 

In case you missed the podcast, Wednesday Live Show, and Thursday Night Clubhouse discussions - please check out the following links: 

Wednesday Evening Live Show

Thursday Night Clubhouse Discussion

Who is Peter Hostrawser? 

• Peter has spent 20 years in education and is working towards changing it every day, by questioning how things operate. 
• Growing up his father told him “Don’t get into education because of the politics.”
• Started with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and Communication and bounced around post graduation. Didn’t feel like he knew or understood his skills until 3 years later when he began studying snd working in Video Production. 
• Started business with a business partner and began really learning about business and how it works. 
• Eventually took a job at a school teaching video production to the students which ended up helping them with their writing, reading, and math skills. That’s when Peter made the connection to further pursue a career in education and business education. 

Watch the recap below:

The Importance of Ongoing Education: 

• Grow within your industry and explore out of the box information - it will only make you stand out and be an expert in your field.
• Example of Polishing pearls vs baking bread
• Peter shares a story of how his first business and entrepreneurial pursuit started and how he didn’t really know how to run certain aspects of it. But with the guidance of a friend who was knowledgeable in that area, he was able to see success (and secure the necessary business loan)
• Pursue those who have the knowledge we are lacking, and get their guidance
• Find people who don’t just “give you the answers” but rather give you the knowledge so you can pursue the answers on your own. 
• Once you’ve accomplished what you set out to accomplish use your newfound knowledge to help others achieve the same. 

Watch the recap below: 

Expanding Your Mindset: 

• Education is about opening people up and changing their mindsets to be able to look for opportunities. Mentors and coaches can help insidiously accomplish that. 
• Teachers should be there to help students identify what they’re really good at so they know what to pursue. 
• Individual conversations and personal relationships are where true growth comes from. 
• Invest in your relationships. 

Learning From Everyone:

• Be willing to learn from those older than you and those younger than you. 
• Be willing to learn new things and experiment. 

Watch the recap below:

Transitioning and Action Steps: 

• We have to get away from identifying our students by their GPA and student ID number. We have to focus on “Unlearning” this identity. 
• We have to study and learn what our strengths are and attach them what we’re interested in. 
• Learn to use Social media and don’t let it use you. 
• Identify what you can and can’t do and focus on what you CAN do. Grow it. Develop it. Capitalize on it. 
• Knowledge is everywhere. We have to figure out how we can help and lift people up. 
• You never know who you’re going to meet and what you’re going to learn from them. 
• We should be opening up to each other, sharing and showing who we are and what we do, and allowing youth to ask the questions they need to understand how life works, from the older generations. 
• We need to open up to learning from our vertical network and horizontal network.

Watch the recap below: 

Psychological Hunger:

• When you are hungry for something you’ll go after it no matter what. 
• A coach and mentor or teacher gives the individual “appetizers” to keep them going. 

Watch the recap below:

Encouraging Ongoing Education: 

• People think that learning something has to be grand so we fool ourselves into not doing and waste our time instead. 
• Think about something that interests you. 
• Identify the smallest piece that would move you one step closer to that thing that interests you. Do it.  
• Do one simple thing. Then move to the next step. 

Watch the recap below:

FREE Gifts: 

• Peter’s FREE Strength Finder Mini Course
• Yermi and Boruch’s FREE Mental Real Estate Course

The Bottom Line:  

The 3 main takeaway points were: 

• Education is not only an institutionalized “sport”
• We can learn from everyone and everything, feed that “Psychological Hunger” (aka curiosity)
• It doesn’t have to be a big thing, find a topic, start small, and be consistent. 

Contributors to this article include:

Peter Hostrawser - Known as "The Unlearning Coach," Peter Hostrawser has been a business educator in the Chicago area for over 20 years founding the OPRF School of Business at Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois. He is an entrepreneur and change agent for traditional educational systems as well as a business coach.  Peter has helped hundreds of young entrepreneurs start and continue their paths to success.  Peter is the host of the Disrupt Education Podcast (#8 on the Best 50 Educational Podcasts in 2022) where creative and non-traditional learners share their stories and thoughts on how to change education.  He currently teaches business at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Palos Hills, Illinois, USA, and is an advisor for the pre-professional portfolio and networking startup spikeview.  His value is to help others find and show their value.

To reach and learn more about Peter Hostrawser you can follow him on LinkedIn or you can visit his Website. 

Boruch DuBrow - Boruch is an Exceptional Development Coach with over 13 years of experience as an educator. Boruch has helped hundreds of people feeling lost in life to discover their path and reach their potential. Today, Boruch educates and empowers individuals and organizations to discover their path, define their purpose, and create an “Exceptional” future for themselves, their families, and their organizations.

To learn more about Boruch DuBrow feel free to follow him on LinkedIn, or Instagram, You can also reach Boruch by emailing him at [email protected]

Yermi Kurkus - Yermi has spent most of his career helping people at their lowest find meaning and purpose through proven methods that are built from psychology, philosophy, and mystical teachings. Yermi's approach is pragmatic and down to earth, thus coining the term Practical Mindfulness. 

Today, Yermi partners up with business owners, professionals, and individuals that want to become more "irresistible" in their personal and professional lives, as well as helping founders build "irresistible" systems in their businesses.

To learn more about Yermi Kurkus feel free to follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. You can also reach Yermi by emailing him at [email protected]