Lean Quote: There Will Always Be New Things to Learn From, If You’re Curious Enough

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve.

"Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up." — Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking, the brilliant British theoretical physicist, died last week at the age of 76. I saw the quote above on some online article and couldn’t help think of similarity to Lean thinkers.

This world we live in is constantly growing and developing in many ways. If we look out for it, there are countless new things we can learn every day.

Learning never stops. Look around your surroundings, even the people you spend time with.

There is so much out there to learn from. Read a new book, meet a new friend, or sign up for a new class.

If you pay more attention to the things around you, you might even learn something new just by going for a walk outside.

Throughout his career, Hawking did revolutionary work in the fields of astronomy, cosmology, and mathematics. He conducted extensive research relating to the origin and development of the universe and also published a widely popular book on the subject in 1988 — A Brief History of Time — which has sold over 10 million copies. Hawking also served as a professor at the University of Cambridge for most of his career and received more than a dozen different honorary academic degrees for his trailblazing scientific work.

In addition to his professional achievements, Hawking was known for his personal resilience, as he battled the neurodegenerative disease ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) from age 21 onward. The disease left him almost completely paralyzed, but did not stop him from pursuing his lofty scientific ambitions.

Despite being so brilliant, Stephen Hawking remained relatable throughout his life. His leadership qualities were readily apparent to anyone he met, thanks to his willingness to speak out, his passion, and his total authenticity. Dr. Hawking left behind a legacy of creating and passing down knowledge, and we’ll continue to learn from him for many years. I thank Dr. Hawking for his numerous contributions to the field of science, and for being an outspoken advocate of learning and leadership.