Some of the most successful people I know experienced an uncommon learning trajectory. They are the ones who hold on to their love of learning for a lifetime. Consider John Walsh, a former owner and president of now-defunct Capital Fuel Company and a lover of learning. His father died when he was 18 months old. As a young boy he helped provide for his family, so he worked by day and went to high school by night.

John is my grandfather and the most inspiring life-long learner I know. He never let life challenges be obstacles from exploring and learning. When John was 78 years old and still working two to three days a week, he enrolled at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, and studied history. He was an A student. I remember when he was typing his research papers in his home library; the door was closed to keep out the noise and distractions so he could write an “A” paper.  And he did just that. “I have always been a student, and now in the history courses at Case Western Reserve University, I am trying to improve myself,” my grandfather proudly told the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 1968.

John’s encore academic career at 78 years inspired my own encore academic pursuits, especially when I had to put my education on hold and then start it back up again, several times! John was, and still is, my inspiration to stay focused and committed to a life of learning.

He can be your inspiration, too, as you go about setting new goals or a new course for your career.