1) If you are self motivated and curious you will try new things and evolve as a person.

2) Search for basic information/direction/communities about your latest interest online.

3) You never really know if anything in life will work without trying it so just do your best and then go for it. You will learn more if you fail than if you succeed but you can never succeed without trying!

4) “Ask your friends.” – This is such great advice about anything you are intersted in and pursuing. Friends and family tend to have varied backgrounds and great advice on just about everything. You don’t have to be an expert on everything because you can ask your friends and learn from their experience.

I second Erin’s liking of the new blog (it works now in I.E. too!)

~Kiyomi

As for his pointers, they could easily apply to the library world:

Self-directed learning: When starting a new job, adding a different responsibility or skill to your current job description, etc., it will always be more successful if you’re interested. I think a positive and engaged attitude is really important in new endeavors.

Google it: I Google things at work all the time. Even on the reference desk. When my boyfriend and I have a technology question at home, we Google it. You can usually always find something. It might be the answer or it might spark you to figure out the answer on your own. I love the Internet because it gives you access to such a range of experiences that people have kindly shared.

When in doubt, try it: I think lots of libraries should do this more, but it might be difficult with the current financial environment. We do too much talking about it, thinking about it, etc. We need to just try it and see what happens! Life is too short not to

Ask your friends: A given in libraryland. Whenever I have a question (work or persona related), I know I can count on my colleagues to give me the straight up. Or at least some amusing anecdotes.

Great post, Melissa. Loving the new blog look too.
-Erin