If you had asked me years ago what “learning” looked like, I probably would have mentioned sitting in a classroom, taking notes and passing a test. That’s how most of us are wired to think about education.
But after nearly three decades in management at Walmart, running a farm, raising a family, coaching basketball and teaching Sunday school, I’ve come to see learning a little differently.
Learning isn’t complete until it gets tested in the real world.
That gap between what we learn and how we use it is where the real growth happens — and sometimes, it’s where the real frustration lives.
The classroom gives you tools (not the job)
As a business student, I’ve spent time learning about leadership styles, supply chains, financial management and decision-making models. All of that matters. But what I’ve noticed is that the classroom gives you tools, but not the exact situations where they will be used.
At Walmart, I’ve faced situations that no textbook could fully prepare me for. You can learn about conflict resolution, but it’s different when you’re standing between two frustrated associates who both think they’re right. You can study leadership theory, but it feels different when your team is tired, short-staffed and looking to you for direction during a tough shift. The principles still apply, but they don’t show up neatly labeled.
The farm doesn’t care about theory
Running a farm has probably taught me more about real-world application than anything else.
Animals don’t wait for you to figure things out. The weather doesn’t cooperate because you have a plan. If a fence breaks, pigs don’t politely stay put while you review your options. They’re gone.
On the farm, learning happens fast because consequences are immediate. You learn to solve problems, adapt and make decisions with imperfect information. There’s no pause button.
What’s interesting is that a lot of what I’ve learned in business classes actually shows up out there. Planning, resource management, risk assessment — they’re all real. But they don’t come in a structured format. They come as problems that need solving right now.
That’s where learning becomes application.
Coaching: Teaching without a classroom
Coaching basketball has shown me another side. You can explain a play perfectly in practice, but that doesn’t mean it will work in a game.
Players have to experience it. They have to make mistakes, adjust and try again under pressure. That’s when learning sticks.
It’s the same with leadership. You can tell someone how to lead, but until they’re in a position where people are depending on them, it doesn’t fully click.
As a coach, I’ve learned that repetition matters, but so does real experience. The best players aren’t just the ones who understand the game. They’re the ones who can apply it when it counts.
Sunday school: Knowledge vs. transformation
Teaching Sunday school brings this idea into a different context.
You can study Scripture, understand the message and even explain it clearly, but the real question is whether it changes how you live. That’s the difference between knowledge and transformation.
It’s easy to learn something. It’s harder to apply it consistently, especially when life gets busy or difficult.
I’ve seen people who know a lot but struggle to live it out, and I’ve seen others who may not have all the answers but apply what they do know in meaningful ways.
That’s a reminder that learning isn’t just about information. It’s about action.
Family life: Where it gets real
If there’s one place where learning meets reality every day, it’s at home.
Being a husband and a father has taught me that no amount of theory prepares you completely. You can read about communication, patience and leadership, but living it out with your family is different. There are no perfect scripts. Every situation is unique. You’re constantly adjusting, learning and trying to do better.
And just like in business or on the farm, mistakes are part of the process. What matters is whether you learn from them and apply that learning moving forward. One saying I use in all areas of my life is, “Failure doesn’t define us; failure refines us.”
Bridging the gap
So how do we bridge the gap between learning and real-world application?
First, we have to understand that the gap is normal. It’s not a failure of education. It’s part of the process. Learning gives us a foundation, but application builds the structure.
Second, we need to look for opportunities to apply what we’re learning as soon as possible. That might mean trying something new at work, taking on a challenge or even reflecting on how a concept fits into our daily lives.
For me, I’ve started to ask simple questions:
- Where have I seen this before?
- How does this show up in my life?
- What would it look like to actually use this?
Those questions help turn ideas into action.
Why both matter
It’s easy to lean too far in either direction. Some people focus only on theory, while others rely only on experience. But the truth is, we need both.
Learning without application stays shallow. An application without learning can become inefficient or limited. When the two come together, that’s where growth really happens.
In my life, I’ve seen this play out over and over. What I learn in school helps me make better decisions at work. What I experience on the farm gives me a perspective that I can bring back to the classroom. Coaching, teaching and family life all reinforce the same lesson: learning matters, but applying it is what makes it valuable.
Final thoughts
At this stage in my life, I don’t see learning as something separate from the real world anymore. It’s not something you do and then leave behind. It’s something you carry with you. Every experience becomes part of your education. The goal isn’t just to learn more. It’s to become better at applying what you already know.
Because at the end of the day, the real test of learning isn’t what you can remember. It’s what you can do with it.
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