What is the best way you have found to make yourself smarter and more valuable?

Mark Shead from Productivity 501 conducted a group interview on the Question: 

"What is the best way you have found to make yourself smarter and more valuable?"

My answer was:

Listen, listen, and then listen some more.
Notice the patterns in everything.
Notice what is good before you try to fix what could be better.
Notice the way things work instead of wishing things were different.
Accept what is before you try to change it.
Surrender to what you cannot change.
Truly care about other people.
Seek to first understand before you judge any situation.
Be curious, avoid thinking you already know how people will react to things.

Find out what 15 other experts had to say on this topic!  The similarities, differences and patterns among the answers is really fascinating.

How do YOU make yourself smarter and more valuable?

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Here are some other great group interviews on Self Development I responded to.  Group Interviews

Another GREAT post by Mark:  17 Things You Should Stop Doing!