What inspires you to learn?

Originally asked

Vox, to writers and thinkers, 9 Questions, 2017

This exact prompt is one of Vox's nine recurring questions about intellectual habits.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Pete Rozelle said elsewhere, not written here
It was basically writing. I loved watching sports and writing about them. So I was sports editor of the school paper and I worked weekends at the Long Beach Press Telegram, near my home in southern California. Just primarily an interest in sports, then from that developed the athletic publicity work that I did in school.

Rancho Santa Fe, California, Academy of Achievement, 15 May 1991 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 34 →
Adam Zagajewski Poet and essayist
The good part of aging is that you read more and more. You discover poets you never heard of when you were younger.
Recorded Brian Barker, AGNI Online, 25 April 2003 source ↗
Derek Sivers Founder of CD Baby; author of Anything You Want
In that brief transition time, it felt like the question to ask yourself is what is the biggest learning opportunity? Where can I grow more?
Recorded Jason Kleinberg, book club transcript, Roam Book Club, 1 November 2021 source ↗
Ephraim Asili Filmmaker, Educator, and DJ
really watching a lot of work. Also finding the right people to associate with and learn from in terms of work.
Recorded Sara Wintz, The Creative Independent, 21 October 2019 source ↗
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Founder and executive chairperson of Biocon
Science is about curiosity-driven learning, and unless you are curious, you will never find science exciting.
Recorded TNN, Sunday Times, The Times of India, 5 September 2021 source ↗

More from Pete Rozelle

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Question What single thing would improve the quality of your life? Daily life
Because everyone has to have an outlet. Otherwise you can get so involved in your job, or any one thing, that you’re not a very well-balanced person, and you’re not happy either, normally. I think it’s very important to take up an avocation. Sports — that was mine. But gosh, it could be music. It could be any number of things that can help give you that escape from your job or your family problems.
Recorded Rancho Santa Fe, California, Academy of Achievement, 15 May 1991 source ↗
Question What keeps you awake at night? Daily life
Because of my love for sports, and the nature of my job, it was pretty intense for 30 years, and you have to be sure. I would take it home. My wife would know when things were tight, and she would hear me get up in the night, and walk around and sit and think. It’s not something you can leave at the office.
Recorded Rancho Santa Fe, California, Academy of Achievement, 15 May 1991 source ↗
Question What is the biggest obstacle you have faced professionally? Craft & work
That was a direct challenge to the NFL constitution, which said you have to have a three-quarters approving vote if you’re going to move your franchise. And we had Davis challenge that in his move from Oakland to Los Angeles. And it was sitting there in the constitution, and I couldn’t just say, “Oh, I’m not going to press this.” I brought it to the attention of the owners, and I said, “I think we have to defend this constitution.” So we had two trials over a couple of years.
Recorded Rancho Santa Fe, California, Academy of Achievement, 15 May 1991 source ↗
Question Which book are you ashamed not to have read? Taste & recommendation
There really wasn’t. That’s one thing I kind of regret. I started reading, and became interested in reading very young. But I read sports books. I read sports pages and newspapers. That’s one thing that I would like to have had that I missed, reading more scholarly books than I did. I was so devoted to sports.
Recorded Rancho Santa Fe, California, Academy of Achievement, 15 May 1991 source ↗

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