Why Back to School is Not Just for Kids
Hello,
I hope this e-Newsletter finds you all well. August was a very busy month at 20 Twenty Graphics, but nothing sticks out more than being at my client’s office during the earthquake (which I thought was me having a dizzy spell!) and the continued clean up efforts from Hurricane Irene. We send our thoughts and prayers out to those that have lost their homes, cherished possessions and even their lives. It reminds us all how unimportant many of the issues we face every day are and that family, friends and life is really what matters most.
Back to school is now upon us, and the summer has absolutely flown by! Observing my children prepare themselves for the dreaded day when they have to trudge through crowded hallways hauling 20 pound back packs has made me really consider the fact that although it may not be in a formal environment, we never really stop the learning process.
It continues long after we have thrown our graduation hats in the air and secured our current work positions. As a matter of fact there are several ways to continue your education and more reasons why you should. Here are just a few of the reasons why continuing the education process will make you come out a winner every time:
1) With an ever changing economic landscape and trends coming and going faster than ever, thanks to the internet, serious career-minded individuals know they must stay competitive with their skill set and knowledge to even keep their current position, let alone work toward a promotion. Instead of catching the latest season of Dancing with the Stars, try signing up for some of the many FREE webinars available on the internet to stay current with the trends in your industry. Trust me, at the end of the season you will have gained more than just learning who wins the big, glittering disco ball trophy!
2) Every company right now is looking for ways to diversify their business whether it is their clients, products and services or all of the above. A business owner or employee who goes the extra mile to learn new skills, obtain new knowledge or research and master a new service to offer to their customers is way ahead of the curve than those just waiting around “for the economy to improve”. People – there are opportunities out their just waiting to be discovered. Local community colleges and adult education centers offer a variety of programs for certifications, designations or just for fun. Tapping into the resources of the many available FREE services through local, county and state programs for businesses and continuing education is a no brainer. Just try one Google search on the internet for business enrichment services and you will be amazed at the unlimited resources to assist in your diversification.
3) Don’t allow yourself to become outdated with regard to the internet and all things social media. This is not the wave of the future – it’s the here and now! If you haven’t embraced the power of social media, do not waste another minute getting yourself in the game. Social media, from blogging to Facebook and free services like Twitter, YouTube, Skype, Foursquare and now Google+ are valuable tools for every line of business today. It can be very intimidating, but the amount of educational information available for FREE on the internet on how to get started, what to do and how to be successful with it gives a company or person no excuses to continue to avoid the inevitable.
Leaving behind the dog days of summer for books, papers and uncomfortable classroom chairs is no easy feat, but our children do it year after year until it is no longer required of them. Yes, they complain and try to delay the inevitable; however, our children are resilient and manage to ease themselves back into the routine of learning. I am suggesting that as adults, we take our children’s lead and do the same thing. The worst that can happen is we aren’t stuck on our sofas living vicariously through Simon Cowell and the contestants he so expertly exposes as either the real deal or fakes. The best that can happen is that we will learn some useful knowledge that will help us be more successful and better people overall.