As the world has opened back up, in-person events are back in full swing although there are still some great offerings being made available online. The fact remains that professional development has to continue to be offered whether that’s face-to-face or via video conferencing or a hybrid model that combines the two. There’s no shortage of continuing education if you look for it.
And thus, we arrive at the big question right there. ARE you looking for ways to learn more to help you in your career?
There’s the old expression, “You learn something new every day.” While that’s true and sometimes it’s simply in the form of life experience, we’re not going to get better at what we do and/or improve in our industry through osmosis.
I see emails constantly hitting my inbox telling me about opportunities that I can take advantage of in the music industry, the public relations/marketing sector, podcasting, and irrelevant subject matter where I’ve clearly ended up with a sender who simply purchased an email list.
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There are options that I see are attractive to me, however. Social Media Examiner and the many choices they provide. Stage 32 and a host of opportunities I can take advantage of through them. The American Marketing Association has great programming as well. I am a member of all of these because I know the value of learning so that I can function at a high level and provide better service to those who I work with.
There are more, but you get the picture.
It’s not unlike the on-demand, online class that I offer at InterviewTipsCourse.com, teaching people so they can benefit from my experience not only hosting the “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast every week for more than eight years now, but the interviews that I’ve booked Now Hear This clients into, plus all the interviews I facilitated for athletes, coaches, and administrators while working for ten-and-a-half years in the Olympic Movement and ten years before that with a National Hockey League team. We need to look to experts for help so that we can be more effective at what we’re doing professionally.
To be a performer, for example, and simply think that playing and/or recording on a somewhat regular basis is all that is needed is like saying that pro athletes shouldn’t have to practice on non-gamedays because they’re already at a high level and they ply their trade every time they step on the field, court, or ice.
To say you don’t have time to attend a professional development offering – online course, in-person conference, or another similar option – is you not putting a priority on becoming even more advanced in your career.
While some might say that it simply boils down to a financial decision, that’s where I challenge you to look at what you ARE spending your money on that you might not realize isn’t really a necessity. (How many gear-related purchases have you made that were just impulse buys, and you rarely, if ever, use it/them?)
There’s one more saying that’s relevant here, which is that ‘knowledge is power.’ Watch the social media posts and listen to the conversations with your colleagues as well as those who you admire. They are finding ways to be more well-rounded in their career. Follow their lead and take the steps towards enhancing your knowledge in your industry too.
Need a recommendation and/or just some clarity on what you should do next? Is there a challenge you’ve been facing and can’t seem to solve? Are family and friends giving you advice, but you want input from a third party who doesn’t know you but brings experience to the table? Book a private, one-on-one online video consultation with me and take advantage of my 18 years working with artists from around the U.S., providing management, promotion, and booking services, and let’s make sure you’re moving forward.