You take courses for at least two reasons – to learn and to meet people – network.
Kinds of Courses
1. Live Course. This is just as it says. You’re in a seminar or course with a group of people in a physical place like a hotel. Pros: you network with people, “personalized” attention from instructor Cons: cost – your time to get there, parking and fuel, paid recording of the course.
2. Webinars (used to be called telecourses and were via phone only) These use technology – computers or phones. Pros: cheaper, no travel time for you or the instructor, no cost for parking, can get a replay if you’re not available, use your laptop computer or smartphone for webinars Cons: networking with other participants is difficult or impossible, you may be at a client and therefore have no access to long distance for a phone course.
You can see that both types have their pros and cons. For me who can’t travel as easily since my stroke, if a seminar is in town I either have to pay for a taxi or find another participant to give me a ride, the webinars and telecourses are perfect. I can take several each year and I never have to leave home. Thank goodness for technology:-) But choose for yourself.
Why Take Courses?
- As a lifelong learner I believe in education and learning. Never stop learning. Even if it’s a free webinar, as long as the advertising of the speaker’s next course is kept to a minimum, sign up for them. The good news is that all webinars are recorded. The bad news is that the slides used in a webinar aren’t always available.
- Networking is the first kind of marketing I always suggest. At a live seminar you can choose the other students you wish to and talk with them or set up to meet them. You also have an opportunity to meet the instructor in person.
How do you hear about them?
Ask the same people you asked about what newsletter to subscribe to (#3 in my list of 8 actions) and books to read (#4 in my list of 8 actions). I’ll repeat the points here.
- Make a list of what matters to YOU.
- Make sure you put professional development costs in your planning budget.
- Take a free webinar first.
- Ask your mentor and your coach which ones they attend in person or listen to on a webinar. Ask them which ones they would recommend. If they’re paid courses by someone you’ve never heard of, ask your mentor or coach if they’ve heard of the speaker. If they have and you can afford it, take the course.
- Have a list of what’s offered that you’re considering.
- Read websites and go to the ones the business owners suggest.
- Ask other women at networking events.
- Check out the ones that the writers/ owners of the newsletters you subscribe offer.
Remember, you always learn something. Over the years I’ve taken many courses and webinars. You can never know everything.
You would think I know a lot since I’ve been self employed since 1980. Nope – one can always learn more. Early in 2011, I took a group coaching program/ telecourse for 10 weeks from Tsufit of “Step Into Spotlight” and I learned something new AND different ways to look at something that I already knew. There’s always something new to learn!
Often I’m called a marketing expert. That’s because I keep learning through books, newsletters, webinars and conferences. But I learn the most from YOU – my students and followers. YOU ask the questions and if I know I tell you the answer. If I don’t know I tell you and then search to learn it and then tell YOU!
That’s how it works. It’s okay to not know the answer. Just ask and then you’ll know.
Originally posted February 14, 2012