Think back to a little over 6 months ago… Remember those New Year’s resolutions? How are they holding up?

It’s now July and half-a-year has slipped by us. Did it go quickly or drag on dramatically? This is a great time to do some self-reflecting.

It is never too late to hold to those resolutions. Personal and professional development is important, yet it is so frequently tossed to the side. We can help you get back on track! Let’s address some of the biggest questions or thoughts we often hear.

“I feel behind.”

We easily adopt this mindset that we are behind. That we could be doing more than we already are. This mindset can spiral out of control at times.

 

Remember: there is no timeline for your development.

 

This does not mean that your development is not necessary. Use this time to lay out your priorities. What have you accomplished so far? What would you like to accomplish?

 

The best way to make your development a priority is to establish a timeline. Consider all factors including work, family, friends, etc. Set reasonable deadlines and hold yourself accountable to them.

“Where do I find development courses?”

Setting goals may take only a few minutes. Many of us know what we would like to improve or accomplish. The question arises, where do I start? How do I tackle these big goals?

LinkedIn Learning

There are so many resources available to you. LinkedIn Learning is a great tool for professional development. In many states, you can get access to the courses with a library card, instead of paying a monthly subscription.

 

With LinkedIn Learning, you can explore many topics ranging from social media marketing to learning Python and SQL. You can even learn about specific softwares and applications like Excel and Power BI. 

Udemy

Udemy provides almost 200,000 video courses ranging from Python to data science. They offer both free and paid content that is great for anyone interested in web development to entrepreneurship. 

 

The courses are completely self paced and online. With Udemy’s paid courses, you can earn a certificate of completion. Udemy is great if you’re brushing up on some skills or looking to get into a new career field.

Other marketing focused development courses 

There are plenty of marketing focused development courses out there. We like to recommend Semrush and Google Skillshop, among many more.

 

Maybe you want to be an SEO pro by the end of the year. Then we have a tool just for you!

 

 Semrush has hours and hours of content readily available for you to work through on your own time. Their content ranges from SEO to SMM  and content marketing to sales. The best part is… they are all free!

 

This free resource also has optional exams that provide you with a certification. Semrush academy has tools that will blow your employer away!

 

Now, we can’t talk about training and development without talking about Google Skillshop and Google Analytics Academy. Want to boost your analytics capabilities? Are you looking to get into PPC? Look no further.

 

Google Skillshop has tons of informational videos and courses to get you set in all things Google. Ready for more great news? It’s also free and entirely self-paced. Be sure to add any certifications you earn to your resume and LinkedIn.

“How do I get hands-on training?”

Learning through courses is great, but learning from experience is even better. In order to fully accomplish your developmental goals, consider getting involved in stretch projects, freelance work or volunteer work!

Getting involved outside of your day-to-day job allows you to reinforce your newly developed skills and network. Stretch projects and freelance work gives you that extra income (which we all would enjoy in times like these). Add this work to your portfolio and showcase what you’ve done. Volunteering is another great way to practice and develop new skills while helping out the community.

“Do I need a mentor?”

Mentorships provide a great opportunity for both the mentor and the mentee to learn from one another. According to Forbes, mentees are, “promoted five times more often than people who didn’t have mentors.” 

The opportunity to learn from someone more experienced and grow a stronger network is hard to pass up. But who makes a good mentor?

A good mentor is someone who you want to be in the next 5-10 years. You both have similar values and you recognize their accomplishments. Building a mentoring relationship with this individual is easier than you may think. It takes two for mentorship to work, so roll up your sleeves and make the ask. 

Tell them something you admire about them and ask if they would be open to a formal mentoring relationship. Some people will be unable to due to time constraints, but you can ask for their recommendations. Worst case scenario, you made a new friend and you can continue to build that relationship.

A mentorship should be a great fit for both parties involved. Establish a timeline that works for both you and your mentor. We recommend meeting once a week for about an hour. Be upfront with your desired goals and plan what you both want to tackle before each meeting. It’s as simple as that!

“How can I continue to develop?”

Great question! Your personal and professional development is not a one-and-done kind of thing. You should strive to continuously improve your skills.

We recommend a monthly check-in. Look at the goals you’ve set for yourself and view your progress. Have your priorities shifted? Have you found other development opportunities?

You may find that you did not create enough New Year’s resolutions. There’s no need to wait– give yourself additional goals. Continue challenging yourself throughout the year.

Remember, summer goes by fast and soon we will be in fall and winter. As the year begins to wrap up, other priorities will arise as well. Make sure to carve out some time for yourself and your development.

Align your priorities today and check out some of the courses and tools we mentioned. We will leave you with this quote: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi

How can we help you stick to your personal and professional development? Schedule a FREE appointment with us any Thursday during our Office Hours. We would love to hear from you!