Your Own Learning Plan

Regardless of whether you're still studying or working, you're always going to be learning. You can't run away from it and quite honestly you shouldn't. Of course what you learn and how you learn it varies according to your own personal background.

More often than not, we don't take responsibility for what we learn. Our parents, teachers and employers determine what and when we learn. We think it ends at school but quite honestly it continues at work as well. Our employes send us for training that THEY think is important for us.

So the question is - do you want to be responsible for what you learn over the next year? If you just leave it to your employers or educational institutions, then you'll be learning what 'they' want you to learn and not necessarily what YOU want to learn.

I know some of you didn't choose to study the degree you're pursuing or don't want to be working at the job you're working at. So instead of bitching about it, it's time we did something to change all that.

Ask yourself what it is you need to learn to better equip yourself to achieve your goals. Are there books you need to read, seminars you need to attend or people you need to meet? Try drawing out a learning plan for yourself.

Here's what corporate organizations do to determine their million dollar training plans. I have simplified it for you.

1. Determine the skill sets you need.

Determine for yourself what skills you will need to stand out from the crowd or to achieve your goals. Try not to focus on technical skills because you'll probable learn that from your uni or job. Focus on skills your job or uni aren't focusing on. Maybe it's people skills, leadership skills, creative thinking skills, communication skills or even presentation skills.

2. Determine your Gaps

Determine how far behind you are in each skill set that you identified earlier. This will indicate the amount of learning you need to do for each skill.

3. Determine the methods of learning available

Determine the learning resources you have. Traditionally this would mean books and seminars but don't underestimate youtube and the internet. I do most of my learning there :)

4. Create a learning plan

Here's where you pen down your learning plan for the next 6 to 12 months. Determine the books you're gonna read, seminars you're gonna attend and topics you're gonna explore. Don't over plan. Make it easy to achieve!

Once you have your plan. Try and stick with it. Even if you don't think you're disciplined enough to follow a plan go ahead and complete the 4 steps above. It will get your mind thinking about what you need to learn!