Remember back to the days when you were in school and you thought, “I can’t wait until I can be done learning all this new stuff and just be able to do my job.” It seemed right at the time. But it’s not. It’s not long before we learn that if we want to be truly successful in life and business, we’re always going to be learning.
But, life is busy and prioritizing learning can be a difficult thing. When you have a job that keeps you busy all day and then friends and family that are waiting for your attention after work, making time for learning can be the easiest thing to cross off your list—but, don’t do it!
We should always be learning and about a variety of topics. Find the ways to get it in your day that works best for you. It could be reading for 15-minutes before bed, listening to an audiobook on your drive to and from work, or listening to a podcast while you exercise. Get creative.
And, if you’re wondering what you should be learning, the options are endless. Here are some ideas thought to get your wheels spinning.
Local Milwaukee Resources
- BizTimes (Milwaukee Business News)
- The Business Journal of Milwaukee
- MMAC Busines News (Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce)
Another local resource that’s often overlooked is the Milwaukee Public Library system. If you haven’t been to the library lately then you probably don’t realize how much they have changed (and are going to continue changing). Libraries are no longer all about the books.
The libraries know that more and more people are using audio and ebooks which is why libraries are moving towards having more digital resources for you to “checkout”. With this change, libraries are beginning to focus more on things like hosting training, meetings, and events. (This is also a good way to market your own business by holding a free training at the library).
National New Resources
I’m not saying you have to sit and watch the news constantly. (In fact, I don’t watch it all because I end up with anxiety.) But you can read national news and if you focus on the business sections, you can stay on top of the things you need to know that are happening in the world without so much of the doom-and-gloom messaging that the media loves to spread.
There are plenty you can choose from like The Wall Street Journal US Business News. I recommend that you look around to find the few that you prefer. Many of these publications are talking about the same things.
If you’re tired of all the political one-sidedness that happens from one news station to the next, look for things like AllSides.com which is a blog that works to report on the news while removing media bias and fake news. They do their best to provide balanced coverage.
Other Resources
Thanks to the internet, there is an endless number of business and leadership resources to choose from. You can find publications, books, podcasts, YouTube videos, blogs, you name it. A simple Google search can get you pointed in the right direction.
I recommend that you have an idea of what you’re looking for when you start searching. Choose a topic that you’re interested in. It could be one that you know a lot about but want a different perspective on. Or, it could be a topic that you’ve heard discussed but don’t know many of the details.
Use what works for you
Obviously, there’s been a huge focus on podcasts over the last few years. And, yes, there are some AMAZING podcasts that are out there from big name brands all the way down to beginner entrepreneurs. But, it’s not important that you listen to podcasts. It’s only important that you are gaining knowledge.
Choose what works best for you. If you enjoy reading, read. If you enjoy watching videos, hit the YouTube search bar. If you like to listen while you drive because you have a long commute, then look for audiobooks or podcasts you can learn from.
The most important thing is that you find ways to continually be learning.
We are SPEARity, a local Milwaukee leadership coaching firm that specializes in business coaching, executive coaching, and leadership development training.
