In an Age Where We Get Everything Instantly Why Not Education as Well? Here Are 15 Ways to a Quick and Affordable Education.
McKinsey Global Institute estimated that by 2030, around 375 million people will lose their jobs because of automation. Will you be one of them? Because this is THE time to put yourself to some self learning.
Going back to school in your 30’s isn’t always doable. We’re here to give you some great ideas about self learning and to keep up with the changing world. There are ways to do it much faster and cheaper than traditional degrees. If you’re in the middle of a degree right now, by the time you graduate that information will be old. Self learning on the go is a non-negotiable.
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1
Learn From Experience
It’s great to have a piece of paper that says you passed a course, but most employers want to see your skills in action. This means you need to spend some time creating or putting your degree into practice. If you studied Online Marketing for example you can set up an Instagram page and grow your followers up to 10,000. So at this level, it’s an achievement worth adding to your resume because it shows skill and experience.
2
Go Into Self-Development Mode
Up skilling isn’t always about self learning a new trade. It can also mean up skilling your interpersonal and emotional skills. Look into some personal growth by seeing where your weaknesses lie. Reading up, joining groups and strengthening yourself on the inside should be the next stop. Knowing where you are strong, and then working on your weaknesses is the first step to a good EQ.
3
Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
There is no end to what you can learn from others. But you’ll never know what you don’t know if you always stick around your comfort zone. Learn something new and let a whole new group of go-getters inspire you. You can do it by joining a club or group that is doing something interesting. Try Running, Hiking, Biking, sailing or even golf. You never know who you might meet, what you could learn and how it could connect you all while you’re having fun and making new friends.
If this isn’t enough motivation to get out of there yet, here are 15 Ways the Comfort Zone Is Ruining Your Life.
4
Use Social Media
Social Media is a crucial place to stay in touch with your industry or link into a new field of work. It allows you direct insight into what your peers, future boss or dream company is working on, what they are reading or what conferences they attend. All this inside intel is some of the best way to fast track yourself into the right direction to get yourself up to speed with the people you want to be noticed by.
We aren’t suggesting you go full stalker on individuals, what we mean is that it’s a good starting point to see who Is who in the zoo, and then reach out and connect with people in your field.
5
Get Real Life Experience
Nothing beats experience. So, while you’re in the process of upskilling yourself, don’t underestimate the value of some work shadow time. Not only will you be exposed to real life best practice, you will also be making connections with people in your industry. If you make a good impression you might have have just got yourself your first contactable reference or a lifelong mentor.
6
Travel
Travel is the universal school that you will never run out of lessons to teach. Whenever and wherever you can, travel.
Each experience is another tutorial in something. Whether it’s being organised, how to juggle logistics or understanding another culture, to the open mind, it is all a giant lesson. There are no wasted experiences travelling and travelling will always be relevant as it gives us context and scope into the world, and that’s the greatest education we can get.
7
Stream Good Content
Sure, it’s great to be able to quote every one-liner from The Office, but it’s not really what one would call an “employable skill”. Rather use your time streaming content that will educate you. There are documentaries and educational series on almost every subject under the sun. Architects, bakers, nurses or shoemakers, will all find something to stream that could bring them some new knowledge and up to date with some new advancements. Or if nothing else, watch something with a bit of substance just so that you can be better dinner conversation around other adults, rather than rattling off Rick and Morty jokes all night with their kids.
8
Teach
Sounds pretty doable, doesn’t it? If you’re good at something, maybe it’s creating origami wine glasses, then create some online tutorials. Build an online community and inspire others to start creating their own paper origami wine glasses.
Before you know it, you’ve created a whole new concept and you’re now the CEO of Wine and Wrapper and you can retire at 37.
Like Margaret Fuller, the first American female war correspondent, once said, “If you have knowledge, let other’s light their candles in it.”
9
Exchange Your Knowledge for Someone Else’s Knowledge
Perhaps it’s self learning a language or teaching a skill in exchange for knowledge, the actual items exchanged are not the important part, it’s what knowledge you’ll gain from the exchange.
What do you have to offer someone else? Are you a whizz at WordPress, and super keen to learn how to digitize embroidery designs? You could find someone who wants to create a blog about their digitizing and then you have an exchange made in educational heaven.
Of course, every exchange is situation specific – but all so doable.
10
Read – Anything and Everything
Sure, Calvin and Hobbes is great as a quick in-betweener, but you know that’s not exactly what we’re referring to. We’re speaking about news articles, magazines, books, blogs, poetry, travel brochures, even a dictionary is a good read – you could possibly learn a new word a day.
And when it comes to your book choices, it’s great to read the Book Club recommendations of Oprah or Reece Witherspoon, but also try and step out of your reading comfort zone. Be challenged with new ideas and different ways of thinking.
We can’t grow and differentiate ourselves if we’re reading the same material as everyone else. So remember what Japanese writer, Haruki Murakami said, “If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.”
11
Volunteer – You Will Meet New People & Gain Life-Long Experience
Besides being a humbling experience, volunteering can be extremely beneficial and educational. Even if you’re not able to volunteer in Ghana or Kenya, but you’re walking the dogs every weekend at your local animal shelter, not only are you making a massive difference to the lives of others, you’re also self learning each step of the way.
When we volunteer and put ourselves “out there”, we are open to meeting new people, having unique opportunities present themselves to us and learning another dimension about ourselves that we didn’t know existed.
Aluxers, real-life experiences will often trump a piece of paper with a degree on it. So, we encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and get involved with volunteer work.
Be sure to watch our video, 15 Necessary SKILLS for STUDENTS In The 21st Century, to see what else you could add to boost your education and hireability.
12
OpenCourseWare (OCW)
Aluxers, if this is a new concept to you, let’s quickly explain it. OpenCourseWare are lessons created by universities and placed online for you to access for free. They’ve been around since the late 90s, after they became popular in Europe and then the US.
OCW was first used in Germany at the University of Tübingen, and many universities have since jumped onboard, including the University of Michigan, University of California Berkeley and Yale.
The reason behind OpenCourseWare was to “enhance human learning worldwide by the availability of a web of knowledge”.
Just note that even if you choose to take advantage of OCW, you won’t necessarily get an official accreditation for your self learning, but you could still include it on your CV and show proof that you’ve completed a certain course.
13
Podcasts/Ted Talks Are Great to Expand Your Knowledge in Different Fields and Areas
Podcasts and Ted Talks are such a fantastic way to learn. For most of us, they’re easily accessible, you can listen pretty much anywhere and they’re entertaining. Podcasts are great for any ages, with children ecstatic by History Storytime, where they learn about anything and everything in history, from what it was like to be child in the Victorian times, to the history of the Christmas Tree.
Best part is that parents or guardians learn from them too.
Adults, of course have adult content, and you can get lost in the story of Bunga Bunga, The Shrink Next Door, and any podcast your heart desires.
Ted Talks are superb because they share people’s real-life experiences.
Use these mediums to educate yourself and you’ll find you will never be short of conversation, ideas and knowledge.
14
Online Courses Are a Great, Cheaper Alternative to Studying at a University
There is nothing a quick search on Google won’t reveal and there are thousands of excellent online courses available at a fraction of the cost of going to University.
Many speculate that attending University will not be an option for many more years, which is leading many new graduates to opt for alternatives.
And even if University was in full swing, as it was prior to Covid, the costs of attending are exponential. So many students miss out on attending University because they simply can’t afford it. So, it’s no surprise that online schools and universities are thriving, and so they should. Everyone deserves access to learn. Take to heart what Malala Yousafzai said, “They cannot stop me. I will get my education, if it is in the home, school, or any place.”
15
YouTube
How lucky are we to have incredible channels like Alux that genuinely want their viewers lives to improve?
A channel that imparts different perspectives, a global connection and a passion for self learning.
YouTube is busting at the seams with crap, we get it, but it doesn’t take too long to sift through the sh*t to find value online.
Alux, is unique in that we cover every topic imaginable. If you’re considering branching out into any field, there will be information available on YouTube to help you with the transition.
So, if you’re in the position now where your job could be null and void in the not-too-distant future, it’s time to start thinking of alternatives. It’s growing indigenous trees in your spacious garden, repairing swimming pools, installing grey-water systems – anything – find the information you need to get started right here, on YouTube.
Question:
What have you learnt by watching YouTube videos? Has it helped you launch a new career? We’d love to hear from you Aluxers!
