Throughout the years, I’ve repeatedly heard the same messages. Knowledge is power. Never stop learning. No one can take your education away from you. And, I’m certain there are a few more. Eventually, The question of “What do you know how to do?” has transformed into “What are you certified to do?”

As we grow and venture into the “real world”, folks are introduced to formal education, continuing education credits, “approved classes”, certification agencies, professional development hours, etc. All of these “education controls” can be a minefield for someone trying to reach a level of proficiency and perform the work. Not only can it be confusing for individuals, but for businesses as well.

Businesses understand they should assist in “developing” the business’s #1 asset, the workers. However, there are numerous questions that arise. Is the training worth the price tag? What will my colleagues learn from the training? Can I send just one person and have them teach the rest? Is the training recognized in the industry? Is the training part of a certification worth acquiring? Will my workers leave for another company after receiving this training? Companies can have many different approaches to answering these questions. Some approaches may include (or exclude) training budgets, training courses, lunch and learns, seminars, online classes, in-house training, etc.

On a personal level, I find that we need to pursue the knowledge that we find the most interesting. There are vast amounts of educational opportunities in the world. We need to prioritize the ones we feel will benefit us the most, and take some chances on educating ourselves outside of our comfort zone. Parents or businesses may or may not assist us in our educational (or certification) pursuits. Still, we need to remember that the person most responsible for your own education is yourself.

-M