Video Blog: How Much Time Do You Spend on Your Own Professional Development?

Rosetta, I want to join you in encouraging people to get proactive about their professional development. So many folks wait for their employer to pay for it (which just doesn't happen in many organizations). Nobody cares about you as much as you do.

Over the years, I've spent many thousands of dollars — and thousands of hours of my personal time — on professional development. And every time I've invested in myself, it's paid off. I'm in my 50s now and still invest a great deal of money and time in my development every year, always seeking out new and interesting learning edges.

Really impressed by everything you're doing, Rosetta.

Best,
Pam

1. “Bootstrap yourself—be your own angel investor.” Don’t wait for funding. Be willing to write (and underwrite) your own proposals for “EdVenture Capital”, to obtain resources for your next educational opportunity. If you’re not willing to get out your own checkbook and wholeheartedly invest in your own professional development, maybe you haven’t yet convinced yourself that the risk is worth taking. During a layoff, I spent my savings on a week-long grant writing course at The Grantsmanship Center to help me become a better writer & volunteer fundraiser. I’ve had 3 rewarding career moves since then, and also funded thousands of dollars worth of my own professional development thanks to those proposal writing skills. Sometimes it just comes down to getting out your own checkbook, determined to get the best return on your investment.

2. “Ask and be ready.” You have nothing to lose by calling the conference coordinator and asking about a scholarship, fee waiver, or to simply be on standby in case someone cancels at the last minute. Thank your sponsors so they’ll continue to fund future training & scholarships.

3. “Share your best ideas.” Get people together to share highlights from the best conferences and classes they’ve attended recently. Call it “When Worlds Collide”, and brainstorm about how trends in their fields can spark innovation in your own.

4. “Be the buzz.” Perhaps attend the event as a journalist or blogger, and create tweets and highlights in exchange for your registration fee.

5. “Home School Yourself.” —This chapter in Peter Block’s book, The Answer to How is Yes, is a license to design your own life’s curriculum. Use it periodically to fine tune a list or mind map where you jot down subjects, mentors, conferences, and ventures you’re interested in. New and affordable opportunities will have a surprising way of turning up sooner than you might expect.

6. “Diversify.” What’s good for your investments is good for your professional development. Rebalance your portfolio & consider exploring “emerging markets” like multimedia or biotech to broaden your view. Check out your local community college & open courseware websites for the best educational bargains around. Ask your local library to order the specific items you need, and invite others to use the new resources.

So, what's the best investment you ever made in your continuing professional development?
What's next for you?
Where do you want to be?
When will you go there?

So true Pam: “nobody cares about you as much as you do.” I think many people make the mistake of thinking that they have to depend on their employer for professional development, and with this economy that's not always a realistic expectation. We certainly have to be proactive about our own learning!

Love this! Great job Rosetta and what an awesome topic.

Like Pam McCallister, I've spent a lot of money on professional development. I was blessed, too, to have come from a sales/marketing background which, in the long-run, has been more beneficial to me in my work than subsequent nonprofit-specific coursework.

I encourage people to step outside their boundaries and read books such as Cialdini's Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, to attend a marketing workshop that might not have anything to do with their field, and, as Mary urges, to share your experiences with others in the workplace. Recently I attended a branding workshop and found that one organization had not sent a “development” person to attend, but rather a policy person – great idea!

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