IMPROVE YOUR SKILL SET WITH 3 EASY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT METHODS
A lifelong learner mentality is often lauded as a habit of successful people, but far too many professional development courses are geared toward entrepreneurs, CEOs, and managers. However, you don’t need a leadership title to benefit from this knowledge. Dip your toe into the professional development waters with these three tips for seamlessly incorporating learning into your life.
your smartphone. Download apps like Libby — an app connected to local libraries where users can check out audiobooks or read digitally — to get a quick, easy fix of professional development. You could also try podcasts on Spotify, Stitcher, or Apple Podcasts. There are plenty of short episodes that focus on professional development.
TRACK YOUR PROGRESS. With so many options, classes, and tools available to you, it can be overwhelming to set, track, and meet your professional development goals. That’s where habit trackers can help! Whether you prefer to use pen and paper for journaling or download an app for digital tracking (try Coach.me or Habitify), a habit tracker allows you to see tangible progress and identify areas of improvement.
GO TO SCHOOL WITH THE PROS. If you could harness the knowledge of world- leading experts, wouldn’t you want to?
Platforms like MasterClass, LinkedIn Learning, and Skillshare offer expert knowledge in bite- size courses that users can take at their own pace. Learn how to write from Malcolm Gladwell or Roxanne Gay or master the art of negotiation from FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss. (And for fun, become a chef with Gordon Ramsay!) Commit to one video chapter each week or listen as you do household chores. Just spend a few moments afterward reflecting on the content so it can soak in. DOWNLOAD APPS FOR QUICK LEARNING. There may be points when you are just too busy or find that starting a new class or habit is difficult. Don’t quit; instead, look at
Bonus Tip: Find a mentor or buddy to do professional development with you! Everything is easier with a friend, and whether you need someone to hold you accountable or are looking for support from someone wiser than you, someone by your side may be just what you need.
WELCOME TO THE TEAM, JACQUELINE! Meet BLF’s New Marketing Brand Coordinator
Jacqueline Lacoff joined our team at a crazy moment: The day after the epic winter storm hit Texas. Incredibly, she still hit the ground running. She had stopped by the office to pick up her training materials the week before, so she had them on hand when the world turned upside down. “Our power was super unreliable. It would go out for about eight hours, then come on for 30 minutes. I charged my computer during that time and tried to listen to the training materials and read the books Russell had given me,” Jacqueline remembers. Fortunately, Jacqueline, her husband, Ben, and their two dogs, Raider and Astro, made it through the storm unscathed. That trial by fire (or should we say ice?) showed us what a proactive, dedicated team player Jacqueline would be. Four months later, we still count ourselves lucky to have
her handling our social media, website, blog, and other marketing content.
“We finally found somebody who really loves what she does and has a passion for marketing and our mission here at BLF,”
agency specializing in home and auto insurance. As an expert in marketing, auto insurance policies, and giving back, she’s a perfect fit for our team.
Russell says. “Those two things combined are what make her really great for our
team. She knows that the more people our firm is exposed to, the more clients we’ll be able to help, cases we’ll be able to win, and positive change we’ll be able to make.” Jacqueline has a degree in public relations with a minor in history. Before coming to BLF, she interned with a PR firm that helped nonprofits, and she also worked as the marketing director for an insurance
“I feel like what our firm does actually has an impact, and that’s something that drew me to it,” she says. If you chat with Jacqueline this month, be sure to congratulate her on her new job and on her wedding! She and Ben got married in February and can’t wait to celebrate with a big party this fall.
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