3 Ways to Learn Anything You Want

What comes to mind when you think of education? Most people equate education with traditional schooling, where they are assigned things to learn that may not particularly interest them. Then, as soon as they graduate high school or college, they move on to real life and assume their years of education are over. But the truth is, the happiest and most successful people in the world continue educating themselves throughout their lives.

Learning to be your own teacher is one of the most valuable skills you'll ever develop. Whether you're learning to sew or build furniture, or you're learning to build a business or raise children, there will always be opportunities to learn new skills. But where do you start? If you are not in the habit of educating yourself, it might feel like staring at a blank canvas, but I assure you there are opportunities all around. 

1. Read as Much as You Can

No matter what you want to learn, someone else has thought of it before and probably written a book about it. Technology has made reading easier than ever. You can read digital books off a tablet or e-reader, or if the act of reading is difficult, you can listen to audiobooks. And the best thing is, the library in your town has thousands of helpful books you can borrow for free. Don't let money or a lack of confidence deter you from reading as many books as you can get your hands on. 

2. Invest in Courses from Experts

Here at Success Your Way, our primary goal is to create educational resources for entrepreneurial women, including online courses. So we're big proponents of this style of learning. Technology has made it easy for all kinds of experts to rise to the forefront by creating online courses. I've taken courses in writing, marketing, and gardening, and I even learned how to sleep-train my kids from the comfort of my laptop. You can find courses in just about anything you want to learn if you invest the time and money in them. One thing to remember is that anyone can create a course. This means you'll come across courses created by people with limited knowledge, no first-hand experience, or personal values that differ from yours. Make sure you do your research to make sure you can trust the source. 

3. Surround Yourself with Wise Mentors

Finally, one of the best ways to learn a new skill is to surround yourself with people who know more about it than you do. This may look like joining a local business group, seeking out a mentor, or even following a business podcast that inspires you. If you don't know anyone who has the expertise you're looking for, ask around. 

The most important thing to remember about self-education is that you, the student, must be self-directed. There's no one to hold you accountable for doing your homework or attending class. That's your job. I know it can sometimes seem like there's too much to do in a day to make room for education. And truthfully, there have been seasons of my life where I haven't had the time to invest. But there have also been seasons where I spent time scrolling on my phone when I could have been investing in my future. 

I hope this gives you something to think about. As the leader of your lifelong education, you get to create the lesson plans. So choose a question you want answered and go out and find the answers you're looking for. If you'd like to be alerted when we launch new online courses, head to our website and sign up for our mailing list.