A long life of learning
Whether we’re aware of it or not, we all learn something new every day. So I guess that makes every one of us life-long learners. It’s relatively early in the morning for me right now, and today I’ve already learned that:
- In the U.K., gasoline costs nearly $10 a gallon.
- If you don’t water plants, they die – take a look in my office.
- I really, really don’t like two Splendas in my morning latte (an honest mistake made by a new barista).
I took a more deliberate step in my long life of learning by going back to school at age 53. After a bunch of research, taking the GMAT (4 times!) and extensive interviewing, I enrolled in the Executive MBA program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.
My decision to go back to school was strictly personal. I’ve always been interested in learning – I’m an avid reader, I pay attention to what’s going on around me, I watch way too much TV and I ask a lot of questions. But I hadn’t had any formal education in more than 30 years and until I thought about it, I didn’t realize how much I missed that classroom experience.
Throughout my career, I’ve spent a lot of time administering training to adults – I’ve always been “in charge” while in the front of a classroom or an audience. What a luxury to sit back and listen; the only pressure on my part was to pay attention, remain engaged and participate when appropriate. And, the older I got, the more I realized how much I didn’t know.
So here’s what those two years at Kellogg did for me.
I got a much broader understanding of economics, finance and accounting concepts. Some new subjects were fascinating for me… game theory, commodities, logistics, change management. I don’t necessarily apply what I learned each day, but understanding these concepts has given me tremendous respect for those who do.
What my MBA didn’t do for me was get me a new job or a raise — neither of which was my goal. What it did do was give me a level of confidence that has changed nearly everything about the way I interact with those around me.
So the lessons for all of us:
- Don’t ever turn down an opportunity to learn — whether formally or informally.
- Throughout the process, remain engaged and inquisitive; don’t waste the opportunity you’ve been given.
- Don’t set unrealistic expectations about what happens next — do it for personal development.
- Continue to search for opportunities to learn more. It can only enrich your life.
- Have fun while you’re at it!
Finally, after successfully earning that MBA, I’m even more aware of what I still don’t know. So what’s next? Should I tackle nuclear physics?
Now it’s your turn… what have you learned lately?
Reading your post made me wonder about your opinion on employers paying for higher education and advanced degrees for their employees. While I agree one should do it for a love of learning, that concept, when put in the lens of student loan debt, doesn’t hold the same draw.
Mmmmm… Great question, Bethany!
My initial thought is there are two types of formal learning: job-related stuff (I guess that is called training) and general knowledge education like an advanced degree. Employers traditionally pay for the job-related training, although budgets have been slashed in recent years. My guess is the advanced degree issue is different. My company didn’t pay for my MBA and I didn’t expect it to. But there generally are tuition reimbursement programs in companies that provide some assistance. And I emphasize the word “some.” My hunch is companies don’t usually pay the whole bill.
With student loans overtaking credit card debt in the U.S. and an increasing number of folks saddled with enormous obligations, the cost of education is a big issue. Add to that the fact that many recent grads are having trouble landing a job, and the lens (as you put it) becomes one of the ROI.
I’m throwing the question out there: Do your companies have a tuition reimbursement program? Would they pay for something like an MBA? Full freight? Or a partial reimbursement?
And another question: In today’s world, do we get a return on our education investment?
Hey Melanie! I find your last question particularly compelling. I would say that in my profession, marketing communications, the education system has not kept up with the field and I am not convinced there is an “ROI” on an advanced degree in the field right now. At least not one that would equal the experience of someone actively working. Are there benefits to any advanced education? I would say, “yes!” But, would I hire or rather work with someone with a degree vs. someone with real experience in my field. No. Day-to-day experience trumps books, at least for me… right now.
Great post, Melanie! Couldn’t agree more: the more you learn, the more you realize what you don’t know.
As an employment lawyer, I’ve spent a lot of time lately trying to learn more about HR. What I keep discovering is that I basically need to know waaaaaay more about the “H” in HR. Frankly, humans baffle me.
A few months ago, I decided to tackle a core HR topic: engagement. To make a long story short, I learned that basically all of engagement (and employment law for that matter) boils down to one little word: LOVE. To see what I mean, here’s a link to a webinar I did on the subject: http://manpowergroupblogs.us/employment_blawg/2012/04/25/webinar-replay-slideshare-3/
Thanks again for posing this question, Melanie!
Thanks, Mark. I listened to your webinar. Great job! For those of you who missed it, I recommend taking a listen — it will be worth your time.
Melanie,
I’ve frequently referred to myself as a perpetual student. I simply love to learn new things, and have always looked for new opportunities to gain new knowledge as a way to grow my career. I, therefore, was eager to obtain an advanced degree, and registered for an accelerated MBA program. The company that I worked for while completing my MBA only provided a minimal reimbursement, so I ended up paying most of the expense out of pocket and through student loans, which added a significant amount to my personal debt.
And, in answer to your question about the ROI on education, I don’t believe getting an MBA did much to advance my career. Rather, it was the opportunities and projects that I was given by management, or sought out on my own, that were most beneficial in building my career and skill set.