| Going to business school is cool but it’s not | | | | Not everyone can take a couple years off to go |
| the only option for advancing professional education! | | | | back to school but many can manage evenings and |
| Here are 5 ways you can beef up your skills and | | | | weekends. Your company might support this as an |
| knowledge without having to take on the time and | | | | option for you (and maybe they’ll even pay |
| expense involved in attending business school. Never | | | | for it too) but you’ll never know if you |
| miss an opportunity to invest in your professional | | | | don’t ask. |
| development whether you prefer to go solo, partner | | | | 4. Check out company–offered programs; |
| or buddy up, or join a group. | | | | they may surprise you. |
| 1. Successful people read—a lot! | | | | Businesses are expanding their internal training options |
| And there’s more than one way to get that | | | | by leaps and bounds. It’s not unusual to find |
| reading done. If books aren’t for you, try the | | | | live and virtual presentations on a variety of subjects. |
| audio version – easy to fit in on any commute. | | | | Programs not offered in-house are almost always |
| Don’t overlook business book summary | | | | available externally and quite often your company will |
| services either. Summaries distill top-selling business | | | | pay your tuition. Just make sure any requests you |
| books to just the key messages and are a great | | | | make in this regard are relevant to your current job |
| timesaver. They cost less too. If that’s still | | | | or logical next step up in the organization. |
| too much for you, a few well chosen magazines can | | | | 5. Work with a mentor or mastermind group. |
| also keep you up to date and in the know. | | | | Hang out with people who have been there, done |
| 2. Combine networking and education by taking | | | | that and associate yourself with others of a like mind. |
| advantage of professional and industry association | | | | You’ll pick up great tips, benefit from the |
| offerings. | | | | support and improve your own game simply by |
| Business associations offer many programs and | | | | association. |
| seminars in the form of breakfast or lunch meetings, | | | | You are the average of the 5 people you spend the |
| chapter meetings, special interest workshops and so | | | | most time with so look around and see if |
| on. And the atmosphere of these events is perfect | | | | you’re missing opportunities to grow |
| for making new professional connections. Sometimes | | | | professionally because you’re not spending |
| they even feed you too! | | | | enough time with people who can do you some |
| 3. No time for a full-time MBA? See if your company | | | | good. You don’t have to give up your |
| will invest in an Executive MBA program for you. | | | | friends; just add a few new ones along the way. |