That’s good advice for everyone, but it doesn’t mean finding the time—or energy—to take a class or go for a new certification isn’t tough. How do you commit to a course when you already have a full plate? We asked for advice from folks who’ve done it successfully. Here’s what they told us. DO IT IN SMALL DOSES. “I like my education in small bits,” Bradley says. “Shorter sessions hold my attention and they’re easier to fit into my schedule.” If it feels overwhelming to sign up for a course that eats up weeks or months, try a lunch-and-learn or a pre-recorded webinar to get the ball rolling. Nela Kovacovic, a Montreal- based event lead at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton, suggests something even simpler: Sign up for an industry newsletter. “People think of learning as something that’s done in a course, but newsletters take 10 minutes to read, and that learning translates into knowledge.” TREAT IT LIKE A DENTIST APPOINTMENT. So, that’s not a popular example (no one enjoys the dentist), but we all make time to get our teeth cleaned, right? When you choose a course you’re interested in, block the time off in your calendar, the way you would for any other meeting or appointment. Kovacovic does this, and says she treats coursework and studying the same way. “I often study in the morning, so it’s not left until I feel burnt out at the end of the day.” STUDY YOUR OWN WAY. When Stephanie Rapko, a trade show and events specialist at Skyjack Inc. in Guelph, Ont., and an avid volunteer at MPI, was getting ready for the CMP exam, she had a system: She highlighted text, added tabs to pages, reviewed formulas and made detailed notes. “The night before the exam, I booked myself into a hotel room, ordered room service, turned off my phone and reviewed everything. I strived to understand it all so that I had complete confidence in myself the next morning. It paid off.” CREATE A SUPPORT GROUP. You don’t have to go it alone. “When I was preparing to write my CMP exam, I joined a study group,” Rapko says. “Surround yourself with like-minded professionals who are working toward the same goal. The group was a great way to dive into the content and learn from others.” START ANYWHERE. Not sure what course to take with the limited time you have? Turns out it doesn’t really matter what you choose, as long as it’s something that’s important to you. “If it’s a topic you’re interested in, you’ll prioritize it,” Bradley says. “In our industry, there are lots of courses on event marketing, for example, and that’s not directly related to what I do every day, but it’s interesting. The more I know about it, the better I can relate to my clients and colleagues. As long as I’m learning, it’s great.” TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING, AND SO IS THE WORLD OF MEETINGS AND EVENTS. WE HAVE TO KEEP LEARNING. Summer 2024 | Ignitemag.ca | 31
