What are you learning this year?

As we begin the new year and make resolutions and plans, it can be useful to include learning as part of your intentional goals or new habits for the year. Let me share mine.

This year our family plans to travel to Greece, where my wife, Maria’s, family is from. In anticipation of that trip to Skopelos island, Maria has been learning how to speak Greek and I plan on learning underwater photography. Such learning is both practical and fun. I believe that our learning goals will give us a more rounded perspective and life experience before, during, and even long after the vacation.

What could you learn in the new year that could be practical, fun or enriching to your life?

When I was in college and even in my first job in my vocation, I understood that I would always need to be learning new skills to keep up with industry standards, technology, and career opportunities. What I soon discovered was that you have not truly mastered a topic until you have taught it to someone else.

There are many ways to learn something new. You can take a formal training, watch YouTube videos, read or listen to steps and practices, or even just shadow someone and ask them questions. What is most important is being intentional about the purpose of your learning and focusing on the key learning objectives (whether formal or informal).

Here are a few online business resources that I’ve found helpful:

Impact Measurement & Management for the SDGs offered by Duke University

The Path of Moral Leadership offered by Acumen Academy

Venture Deals offered by Kauffman Fellows and Techstars, presented by Brad Feld

No matter how you choose to go about it, I would challenge you to learn something new, fun, and enriching for yourself and others. Then, share what you’ve learned with me and others so that you can better lock in a new skill or knowledge.

So, what are you learning this year?