I have always liked to learn. Finding answers to questions brings me great satisfaction, whether for myself or for those I work for. There is something incredibly cool about the process of digging deeper into a topic or conundrum. As you peel back layer after layer of uncertainty and obscurity, the pile of information and data becomes deeper and the answer becomes clearer.

I often advocate for my clients to seek out courses, workshops, and conferences to seek higher levels of learning and understanding. At these sorts of events, you listen to specialists and experts, picking up new ideas, new strategies, or new techniques. Even better, you have a conversation with someone “just like you” (but not you) that has experienced something relevant to you and your area of interest/concern. As a result of this formula of listening, interacting, sharing, and collaborating, a unique learning outcome is achieved.

Since we are no where near normal, the in-person and face-to-face interactions are not possible. So, how do we get what we need, without being able to have a conversation supported by a meal or a snack?

Online Learning Opportunities Galore!!!

Fortunately, there is no shortage of opportunities to build up knowledge and gain insights and inspiration. The entire shift to online learning has opened up new opportunities for learning that we’d never have had if we’d had to travel across the world. Rather than having to pick and choose a conference or learning event based on what we can afford, now our main limitation is time.

Don’t know where to start? Just seek out the groups or organizations that delivered the in-person learning that you might have attended previously. See what they are offering. Many organizations have shifted to a virtual format, either transforming their conferences to a fully interactive virtual event or shifting to single or multiple-topic webinar offerings.

Look to see what your input suppliers are putting on. They might be delivering new product updates, sponsoring reports from researchers or folks in the field, or they might just be putting on something interesting.

Check out the various levels of government, from municipal through to federal. Seek out researchers in areas that are of use or interest to you. Often, they, via their departments or institutions, are delivering or presenting their research reports virtually.

Follow your favorite industry magazine or newsfeed for regular events. If they aren’t hosting the events (and many of them are), they are publicizing them.

Almost everyone loves a good tour, especially of a farm or business operation that has some similarities to your own. In the present climate, that isn’t possible, but again, creativity breeds spectacular results. Do a virtual tour of your peers or your suppliers. Many have videos of their farms or businesses. Get a short look at their operation, through the lens of a camera, all from the comfort of the home office.

Necessity is the mother of invention

The basic fact is this. People have had to get creative to get the information that they are developing or gathering out to their various audiences. So, the only work that you have to do is go and find it. They aren’t hiding it.

On a personal note…

I’m in the same boat as most people. In order to stay current, I have to get out there and learn. And I have done so, at least to some degree. I find the time conflicts are a bit harder now, since there are so many opportunities, I have trouble choosing, and they often overlap.

At the same time, much of what I do is develop information and resources for others, whether they be the public, my general or specific client base, or someone else. In so many ways, it is exhilarating and exciting, because I’m not stuck in the “print it or present it” rut anymore, and distance is less of an issue. I can easily speak to audiences far removed from my home/office. I can record presentations and post them to somewhere for people to see. I can develop in-depth presentations without the worry about time crunch that typically pervades an in-person talk that I give. I can record my presentations and post them for the people that need them to take them in at their leisure. I can have a client halfway around the world, with the only constraints being the time difference.

The world of information sharing has opened up even further than it was before. It was opening and widening up before, but now, it is blown open. It is a pretty interesting time for continuous learning. Are you taking advantage of it?