Learning is the core of work. All people have two jobs: (a) their daily task; and (b) improving the reliability of processes by which they do their work. – John J. Sherwood
Professional development, continuing education, training …regardless of what you call it, savvy professionals and business owners recognize the importance of learning. Learning is critical for expanding your vision, generating new ideas, and staying ahead of your competition. Technology is an awesome enabler when it comes to learning. It allows information and ideas to be shared without the restraints of location,time, and even money.
This weeks 5 browseworthy links all offer FREE courses or learning content to help you go from Bright to Brilliant...
1.MIT’s Open Courseware: The free courses offered by MIT range from Comparative Media to Urban Planning. The components offered for each course vary – at the very least you will find a link to course readings. Other courses include lecture notes, projects and assignments, handouts. A great place to start is The Sloan School of Management. Inquisitive and ambitious professionals can browse both graduate and undergraduate classes.
2.PM PodCast: This is an amazing resource for project management professionals. I would also recommend this site to anyone without the official title, but who works with project managers, or is part of a team responsible for a project. There are free and paid subscription (5.99/mo) options. The site offers over 100 episodes with topics focused on everything from leadership to Sharepoint. Recommended listen: Everything a Project Manager Should Know About Social Media.
3. Temple University’s Small Biz U: Thinking about starting your own business – or are you a budding entrepreneur? Small Biz U is definitely a site to add to your list. This totally FREE content focuses on three areas: money, management and marketing. You can learn how to craft a business plan, pricing strategy and tactics, and how to find and attract investors. I sampled the course on Positioning and recommend it for anyone interested in understanding the value of branding and choosing a niche.
4. Johns Hopskins Open Coursware Project: This project offers free content on Public Health topics including HIV/AIDS, behavioral health and health policy. Like MIT, you can access lecture notes and reading list.
5. The Master List of Free Language Learning Resources: For anyone who has ever wanted to learn a new language this is a must browse site! It lists Podcast, on-line learning sites, and links for iPod/iTouch applications. Languages include Arabic, Korean, Spanis, Chinese, Cherokee, Creole, Afrikaans and more. One of the coolest links I found: Digital Dialects – this site offers interative learning games and resource links.
Welcome! My name is Tai Goodwin and I am a career and business coach who specifically works with professionals who are launching a business while working full-time. For more information on how I can help you with your transition from employee to entrepreneur, visit the 
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