5 ways to teach yourself anything

I used to love school. Really. I loved school because I liked being around my friends, because every day was different, but also because I liked learning things. I've always been interested in learning new things.

I studied mechanical engineering because I was good at all scientific subjects and I liked to understand how things worked (although my husband often wonders how I got my degree :) ). But then I did an extra year to study marketing. It was a completely different field, but I loved it and this dual competence really served me in my career so far.



Soon after, I began working as a marketing assistant, and it might well be then that I started learning the most. I had to learn about the corporate world, about conducting meetings, running projects, organizing trade shows, preparing press releases, replying to RFQs, all the things that the job would throw at me. One aspect that particularly interested me was the design part of marketing materials. We relied on agencies to create our brochures, but I wanted to learn how to do it myself. So I did just that and today I'm able to design a brochure, retouch a photo, code some HTML and even more.

In fact, if I think about it, I taught myself many things: drawing portraits, drawing cartoons, using photoshop with advanced techniques, sewing, crocheting, cooking, Email marketing, all sorts of things, without spending a fortune.

So here are some ideas on how to teach yourself anything:

1. Take lessons
   Find a private teacher, enroll in night classes or follow a professional training. This might be the most expensive option, but also the fastest. I took lessons in piano, painting, tennis or making sewing patterns and I loved the direct feedback from the teacher. Look for classes in your local community, in the newspaper, at work, or talk to friends.


2. Read books
   When I can't afford to pay for a teacher, or when I don't have time to go to a class, I enjoy reading a few books on the subject I want to learn. I read books on marketing, branding, design, blogging, cooking or even yoga. Books are great because you can go through them at your on pace, read only the parts that interest you and follow a natural progression that was outlined for you. Go to the library and browse a few shelves or if you don't have time to go to the shop, look for good books on Amazon and use the book preview to get a feel for what is inside the book. Also make sure to read the reviews to see what other people thought of the book.


3. Go online
   Read blogs, watch videos and listen to podcasts. This is definitely my preferred learning method of late. With the rise of the web and so many blogs, websites or videos online, you can find any type of teaching you need, on almost any subject, in a variety of formats. Whether you prefer to read, listen to a podcast, watch a video or have a private coach, you can find it online. Try Linda for online classes at a very low cost, or just google "your subject" + "tutorial" to find good blogs.


4. Join a group
   Another good way to improve your skills is to join a group of people with common interests and meet with them regularly, whether in person or online. You will get inspiration from them, you can ask them questions if you're stuck on a problem, and sharing your ideas with them will help you reach your goals faster because you will feel accountable towards them. You can find groups on Facebook, on Meetup, on forums, or even create your own group.


5. Create something
   Depending on what you are trying to learn, the best way to improve your skills is to create something. That's why tutorials are so popular because you learn as you do. I sewed a very complex bag a couple of years ago by following an online tutorial, and as I went through the steps I learned how to sew a zip, how to sew a pocket, how to add lining, etc.

And the most important advice: just do it! It's too easy to read and learn and plan, and think that you're improving, but unless you take action you won't learn efficiently. Take this blog for example. I've been contemplating blogging for months, reading tons of blogs or books on the subject, but it's when I actually decided to start my blog that I learned the most, and it's now a continuous learning curve.

What about you, what did you learn by yourself?

photo credit: Sewing Daisies via photopin cc