No More Excuses: 5 Online Learning Resources for Personal Development

Believe it or not, the Internet has much more to offer than lifestyle blogs, social media, Yelp reviews, and recipes. You can become a Harvard graduate by taking all online classes! There is no limit to the amount of learning you can do online. If you’re not already making the most of online learning resources, make sure you start!

There are so many different kinds of online learning resources. Especially for sales, business development, marketing, managing, and overall personal development. Remember, you’re reading one right now!

Keep in mind that your online learning doesn’t have to be dedicated to what you do at work. It might be a good idea to check out some resources to learn about industries that you sell to or the prospects you target.

5 Online Learning Resources for Personal Development

1. Podcasts:

Podcasts are booming at the moment. They are the radio of our time. You can listen to them on your computer, on your phone, on the train, in the shower, and pretty much anywhere else you can think of!

One of the best parts about podcasts is that they come in so many different lengths. This means that you can pick your commitment. For example, we offer two types of episodes on our own podcast, Let’s Talk Sales! Our interview episodes are anywhere from 30 minutes to 90 minutes! On the other hand, our weekly Inspiration episodes don’t exceed 5 minutes.

Another great part of podcasts is the learning experience you get as a listener. You will hear insights from industry thought leaders that you would have never been able to hear before. It’s like getting to eavesdrop on a great conversation between two sales industry leaders, but you’re also welcomed to listen and the conversation is geared towards you.

Get started by checking out our podcast:

2. eBooks:

Not all eBooks are created equal. In fact, there are many different kinds of eBooks circulating the Internet. There are workbooks, checklists, calendars, and templates.  Make sure you’re clear in your search criteria to get the specific kind of online learning resource that you’re looking for.

Like podcasts, eBooks are great because they are accessible pretty much anywhere. As long as you have a device with internet access or your eBook downloaded on it, you can read it.

eBooks are especially useful because you can refer to them for concrete advice and ideas. While podcasts can be more opinion-based and anecdotal, eBooks often hold more factual evidence and clear, actionable methods and processes.

In fact, I just wrote an entire eBook on the topic of personal development, and you're reading an excerpt from it! Read the rest here:

3. Webinars:

Not an auditory learner or much of a bookworm? That’s completely fine! Webinars are great online learning tools if you can’t seem to make time to sit down and read or aren’t a fan of podcasts. Webinars require more of your attention. They are usually live-streamed and are accompanied by a presentation, people talking, or any other visual. Additionally, webinars are interactive. You will get the chance to ask questions and make comments about the content the hosts are presenting on. They may ask you questions and ask you to respond in the chat box or take a poll. Webinars are a great option for those of us that tend to get distracted easily.

Furthermore, even if you sign up for a webinar and can’t make it on the live show at the last minute, you will usually still be able to watch it later.

Interested in our webinars? Check out our Webinar Series!

4. YouTube:

Thought leaders and companies alike are constantly producing video for their clients, prospects, and visitors to learn from. Have a favorite sales personality? Chances are they have some sort of video blog or series that they are a part of.

You can check out our YouTube channel and see anything from training videos to testimonials to sales tips!

Subscribe to your favorite channels and you’ll get email updates whenever new videos are uploaded!

5. Online Education:

Want to beef up your knowledge in a specific area? Maybe it’s something pertaining to what you do at work, or something completely new! Everything you learn has the ability to make you more successful. Companies like Alison and edX work with the world’s top universities and most innovative companies to curate courses and classes online. Universities like Stanford, Harvard, and MIT have online extensions that allow anyone, anywhere to take classes offered by the school.

Each industry has specific online learning resources that work best. Ask your friends and colleagues if they have a favorite and check out their recommendations.

Once you get involved in the online knowledge community, you will become more aware of what is out there for you. The same companies are often producing podcasts and recommending eBooks and webinars. There is definitely no shortage of online learning resources, so get started as soon as possible. The learning possibilities are endless.

This blog post is an excerpt from Arianna's eBook on Personal Development. Want to learn more? Download the eBook today!