Back to School. Those three little words used to make me just a little sad. It wasn’t that I hated school (quite the opposite, really), I just really enjoyed the flexibility and freedom of summer vacation. I could get up when I wanted, play whatever games I wanted, hang out with whatever friends I wanted. School, on the other hand, meant getting back to structure and routine. What 10 year old wants that?
Well, I’m not 10 anymore, and I thrive on structure. I still enjoy the more laid-back atmosphere summer brings, but I look forward to getting “back in the groove” when September rolls around. I take this time to re-focus on goals that I may have been neglecting or pushing aside. I also re-assess ideas conceived or implemented at the beginning of the year. Autumn puts me in a whole new frame of mind and prepares me for the sometimes uncertain nature of the cold weather months. I guess it’s the modern-day equivalent of stocking up for the long, cold winter!
This summer, my class schedule went on hiatus, but now I have launched a new schedule of current training. If you’ve been thinking about getting some training to add to your skill set, now is the time. Get in that new frame of mind that focuses on preparing for the months ahead. I will be adding additional classes soon…including my beginning Illustrator class and more! I look forward to meeting you at an upcoming training event and if you have any questions, please use the Contact Me link in the sidebar.
Enjoy your autumn!
Registration for my upcoming 2-Day InDesign training has been extended until Wednesday, June 24th at noon (Mountain time). This will be the last public class until after Labor Day so don’t miss out…register today!
I will still be posting articles, tips, and upcoming classes so be sure to check back often and subscribe to the RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
One question I get asked a lot is, “Why should I pay to get software training?” The short answer is, “Why wouldn’t you?” The better answer is that, now more than ever, investing in your future and adding to your skill set will give you an advantage over others in the same job market as you.
Just having a beginner’s knowledge of several “supporting” applications, in addition to your core application(s) is beneficial. For example, if you use Photoshop everyday, you’re probably fairly comfortable with it. Knowing how to do some basic layout in InDesign adds to your design arsenal. Maybe you do a lot of illustration and design in Illustrator: knowing how to create a presentation to show a client your work in Keynote, Flash, or PDF would extend your capabilities.
I think most freelancers understand this concept and many even take the time to invest in their training. Sometimes, employees in larger agencies fall into the “that’s not my job” way of thinking. I gently remind those people that they probably won’t always be working in that position at that agency. Taking the time now to learn new programs and other concepts will take away some of the rush to learn these things while desperately looking for a new job, or trying to land that big client. The current economic reality makes this more important than ever.
Learn now, earn sooner! If you’re looking to learn a new application, or see what’s new in the latest version, you’ve come to the right place. Registration is now open for my 2-day InDesign Intensive and my 1-day Beginning Adobe Illustrator classes. Check back often or subscribe to the RSS feed to be the first to know about new and upcoming training offerings. Feel free to contact me, using the link in the right-hand sidebar to join my class email list, ask a question about training, or just say, “Hi.”
