Fall into some learning!

Arum bulb blooming in the Spring

"When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people" - Chinese Proverb


The one thing that I enjoy most about fall is - back to school!! By early September, my boys are so bored and tired of each other that the only time they use their creativity is in finding unique ways to annoy and torture each other - without getting caught! They dread returning to the classroom and don't quite buy the idea that learning is fun and crucial to their future. 

Fall brings cooler weather and my grass actually turns green again as the trees slowly begin their color dance! It's nice to have bonfires in the chilled air and fewer bugs to fight with. In the garden, plants and trees start to wind down for the winter (sigh) and it's seems like the garden is dying back. In reality, your garden is actually doing the opposite - you just can't see it.

Fall is the best time to plant new plants and trees.  It's also a prime time to move plants that have outgrown their space or would flourish in a better spot in the yard. They have a chance to get established before the ground freezes. The plants may die back on the top and trees may loose their leaves however, a lot of growth is occurring under the ground. Roots will expand and strengthen until the ground is completely frozen which in many areas is in late December. Even better is the fact that you can get great steals on plants and expensive trees because nurseries are eager to deplete their stock before the winter. Even if plants look yellowed and worn in the nursery, their roots are healthy and ready to grow (with the exception of evergreens. If they are yellow - they are dying). Some of my best plant bargains have been in the fall. Just plant your deals and keep them watered until the ground freezes. Fall is less stressful on new plantings because they usually tend to receive a lot more rainfall, aren't stressed by the hot blazing sun, and pests have died back. By late Spring next year, your new plants will be well established and ready to spring forward with lush growth.

After a relaxing summer it's time for us all to jump right back into a routine and fall into some learning! We too need to strengthen our roots and grow our minds. Learning doesn't stop when we walk over the stage to get that diploma. If you are dedicated to personal growth and advancing or changing your career, you need to become a life long learner. You can't keep preaching training and education to your teams if you aren't jumping right in there as well. Effective managers are continuously learning and dedicated to developing new skills. There are so many new choices and vehicles in which to learn new things - many without ever leaving your house or changing out of your Pj's!

Unless you have been living under a rock, you've probably noticed that there are sweeping changes happening in the education system within the US. More schools have issued students a lap top for electronic learning. Students are participating in video learning and conferences, teachers have taken on the concept of "flipped" learning, schools are finally realizing that kids aren't benefiting from sitting in a chair all day spitting back information. Learning is interactive and  students are working more in groups to problem solve and collaborate. Several of these new learning concepts are spilling over into the business sector. Companies are making more use of in house self learning computer modeled classes. These classes are more interactive and demand more participation. The Internet has opened up a whole new way of sharing and learning new information. Take advantage of technology and learn!

I love learning! I am a readaholic and I love sapping up new information. I can't fall asleep at night  unless I read beforehand. I'm stupefied when I hear people say that they haven't read a book in a year (sorry if you are a guilty one!). If I become a Web Designer (never going to happen, trust me!) , I want to be the best one out there. I  would read every web designing book on Amazon. Self learning takes patience and drive - you have to be proactive because no one will do it for you.

This past year I was introduced to MOOCS and it has been a great learning resource for me. A MOOC is a Massive Open Online Course. They are courses offered by top colleges including  Stanford, Georgetown, University of Michigan, and University of Washington to name a few. Classes are taught by distinguished university professors and offer readings, lectures, video, tests, user forums etc. The variety of classes available is phenomenal! You can learn anything from coding to anthropology to exploring quantum physics. The best part is that most of these classes are FREE!! They run anywhere from 4-16 weeks and the choices are endless.

Here are some of my favorite MOOCS that I have personally tried and love!


These programs offer an awesome and credible array of classes. Some of them offer certification certificates that many employers will accept for learning requirements. They give you a chance to dip your toes into learning something new without spending a dime. They may lead to a promotion or a new career path. All you need is a thirst for learning and dedication to achieve.

Here are some benefits of MOOCS:

  • You can become more marketable because you have developed new or advanced skills.
  • Proactively developing yourself may lead to a promotion within your current career.
  • Classes can assist you in making a complete career change vastly different from the field that you are in.
  • More money and flexibility.
  • More education = more leadership opportunities.
  • Small business owners with few financial resources can use these classes as training tools for their people.
  • You can even craft your own "program" by mixing and matching classes.
  • Improve or develop tech skills. One of the sites above offers coding for kids - I may sign up!
  • You can learn at your own pace without pressure. You use the learning style that best suits YOU.
  • Classes allow you to explore areas that you have never heard of before.
  • Develop better problem solving and creativity skills.
  • Satisfy outside "passions" that you have always had.
  • Exposure to thought provoking ideas, new thoughts, new connections.
MOOCS are one of the best opportunities that have emerged in some time for adult learning. They open a whole new world up for all of us and the benefits are enormous. As your garden dies down to prepare for the winter, don't let your brain die as well. Use the quiet of winter to open your mind to new learning and watch the growth that happens within you!

If you have taken some great online classes please share any of your favorites!
Happy learning!

Going to bed for the Winter