As a busy mom, I feel like I barely have time to squeeze more into my day. Still, I can’t help wondering whether this is the ideal time to take a class or go back to school. I’d love to take a class on web design, or maybe learn Spanish. With the school year kicking in, is there something you feel you want or need to learn?
Do you think you can balance work, family, and school? Chances are if you’re determined, you can do it. The recession has taught us that any advantage in the marketplace is worth pursuing. You’d be surprised how kids often are willing to pitch in, to help mom or dad make time for their own homework.
Of course, there’s the cost issue. But experts feel the cost of going back to school most often pays off.
Have you dreamed of getting your MBA? This definitely is a good time for it. “During uncertain economic times, investing in an advanced professional degree program, such as an MBA, is the one positive move you can make to take control of your future,” says Beth Walker, Associate Dean for the MBA program at the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. “Though the economic downturn makes the decision to return to school seem more difficult, earning an MBA right now will provide a launching pad for new career opportunities when the economy rebounds.”
There’s also the networking opportunity. You tend to meet other people when you take a class. The Glass Hammer points out: ”A good school can offer you a door to an international network of business colleagues – a bonus that could be worth more to you than the letters after your name, if you want the opportunity to work abroad or in a globally influential role.”
While it may seem crazy to put additional pressure on your plate, ask yourself what you will do with your new skills or degree.
“Lifelong learning is the secret to success in any chosen career,” says Blythe McGarvie, CEO of consultancy firm LIF Group, and an MBA from Kellogg.
What do you think is the best reason to go back to school? Would you be willing to make it a priority?
Cindy Krischer Goodman is CEO of BalanceGal, provider of news and advice on how to find balance between a successful career and fulfilling personal life. Her award-winning, nationally distributed column and blog, The Work Life Balancing Act, appears weekly in The Miami Herald and more than 100 newspapers.
