Lifelong learning is the engine to a successful career in Digital Marketing

I’m currently reading a book by Robin Sharma called The Greatness Guide. Robin Sharma is one of the world’s top experts on leadership and personal development and the author of nine major international bestsellers. The first chapter is “I’m No Guru” where he points out that he is just an ordinary person who invested in lifelong learning. Lifelong learning helps us engage in new ideas and hopefully, as a result, find a new passion in life.

Lifelong learning teaches us to embrace that childlike curiosity we all once had. In any field whether entrepreneur, digital marketing, writer, singers, etc. they all share the same characteristics to be on top of their field which is embracing lifelong learning throughout their career. It opens your eyes to new perspectives and makes us a more well-rounded person. My idol, Christiano Ronaldo is famously known as the world’s best player in the world, furthermore, he is a great entrepreneur who runs successful businesses which are from different industries. He was able to achieve this through lifelong learning.

There are three important elements when it comes to Lifelong learning. Firstly, is to make a decision to become a Lifelong learner. Secondly, setting aside time to pursue your lifelong learning dreams, helps you manage your daily tasks. Lastly, is having a focus area where you pick what you are willing to learn because there is too much information out there.

Lifelong learning is the engine to a successful career in Digital marketing, as it is an emerging market and it is a vastly changing environment. Today Facebook or Instagram might be the best platforms to reach your audience but in 6 months' time, a new platform might emerge and it comes with new unique features that must be learned and mastered.

As a Digital Marketer, I have invested in learning more about my field and developing my soft skills. This brings me to three platforms that have kept me on top of my game:

Coursera was launched in 2012 with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. It is now one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, with 102 million registered learners as of March 31, 2022. Since 2020, I have completed 6 courses from Coursera. I have completed Blockchain and Cryptocurrency, Digital product management, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, Science of Exercise, Excel Skills, and Technical Support Fundamentals.

I have completed courses from different fields of study to pursue knowledge for professional and personal benefits on a voluntary basis at my time. Furthermore, within the platform, there is an opportunity to connect with peers around the world in order to share ideas and keep each other motivated for lifelong learning.

Coursera's desire to help people from around the world to enter the digital space such as myself as a Digital Marketer is remarkable. As they introduced new degrees and credentials from leading universities to train people for jobs of the future, they’ve partnered with 15 global Institutions.

Being creative in digital marketing, thinking out of the box, and showing originality are essential for rising above the competition. Canva is a graphic design tool that works to simplify the process of digital design. It allows for image editing and project-based learning using a simple drag-and-drop interface that works.

Within the Canva platform there is a tap or section called to learn, which teaches me how to design using different templates and teaches me the different features the platform has. It gives me the opportunity to increase my creativity when designing the content for my social media account. Design is essential in Digital marketing as I always have to create content for your audience to keep them engaged and attract new audiences.

TED-talks have become a regular part of my mornings. As digital Marketers, we tend to rush against deadlines and there is not enough time to sit around and listen to a podcast. TED-talks is a podcast where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Mostly, I listen to TED talks when I take my morning runs or when I’m doing my home chaos. They release podcasts every weekday on their YouTube channel and Spotify.

Soft skills are very essential in digital marketing skills as you are always engaging with customers and clients. TED-talks podcasts invite different individuals into the platform to share their real experiences that enhanced their soft skills and share tips on how you can develop your soft skills as it is lifelong learning.

Communication, leadership, and time management skills are the most talked about soft skills in the podcasts as most people in the workplace find them challenging. Since I started listening to the podcasts, I’m aware of the key areas I need to improve my soft skills. This is one of my favorite lifelong learning.

To summarize, it is highlighted how lifelong learning had a positive impact on my life on the professional and personal levels. Coursera has been the key driver of my lifelong learning journey, I’ve invested time and dedication to completing courses of my choice. Canva enhances my creativity, originality, and my design skills, I will continue to learn and push myself beyond boundaries. Soft skills are essential in the marketing field. TED-talk plays an important role in improving my soft skills and provides me with an action plan on how to improve my soft skills. Lifelong has a wide variety of benefits, the best part is anyone can be a lifelong learner and it is not limited to childhood and classroom learning. Reading books, learning to use pieces of technology such as drones, or studying a new subject by taking online courses are some of the examples of lifelong learning one can participate in.