Information Overload: Creating Your Own Curriculum

Learning can be overwhelming. With all the resources, on and offline, I found myself overwhelmed and constantly feeling left behind. It is often difficult to pinpoint the right learning tools, stay on track, and avoid desire to jump from subject to subject.

Books, webinars, online Tutorials (free or subscription-based), personal/business blogs, magazines, graduate classes, and mentors all have unique methods of conveying valuable information. If used all at once without set goals in mind, you may develop a strong case of information overload, which can be a productivity killer.

Define your learning style.
First and foremost, you need to define the way you learn best. If you haven't considered this before, then you're in for a treat. Take a couple online quizzes and read some articles about learning styles and in less then 20 minutes you should have a good idea of your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to absorbing information. I am a visual kinesthetic learner; if I am not interacting or seeing connections happen, I will quickly fall asleep to the sounds of droning audio tutorials. Here is a simple quiz to get your started.

Outline your goals.
Simple--write down three main goals that you would like to adhere to throughout the learning process. These goals may be specific subjects or short statements that narrow the scope even more. For example, I would like to learn more about web design best practices, wireframing, and current trends. When I come across an article, book, or webinar that fits this criteria I quickly bookmark it, put it on my wishlist, or register.

Get Organized.
Work smarter, not harder. I use Google Reader to organize and update all my blog subscriptions. I also only subscribe to those blogs that meet my learning goals. In this reader you have the option to "star" blog posts to easily access later on. On my mobile app I can also email them to myself, tweet or post them to Facebook, or even add it to my url bookmarking program. I have been using Delicious as my social bookmarking tool for a while now. You can add websites, create tags, and search your library to find what you need. There are now several more programs that allow you to quickly add and organize your resources while sharing with an online community. Here is some more information regarding social bookmarking.

My curriculum toolbox.
By creating a tool box you will have some consistency and become familiar with your learning flow. You will then be able to create learning patterns and finally establish habits.

Here are some of my main learning resources:
Lynda.com
Amazon.com for books
Top Design blogs (20)
Magazines (3)
Webinars

It seems pretty simple, but within each category I have a listing of tutorials, books, and articles. I have even created a spreadsheet for Lynda.com that lists all the relevant tutorials and the amount of time each will take--then I check them off as I go!

Schedule your classes.
Plain and simple. I have class every Tuesday and Thursday for 2-3 hours. I also listen to a tutorial in the car on a long drive, read articles while I walk the track, and keep myself current when waiting in a long-line. I will also read a little before bed and get up early in the morning on the weekend to map out next weeks goals.

Assignments and grading.
This can be difficult, since you don't have the pressure of externally imposed deadlines. On the other hand, I understand my schedule best and know when assignments can actually be completed. Make a deadline for an assignment that reviews what you have learned while doing something positive for your portfolio or business (two-for-one). Grade yourself and consider sending your project out to a couple colleagues/friends for a critique. There are also a lot of online forums where you may post to receive feedback. I suggest doing this eventually since professionals are always happy to help, you can make some online connections, and with this type of assignment you have the a luxury of a revision phase.

Overall, by using these tips and tricks you will have a easier time taking the self-taught route. You will also be able to track your progress and comeback to useful resources for assignments or for eventual client-based work. I suggest creating a larger curriculum calendar that breaks down an evolution of your learning goals; have them drive you towards a "graduation date" where you will "complete" your coursework. The great thing is that through this process you will have created learning habits that are oh so necessary for a budding freelance professional.

Setting a Deadline Date: Freelance Finish Line

Last night I decided to set a deadline date for my transition into a freelance lifestyle. Without this date, my need to continue improving and perfecting would take over and I've read this is often a killer for start-up businesses. I've found that nothing helps you grow more then the challenges and small failures that only happen when you're immersed in a client-based project.

Here are some factors I considered when setting the date:

1. Money. One of the most important considerations (unfortunately) is money. Ideally, I would like to have a 9-12 month buffer of savings that keeps me from sweating the small stuff. Add up your monthly bills, food, and extra expenses and then add another chunk for unforeseen money-sucking events (like your car window being broken for a penny in the passenger seat). Then, calculate the maximum amount you can put away each pay period to cover these expenses. After you have this, ask yourself how many months it will take to save-up the correct amount for a stable freelance lifestyle--and there you have it!

I love using my online banking system because I can schedule my reoccurring deposits along with all my bills. It will even let me know if a future transaction is not kosher so I can drag and shift things around to protect myself from any overdraft fees.

2. Development. Since my specific area of interest will take some time to develop I want to give myself enough time (but not too much) to really narrow my scope and write a business plan packed with information regarding my mission, methods, and resources. This way I have a document I can refer back to when considering the direction of my business and maybe show some interested investors.

3. Life milestones. I am recently engaged, so this means including the wedding and travel expenses in my calculations. I took my total that I would save and subtracted a good chunk of it for this event. Saving for a start-up also means that buying a house will have to wait since a lot of my funds will need to go towards my financial security.

In the end, my calculations are totally based in my ability to predict the future. This means I keep my job, continue with a similar living situation, and consistently cut-down on spending from shoes to french fries.

In light of that, I have also structured two contingency plans:

1. Moving towards part-time employment. As I get closer to my active date since the work load will be getting heavier. This move will effect my pattern of saving but allow me much more time to complete necessary work for the launch.

2. It's quitting time. Let's say I get a promotion and I am able to squirrel away 50% more then I thought, that means I may be able to move on earlier and may be able to dedicated my full attention to my business before needing to get a supplemental job.

Now that I have set a date, it all seems more real; I am now actively working towards a tangible goal. It seems that the success of an independent venture really depends on how much you kick your own butt.

What To Be or What Not To Be: What I Learned from My Freelancing Father

Everyone has a couple traits they see in their parents that they knowingly avoid or attempt to counteract-- I will never be a gossip like my mother or I promise to be a much better driver then my father. There are also many characteristics that we may aspire to and consciously pass on to our own seedlings.

That said, if you have the fortune/misfortune of being a spawn of a business owner, freelancer, or independent contractor you may have some "tips-of-the-trade" to emulate or all out avoid like the nightly door-to-door cake sales man (yes, I have one of these).

My father is an independent contractor that specializes in telecommunications construction. He runs the show from home and sends out his workers to repair phone lines across the city. It sounds all well and good, but I have seen home base and his business shortcomings have strung together in my mind like frantically flapping red flags over a used car dealership.

Here are some mantras I have concocted to help me avoid his business blunders:

Bills should be paid. Unless you want to spend your days screening phone calls for debt collectors or praying to the big man/woman every time your credit card is swiped, I would stick to a payment schedule while controlling your spending from day one. Bridges will burn if you don't show your subcontractor, landlord, or utility company the money.

You don't need 1,000 blue work shirts. Hint: if your closet is bursting at the seams with blue and brown button-downs, the last thing you need is a new shopping bag full of the same. Less is more.

Mail does not go on the floor. A floor-sized filing system never works the way you expect. Sure, if it's on the ground and you never clean it up, you have essentially "stored" it, but how will you relocate important invoices and other business records? File once a day to keep the clutter at bay.

Take care of your computer. It's not just there to service you, you need to service it too. That all sounds strangely sexual, but if your computer decides to check-out, due to out-dated virus software or a family reunion of dust bunnies going on in your air vent, you're up the creek without a paddle let alone your business GPS.

Your office space is not a jungle gym for cats. My dad is a fan of animals, so when he lovingly took in a family of cats he probably didn't consider their thanks would be the slow and diabolical destruction of his office space. Claim your business space and let nothing mess with it; be it man or beast.

Living paycheck-to-paycheck royally blows. Speaking from the point-of-view of someone who has experienced the effects firsthand, it is dizzying to not know whether you're coming or going. This method of financial (not)planning will always impact the people around you, no matter how much if a rock or an island you claim to be.

To his credit, he has also brought some positive strategies to the table, here are a few:
Stay calm in crisis. Fantically flapping with worry will not help you find a solution. Relax, step back, and follow your gut.

Savor the flavor. Busy working folk often take food for granted, but oh man is it good (especially Peruvian food).

Talk to the animals. That is, have a hobby that allows you an interaction with the natural world. My dad has owned a goat farm for years now--he has chickens, geese, fruit trees, ducks, a veggie garden, and, of course, a bunch of stinky goats.

Overall, we can learn a lot from studying a lifestyle other than our own. Though we may resist, we often take on several traits our parental units pass along; we mix and muddle strengths and flaws in order to create a unique cocktail that's all our own. Thanks for the tips Dad, no olives in mine, cheers.

Phase 1: The Discovery Phase | Designing My Own Degree Program

In my pursuit of an independent lifestyle, I have put together a series of "development phases" as part of my Lifestyle/business plan. By securing these "stepping stones" or short-term goals, I will in turn make the river between corporate-life and freelance-life, much easier to cross.

Phase 1: The Discovery Phase | Designing My Own Degree Program

The fact is, I need to be better, faster, stronger in order to survive and create a well-informed business plan.

When I first sat down to consider my options, I really felt that I needed bulk-up my educational background and experiences. I feverishly researched options; from local degree programs, to online degree programs, to internships, to getting a computer-chip implanted in my brain. I waited impatiently as the mail carrier brought forth my admissions packets. Then frowned when they lacked information and cut straight to the part of me handing over my hard-earned money.

In the end, after crunching the numbers, hours, and unpredictable variables I decided to construct my own degree program. Why go the self-taught route? Here are my top reasons:

1. My personal knowledge and experience with the education system. More often then not, education, when pursued through educational institutions, falls short of your grand expectations. You are essentially putting your money and time in the hands of an institution that thinks they know best (or at least they want you to think this). You will pay for a label that, depending on your end-goal, may bump-up your pay scale--but what does that teach you? The pursuit of knowledge is only worth the monetary benefits? I love to learn and I love the Motorcycle Maintenance mantra that puts you in the drivers seat
   


2. Less money, more problems. Yes, I know that those aren't the lyrics, but you can't deny that it works both ways. As of now, my debts are nonexistent thanks to a well-planned college fund and a scrappy single mom. This gift give me the ability to really choose my areas of investment. Though money can't buy happiness, it sure can help you develop and establish a business. Ask yourself, am I a good investment? What about my lifestyle or my future career?
   


3. Let me live my life. As a true multi-tasking-master, my time is always strategically divided. Yes, sometimes I run into the occasional metal pole while google-reading through the streets. But, I also know when to buckle-down and focus. I believe my generation likes to control their minute-to-minute (and have fun doing it). Sitting through a 3-hour lecture in a dim computer lab usually sends me to Snoozeville; and it's a known fact that I don't sleep pretty (think drooping-mouth and swift head-bobbing).
   


4. A little thing called the Internet. Probably the pivotal reason for going the self-taught route is the fruitful and ever-expanding online environment. As we all know, there is a plethora of information out in cyberspace. When it comes to web design, web development, and anything business related, it is easy to discover enough information to fill a lifetime. From blogs to webinars; you are able to find and fill 60 credit hours in no time. Also, since these are fields of continuous innovation and development, it is wise to connect with this virtual world of web geeks and gurus.

Please be aware that designing a degree program isn't always the best fit for your lifestyle and career goals. Not only does it takes a specific mindset and motivation, but it also depends on your future career plans. If your goal is to be the art director of Big Ad Agency, you will probably need a masters degree to even be considered. I encourage everyone to empower themselves to design their own lifestyle; which means knowing your goals while establishing your strengths and weaknesses.

I will be covering this phase in future posts; from my syllabus to self-assessment!