Auditory learners love to learn by listening
Lectures, talks, tapes and podcasts are great for auditory learners. (Reading too, since you read the words on the page aloud in your head)

Visual learners love to learn by watching
Videos, multimedia presentations, graphs and diagrams are great for visual learners.

Kinesthetic learners love to learn by doing
Role plays, live coaching sessions, on-the-job training and practice are great for kinesthetic learners.

• I freely admit that I have some huge gaping holes in my business education (like Accounting) that I have managed to fill by surrounding myself with expert advisors and really smart partners. At some point, I will need to buckle down and learn more about them to truly have well-rounded expertise in my field
  
• I don't know what I don't know. There could be huge advantages to an advanced degree that I am not aware of because I don't have one. Any of you out there who have gone through the process of obtaining a Masters or Doctorate degree, please do weigh in with your perspective on this at my blog.

• It is required in your field of choice (such as the practice of Law, Medicine, Certified Accounting or a university-level teaching position)
  
• You have tested your market thoroughly and are sure that it is a non-negotiable point of entry. This means that without this degree, you won't be able to get a job or "gig".
  
• You will truly enjoy the learning involved in the degree program you choose. Two to four years is a lot of time to spend doing something that you don't really enjoy. Make sure that you choose a program that has excellent teachers and students who will challenge you to learn and grow in an environment matched to your learning style.

• You think it will make you appear more credible. You make you appear more credible, and if you rely on a fancy title to open doors (especially as an entrepreneur) you are in for a rude awakening.
  
• You don't know which direction to go in your career. So many people get an advanced degree just because they can't figure out what to do with their lives. It sure is an expensive way to pass time when you are not sure that the investment will make you happier or more successful in the long run.
  
• You haven't done your homework to know that it is an absolute requirement for your field of interest. Don't assume that you need a degree without first checking it out with a good number of successful people in your field.

1. Ask 5 people in your field of interest which books have been the biggest help to them. Buy the books and read them. More than once.
   
   
2. Spend a day shadowing someone who is living your perfect working situation. Most people would be flattered if you ask them in the right way. You may be surprised at all you can learn from observation.
   
   
3. Surround yourself with really smart people. You can learn so much from your peers and mentors if you just take time to observe them in action. Ask lots of questions.
   
   
4. Subscribe to podcasts in your field of interest. There are many great podcasts full of information about business. They are usually recorded in short segments so that you can listen on a lunch break, during your drive home or while you are jogging. itunes has thousands of podcasts to choose from.
   
   
5. Create a blog in your area of interest. I know it is counter-intuitive to blog about something you aren't yet an expert in, but it actually is a great way to get motivated to learn. You don't have to know everything to share great resources and information with your readers. As you learn, they will learn.
   
   
6. Sponsor a panel of expert speakers for your company or volunteer organization. Choose a topic that you are personally interested in. You will get the benefit of working with the experts directly and building a personal relationship with them which you could leverage once you are out on your own.
   
   
7. Find yourself a mastermind buddy. Through your own network or the virtual tentacles of the web, find another person who is interested in learning the same things you are. I have met some mastermind buddies through teleclasses, or by simply asking them after admiring the work they were doing on their website or blog.
   
   
8. Take an extended education class at your local university. I was extremely impressed at the offerings for working professionals when I was still an employee. My company paid for me to take classes through their tuition reimbursement program, which I considered an added bonus.
   
   
9. Develop skills as a volunteer. Volunteering is a great way to develop skills and give something back to your community at the same time. I wrote about this at length in another ezine article Graffitti is a transferable skill and other key business wisdom I learned while volunteering.
   
   
10. Take a teleclass. A teleclass is simply a class conducted over the phone by an expert. Many experts, authors and coaches are adding teleclasses to their product mix since it is a great way for people to learn without having to travel. Many are also packaged with supplementary materials and the classes are recorded so that you can listen to them later. Teleclasses can last from 90 minutes to a full series of classes that last 6 months or more. Here are some examples of teleclasses.

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