I am often asked why I attend so many seminars, trainings, workshops and don’t watch television. I do attend a lot of them, that’s for sure. This weekend alone had me at a “seminar” for a company that helps people write and publish their own books. Truthfully I was checking out the competition and seeing what I could possibly use with my own ghostwriting and publishing clients. Monday I was at an all day training on software that I use with my photography.
In the past six months I have attended or watched seminars on grammar, marketing, and design software. Why am I doing this? It’s not like I am going to suddenly become a graphic designer – but I need to talk them. I hire graphics people to design website, book covers, book blocks, brochures, one-sheets, business cards and all other sorts of collateral marketing pieces and the more I understand their language and vocabulary – the easier it is for me to convey to them what I, or my client, wants.
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On average they watch 5 hours of tv DAILY. Now that number certainly includes both children with few responsibIlities and retired seniors who are whiling away the day.
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Americans watch an enormous amount of television each week. On average they watch 5 hours of tv DAILY. Now that number certainly includes both children with few responsibIlities and retired seniors who are whiling away the day. But still, your average, working adult in America is spending a big chunk of time in front of a television. While that may be enjoyable – it’s not generally moving them forward with new skills, improving their intellect or helping them become promotion worthy in their job. If on average a person watches 2 hours a day of television that’s 730 hours a year of time.
In 730 hours a person could learn software like Powerpoint, InDesign, Illustrator or Quickbooks well enough that they could be paid to use it. Over 730 hours you could learn a second language well enough to hold a basic conversation, and in 2 years, you’d be pretty proficient. Spending 730 hours working on a college class would result in some significant gains towards a degree.
Two hours a day working out, reading, learning, studying and investing in yourself to get a new skill, build a new business or write a book that you could sell are all ways in which you can improve your life. I know that “zoning out” in front of the telly is easier, but is it worth it?
How you spend your life today, determines your tomorrow – instead of watching the latest Survivor or SitCom, you could be watching a video on Lynda.com that teaches you a skill. The videos on YouTube are great ways to learn new software that can help you at work. When I use Lynda.com it costs $25.00 a month for unlimited viewing – that’s much cheaper than cable these days. Youtube is free if you have a wifi, or do what I do and watch it on my phone.
I gave up television years ago, except when I’m at the gym. There I watch the news, for as long as I can stomach it, then I just turn it off and listen to a podcast on my phone. If you want to be more empowered in this life, and raise yourself up, you should consider ditching the telly, and focusing on using that time for reading, studying and investing in yourself. Which is the best investment you can make.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
