Sorry to break it to you BUT stacking skills does not mean stacking certificates.

OK, I'm going to admit something.

I used to collect certificates and degrees like a game.

When I felt stuck in my career, I searched for the next course to take.

I have a CPA, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, Executive MBA, Product Management Certificate, Blockchain Academy, Wharton Executive Education, and a whole host of low-code, no-code certificates.

I learned nothing from all of these.

Except for one thing.

We live in a culture that is obsessed with the visible signs of success. It's all about the accolades, the titles, the certificates hanging on the wall. And sure, they look impressive. But are they truly a reflection of your growth?

1. Certificate Hoarding: It's easy to fall into the trap of believing that filling your calendar up with courses is progress. But are we learning, or are we just collecting?
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2. The Real Skill-Building: Real skill-building is messy. It is not meant to be comfortable. It's about rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty in the REAL world.
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3. The Comfort of "Busy Learning": Taking courses is comfortable. Sit back, listen to someone talk, maybe do some homework and group projects, and then exams. It feels like you are making progress in your career and that you are "growing". But maybe it's just you procrastinating because you are scared to take a real risk?

So, what now?

1. Understand Your "Why": Before enrolling in another course, take a moment for introspection. What is driving you to take this course? Are you looking to deepen your knowledge, advance your career, or expand your network? Or are you just following what others are doing? Or worse, are you doing it because you have nothing else to do?
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2. Set Clear, Purposeful Goals: What does success look like for you beyond the certificates? What skills do you need to achieve your career goals? Do these courses get you there?​
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3. Reflect on Past Courses: How have you applied past courses to your career? Has it brought you closer to your goals? Are you just filling up time?

Let's be real. I'm all for learning and growth. But action is the true teacher. Real progress came when I started my own business. I made mistakes, faced challenges, and solved real problems.

I'm not saying courses and certificates are not valuable. They are IF you balance them with hands-on experience and understand why you are taking them. I am more intentional with my time now. More focus on how I can apply what I learn vs never-ending playlist of content consumption.

Have you ever fallen into the certificate collection trap? Are you trapped now? It's not too late to re-evaluate. Learn from my experiences and save yourself some time and money.

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Learn the "real" way,

Mary F