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Mentorship April 24, 2020
Learning doesn’t stop even when you’re in a full-time job.
Image via Unsplash/@andrewtneelThis year has been a whirlwind full of twists and turns. While I had applied to the ENTITY Academy Mentorship program with all the intentions of attending in person, I had to halt my plans when I got a full-time job. Luckily, ENTITY Academy has a virtual program that allowed me to participate and take the classes during my own time.
I thought balancing work and this program would be simple. But after going over one course I quickly learned that I would have to make some adjustments. Now that the program is over, I intend on taking these lessons into my life while I pursue my passion projects.
Since I work at a university, I knew that I would have to find a way to fit in all the courses and lectures into my schedule in order to get the most out of this program. The first thing I did was really take a look at my planner and take stock of the things I do daily.
According to research done at Princeton University, “If you can’t commit to devoting time to a task, don’t put it in your schedule. Only schedule tasks you WILL do. Be brutally realistic, not idealistic when making your schedule. Creating a schedule you can’t actually keep is setting yourself up for frustration. If you don’t actually stick to your schedule it will soon become useless.”
Getting honest about the things you actually do on a daily basis is a little shameful. When I started the program, I did not realize how much time I spent after work watching TV or just scrolling through my phone.
It made me realize that if I cut these out, I have more than enough time to go through all the courses. From there, see where you can fit in assignments or courses.
One of the first things I did was try and figure out how I can use my time in the office to benefit me.
Every day is different, but the one thing that was consistent was the fact that I am entitled to one hour for my lunch break every day.
I used my lunch to watch courses that did not have subtitles on them. I took notes on everything that I could. If I could only get one class a day, I would still consider that a success.
I love using my weekends to relax as much as the next person. But during this program, I made sure to carve out time on the weekend to work. I would complete courses I was not able to during the week.
This usually took a lot of willpower because I tend to jam pack my weekends with lots of tasks. Or I get roped into last-minute plans with friends and family.
I found that removing myself from that sort of environment was crucial. Going to the library or to a coffee shop to work was one of the most helpful things on the planet.
Big chunks of time alone turn into an opportunity to really focus and immerse yourself in your lessons. I think that is how I was able to get so much from the program.
I think this is something that everyone hears at least once when it comes to establishing goals. But it’s one of the most realistic. None of the tips above are going to be useful if you don’t know your “why.” Knowing why you want to be in a mentorship program like ENTITY Academy is a huge key to success.
As a recent grad, I realized I did not have all the skills to be successful in a media position. When I found ENTITY, I knew that the program would help me gain the skills I needed in order to be given an opportunity to succeed in the field.
Plus with my own blog, social media, and the passion for a new podcast, I found that all the classes that ENTITY offered would be to my benefit. They taught me some of the best practices for digital journalism, search engine optimization, social media marketing, and much, much more. This all fed into my, “why.”
As of right now, I currently live with my family. This means I am always subject to random shopping trips and people asking me for favors. I’ve learned that setting boundaries and telling my family why I can’t do something has been helpful. If you’re in a similar situation, be upfront with your family about the program, letting them know that this is important to you.
In an article from Forbes about working from home with family around, they also emphasize that establishing boundaries is key:
“Whatever it is that you need, share your thoughts and concerns early. If you wait until you are truly frustrated, you’re more likely to become demanding or blame your partner for failing to help with a desire they didn’t even know you had. It’s critical that you discuss each of your needs, wants and expectations frequently.”
I think if you really need support, ask a friend if they just want to hang out. You could meet at a coffee shop where you can both work on projects while keeping each other company.
I am so glad I took advantage of ENTITY Academy Virtual Mentorship Program this summer because I learned so much. If you have the opportunity to do an online mentorship program while working full-time, don’t be afraid to pursue it. You’ll be surprised by how much you learn from not only the program but about yourself as well.
