While we’re stuck at home with much beyond our control, one thing we can do is learn. For those worried about future employment prospects, take advantage of what’s out there to increase the value you will bring to your next career. If you are working from home, try spending the time you save from not having to commute on learning something. Online training provides a productive outlet for those of us at home and makes you more marketable to your current or future employer. Live webinars have the added benefit of interacting with people. Here are some online training resources to take advantage of during the pandemic.
The Leadership Institute is the backbone for much of the freedom movement in the United States. Their trainings span from one hour to several full days. Many are free to participate in with others like the four-day Comprehensive Fundraising Training costing only $60. Most of the online trainings are live and require registration before-hand. LI training is for anyone—students, professionals, writers, activists, people in media, academia, campaigns, and non-profits.
In addition to live scheduled webinars, Atlas Network has an extensive archive of free courses. Topics include fundraising, leadership, marketing, operations, research, and how to impact public policy. The content is easy to access; simply create an Atlas Leadership Academy account and enroll in the course(s) that interest you.
Hillsdale College is an independent accredited liberal arts university. Notably, it is one of the few conservative universities in the U.S. Hillsdale offers “free, not-for-credit,” on-demand online courses on politics, literature, history, religion, education, and economics. They especially have great insight for those looking to study the Founding of America and the Constitution more in-depth. Their most popular course is Constitution 101. Those interested can take one course for free. Signing up only takes a few minutes.
Udemy offers thousands of online courses available for a fee. It lets you “study any topic, anytime” and gives you lifetime access to the course so that you can learn at your own pace. Topics range from investment banking to Airbnb hosting. Whether you’re a freelancer, an entrepreneur, or someone looking to learn about potential careers or even new hobbies, Udemy probably has an online course for you.
Financial Peace University (FPU)
FPU contains nine video lessons that teach you how to control your finances and win with money. Learn zero-based budgeting, a proven effective strategy to get out of debt, and how to build wealth. These are useful tools for everyone, especially if you’ve fallen on hard times due to COVID-19. It will help you get back on your feet after the pandemic dissipates. FPU membership costs $129.99 a year but during the pandemic, you can sign up for a 14-day free trial.
There are also college-level courses available from various institutions. One website, edX, can connect you with online courses from top institutions like Harvard, MIT, and UC Berkeley. Your local and state community colleges are another good resource for affordable online college-level courses.
This list is not extensive. However, it does contain resources that are especially useful for individuals of a conservative-bend. In addition to what you learn, a webinar or online course gives you measurable progress to help encourage you and prevent cabin fever. Setting a goal, scheduling time, and completing something may sound simple but it is a productive way to use time and focus your mind during the pandemic. Whether you have a job or not, taking advantage of these trainings will help you become a more effective and marketable individual in your career.
Matthew Noyes
Matt works for the Japanese Conservative Union, the Japanese counterpart to the ACU, where he promotes free markets and limited government in Asia. A New Hampshire native, he is driven by a passion for liberty to take part in civic discourse and grow the freedom movement worldwide. He holds a bachelor's degree from SUNY Albany where he wrote for Campus Reform and founded the university's Turning Point USA chapter.
The views expressed in this article are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Lone Conservative staff.
@matt_noyes_
