Blog Post: President Obama’s Address and Education

Regardless of your political leanings or how you feel about the stimulus package, one thing I think everyone can agree on is the importance of continuing education and professional development. As President Obama said in his address on Tuesday, the most valuable skill you can sell is knowledge, and education is not just a pathway to opportunity, it is a prerequisite. This is a reminder that especially in a tough economy, we need to keep our skills sharp and take advantage of educational opportunities so that our careers become “recession-proof.” It's important to make ourselves indispensable.

From his address: "And so tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma."

If you belong to a professional association, I encourage you to seek out opportunities to learn a new skill set, become certified in your profession, or sharpen your existing skills.

Now for the promotional message to those in payroll, accounts payable, finance, HR or benefits: The American Payroll Association (www.americanpayroll.org) and the American Accounts Payable Association (www.americanap.org) offer top-notch seminars, conferences and publications, as well as certification programs and certificate programs. These programs are the “prerequisite” you need to set yourself apart.