For creative professionals, continuous learning is essential. I advocate regularly engaging in workshops, webinars, and courses to stay current with new tools and techniques. Platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning provide valuable resources for refining and expanding your skill set. Embrace new software releases by downloading trial versions and exploring them firsthand. This practical experimentation not only helps you grasp the software's potential but also shows how it can be seamlessly incorporated into your projects.

GIVE IT SIX MONTHS. Deciding to learn a new piece of software is a commitment. There's going to be a learning curve. Things you used to be able to do quickly will take longer for a while. Accept this. DON'T try to learn new software while you're working on a project with hard deadlines. Try to schedule learning new software during a slow period. USE THE SOFTWARE EVERY DAY. You won't learn new software in just a few weeks. You need to work with it daily and make it part of your work pipeline. BE OPEN TO DOING THINGS IN DIFFERENT WAYS. Is that old software really better, or just more familiar? RESIST THE URGE TO USE FAMILIAR SOFTWARE. You won't learn new software if you constantly fall back on old, familiar software.

One thing that’s been a real game-changer for me is following software companies, industry pros, and staying on top of media updates. For instance, I’m always popping over to the Adobe website to check out what’s new and improved, and I spend a good bit of time watching expert videos on YouTube. It keeps me in the loop with the latest trends. I’ve made up my mind to keep growing, even if I don’t hop on every trend out there. I still make sure I know what’s happening, so I don’t fall behind.

I encourage creatives to commit to ongoing education by regularly attending workshops, webinars, and online courses focused on the latest software. Platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning offer specialized courses that can keep your skills sharp and updated. Get hands on experience whenever new software is released. DOwnload trial versions and spend time experimenting. Practical experience helps you understand the tool's capabilities and how it can be integrated into your workflow.

Try always learn and understand the underlying basics. It will take a bit of time at first but help you to adapt to any software better. For learning the quirks of each programs just requires time - there's no shortcut for that.