How I earned a certification to further my dream of blogging. It boosted my game, my name, and my confidence. For years putting it off thinking I wasn’t able to handle the challenge. Maybe I wasn’t smart enough, or I just had no time to spare with the stresses of being a wife, mother and life getting in the way.
I was determined. I really wanted this for myself even if it was just to prove to myself that I could do it. I felt as though I owed it to myself and that I truly was worth it.
Digital Marketing & E-Commerce Certification
I finally did it! I signed up for a course and completed it in four months! I was so proud of myself and all the hard work I did, I cried when printing out my certification.
Learning to make time to better yourself
As a mom I thought “I will never have the time to learn this. There is too much on my plate already. I’m being pulled in so many directions as it is, I don’t see how this will even be possible.
I realized that with all the little and big things I manage. Kids, husband, helping others, bills, cooking shopping, cleaning, organizing, after school activities, pick-ups and drop offs, everything.
I want to be more than just a caregiver. I want to feel a sense of accomplishment and that I have value. I am worth more than just what I can do for others. I am important too!
So, I took a deep breath and signed up for a Digital Marketing & e-commerce certification online.
I wasn’t sure I was smart enough given my previous history in school. Also I am not great with technology, but I was determined.
Beginner friendly Certification!
It starts at a beginner level, it breaks everything down for you through video teachings. Learn at your own pace. You can take notes. In a section for this through the course or do it the old-fashioned way (in a notebook). I did it the old fashioned way.
Certification Testing
The quizzes and tests are not always easy, but if you take proper notes, you can pass easy. There is also an option to retake the test. After refreshing your memory by going back and watching the videos of that section again. You get 3 chances, and if you fail three times in a row. You can try again in 24 hours. That happened to me once.
I was over tired, and it was a challenging section. I also misread a couple of questions and clicked the wrong multiple choice. Hey, it happens!
Each time you take the test it changes up the questions. So, it can be a learning curve and helps you to better understand what you actually learned in the course.
Gaining Confidence
The first couple of courses of the certification, I finished super-fast. I already knew some of the material. So I felt a lot more confident about this achieving this certification.
Moving on to the next couple of courses. These ones I found fun, I was learning a ton and really enjoyed doing the projects.
Determination
Getting straight A’s in the first four courses I was excited to move on. I was more than halfway through the certification at this point. Then the next course really kicked my butt. I am NOT a math person. struggling my whole life. I can do math fine, but I get to a certain point in algebra, and it just doesn’t stick. I was upset to say the least.
I didn’t understand the material, but I came this far. I thought to myself is this math problem that I have going to stop me from achieving something in life?
Ask for help!
My husband and my kids really rallied around me. They helped walk me through what I didn’t understand. My husband was so patient with me. He went over it many, many times until I understood it. My boys would walk me through a problem I wasn’t getting. Then guess what!? I Finally understood it!! I couldn’t believe it! I really understood it!
Through online research I found out, I have what is called dyscalculia. It’s kind of like a math version of dyslexia. So, there was a reason for me not grasping immediately to the material being taught in this course. With my husband being the first person to ever break it down for me in the way I needed. I again felt confident in the material I had just learned. And when it came time for the test, you’ll never guess what I got.
I got a 90%!!!
It was the first time I ever got a 90% on a math test in my entire life! I wanted to find my old high school math teacher and tell her, but I couldn’t find her on social media. You have no idea how hard she worked with me, and I finally did it!
I have no doubt that some one without dyscalculia would have any issues with this course. It’s a matter of formulas. And if you do have math issues or any other learning disabilities, like me. Read through the material. Listen to the videos. Follow the steps or ask for help, someone you feel comfortable with to ask those embarrassing questions with good patience. You can test as many times as you need and go over the material as many times as it takes.
Reassurance
Remember, this is a self-paced course. If I can master this, you can too I promise you. Once you understand the math and put it into practice. It will become second nature ,or if you are like me. use post it notes to remind you of the equations.
I know how to work through the problem but remembering the exact equation to get me there is the issue. While in this course, I call it the “math course” you also work on graphing, and charts. It helps if you are familiar with these sites but it isn’t necessary. I don’t know anything about them or at least I didn’t and I was able to maneuver through this course effectively.
Don’t over work yourself, reward yourself and take a break
5 courses out of 7 down, time for a well deserved break. I was so happy to be done with the fifth course, I needed to celebrate. I gave myself a week long break and then dove right back in. I only had two courses to go in the certification and I hopefully made it through the toughest part. I have learned so much and have come so far.
I was in the final stretch now and knew with full confidence I was going to accomplish this for myself. I worked through the course and projects of the sixth course.
The Final course before I’m Certified
Going into the final course, I looked ahead to see what this course had in store for me. It consisted of building a campaign, a portfolio, building a resume, and interviewing. I was so close and spent a ton of time building my resume and portfolio.
It’s hard to build a resume if you have been a stay-at-home mom for 15 years. There are many things I added to build on myself, because in the end I am not just a stay-at-home mom. I have many skills that I could incorporate.
Like the fact that I created, and self-published a children’s book. Did all the marketing for this as well. I create, planned, budgeted and designed custom cakes as a hobby.
Anything you have to add to your skill set. Use it! Say if you like to plan parties for instance. You could say- I budget, plan, design, execute, and delegate social events. – However, you can utilize your creative design skills is a plus.
Completion!
Working through holidays, kids, housework, errands, doctors’ appointments, back to school, pick up, drop offs. I had a max of 3 hours a day to myself. I maximized that by working a couple hours after dinner too. Weekends, I devoted at least one full day to coursework. I wanted to finish. And the faster you finish the less you pay. It cost me about $40.00 a month with a week of a free trial. I finished all 7 courses in exactly 4 months. I was so proud of my accomplishment I cried when it said congratulations and I printed out my certificate.
You Can Do This!
I did not have the opportunity to go to college, so this was huge for me. I am telling you that you can do this, even if things are tight. Squeeze this in or another course of your interest. It doesn’t matter, grow yourself.
You are important too. Not just everything you help your family do. They will support you because they think your worth it too. Dream big, dream out loud. Make it happen, be your own fairy godmother and you will find success in your accomplishments. Your dreams and happiness are what you want out of the career path you choose.
It’s never too late to start learning.
I started this Digital Marketing & E-commerce journey because I wanted to write. Blogging is intertwined with digital marketing. It’s easy to write but getting it out there? How do I do that? There was a whole world I didn’t know or understand.
This certification gave me the foundation I needed to understand the parts of blogging that I didn’t understand yet. It gave me the tools I needed to get started and I am not done growing myself.
There are more courses I need and want to take. Because what’s that saying? Rome wasn’t built in a day. At this point in my life, I am excited to learn and grow. And I can’t wait to see where the next course I take brings me.
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