It does take a while to get used to learning on your own, but after a while, you do get a hang of things and it feels much the same. It's a flexible option for people who either have limited time, non fixed time and geographical constraints on formal learning.

I have already finished a couple of courses from OU, http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/, and I am very happy to say that I have learned much from the experience, I have made it a part of my daily routine and it is a regular habit to finish atleast one chapter per day including the activity.

I also squeeze in a couple of minutes to learning mandarin, also free from the web, 1 chapter a day as well, just enough info to digest and effectively practice proper pronounciation. Here's the link for those who are interested, http://www.chinese-tools.com.

I do both during my mid-day break while taking my lunch and I am happy to be productive and efficient with my time; achieving time efficiency by managing activities well and learning as well. One of the course I took on OU was for time management and it has helped me refine more my daily schedule, achieving 20% efficiency while giving me extra time which I spend with my family.

Another option for the tech savy is MIT Open Courseware, http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/courses/courses/index.htm.

I do try to continue the learning on the weekend but I find it hard and I have focused both days to my family and I find it strikes the right balance of work and personal life so I will very likely continue this way.

Please do remember that no one solution will fit for all and that you should just use what you learn outside to start you off, eventually you should be able to evolve and refine to what fits you best.

I however have come to a realization, every since I started working, I overextended and made the office my home. I immersed myself in work and I was loving it, I enjoyed it so much, I spent more time at work than at school and at home. I made the office my house, my locker was full of clothes and there are countless times when I would sleep over at work.

The rare times I was at home, with family and out of the office with friends, my mind would still be with my work. Work was my life and it was my passion. I also know of countless people who bring work home, some even working till the wee hours, effectively cutting quality time suppose to be dedicated for the family. Most of these people don't file overtime.

I later on asked why it was ok for work life to cross personal life yet personal life is treated like a baggage and checked in before going to work, I said to myself, that is unfair..... I dwelled on this corporate situation for a bit and I the realized that the top management may have already realized this fact and that is most probably the reason why most organizations focus on initiatives that improve not only technical and work competencies, capabilities and work careers of their employees, most organizations have already extended them into the personal life.

I think corporations have realized that there is a direct connection between both work and personal life, for if work life is not doing well, personal life will directly suffer, this goes for a not so well personal life to greatly affect productivity and work performance. I believe this is the main objective and reason why top management fully supports activities and personal development initiatives that extend to the families of employees, a happy employee is a productive employee.

However, there are still some enculturated mentalities among current middle managers, a couple of isolated cases would still give employees negative evaluations for mixing work and personal life and will even enforce guidelines to make sure personal life will be checked in the baggage counter before entering the workplace.

As I have already expressed in my earlier article, Most initiatives from top down gets blurred and mis-implemented.

But I do understand these initiatives and changes do not happen over night and it takes a lot more time to change cultures. So, I would therefore advice people who are in these isolated situations to give your full support and do not tire in persuading your superiors as they are also people who have families I am sure constant communication and the right approach will bring them to the right point of view.

For managers who still think the way of old, try and have an open mind, this is the era of social and collaborative management, employees are more social, free thinking, driven, passionate and have very good self-confidence and acceptance. Harnessing the new workforce by open and good communication will be beneficial to everyone and will directly have a positive effect on the organization.