Get a Degree: Want academic letters at the end of your name? Clicks rather than bricks may be the way to go. "Do your research for an online learning program just like you would for any school," councils Sara M. Roberts, president of Roberts Golden Consulting, a firm that provides e-Learning expertise to Fortune 500 companies. Make sure the program is accredited by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and that it ranks high on respected lists that rate educational organizations. Poll HR executives of companies you may want to work for in the future to gauge their perception of candidates with online degrees.
Become a Buff: Whether you're a physician who wants to be a magician or a builder who dreams of boating, it's never too late to cultivate a spare time passion. "A lot of people these days educate themselves on things that have nothing to do with their jobs," Michael Clifford, Vice President of Grand Canyon University points out. "You can take non-credit classes on just about any topic at local community colleges and learning centers." Or check out iTunesU at iTunes.com; several major universities now post free podcasts of their most popular classes.
Rock On: Experts say the key to picking up a musical instrument later in life is patience: Expect to plink, pluck and play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star over and over again and don't presume to be concert-ready after just a few lessons. Set aside a regular, daily time to practice and aim to play a piece of music that you love so you have something to work towards beyond the endless scales and chords you'll need to drill in order to play proficiently. Stick with it. Studies show that adults can learn to play at a high level even if they had no musical training in childhood.
