“For the best return on your money, pour your purse into your head.”                                                                                     ―Benjamin FranklinThis famous quote from Benjamin Franklin is SO true in today’s situation of Fusion of Competition on one side and Opportunity on the other, because“An investment in knowledge always pays the highest return.”If you don’t have a regular commitment to educational activities, go out and attend a seminar, get an online training or read a book, meet like-minded friends and get into intellectual debate. The more you do the more you reap!In this article (my findings from various resources and web), I am, going to share some interesting findings, in nut shell.

1. According to one industry report, U.S. companies spent over $90 billion dollars on training and development activities in 2017, a year-over-year increase of 32.5 %.
2. US spend on training and development is 15% of its employee spend - which is one of the highest. So is the case of most advanced countries.
3. India’s Training Industry potential market is 32 Billion projected for 2030. Of which, just about 2-Billion-dollars market is tapped.
4. KEN Research 2012 (The largest and most exhaustive research done on Indian Training Industry) says that India is poised to the world’s 3rd largest economy in a decade.
5. We (India) are a 2.8 trillion dollar economy. We are moving from this to 3 trillion dollar economy and 5 trillion dollar economy in next 5 years.

Finally, as per  2019 Workplace Learning Report by LinkedInMore budget will go to L&D professionals. The learning & development industry is at a tipping point with rising budgets and increased executive support compared to years’ past. In fact, almost half (43%) of talent developers expect a budget increase in 2019, compared to only 27% in 2017. On top of that, budgets are shifting to online learning: compared to three years ago, 59% of talent developers spend more of their budget on online learning and 39% say they spend less on instructor-led training.Online learning is when you take courses online instead of a physical classroom. If your schedule makes it hard to attend classes, if you prefer studying at your own pace or if you live far from campus, online learning might be for you.It's such a different experience from the traditional classroom environment. Why would someone want that? And why are so many people saying that online classes are a great alternative to in-person attendance at a class?Believe it or not, there are some enormous advantages to online classes. Some of these are obvious while others may surprise you.#1—IT COSTS LESSIt's no secret that college costs a lot of money. You pay for the classes, a dorm room that smells like old stuff, cafeteria meals, activity fees, massive text books and a host of other random expenses. It adds up really quick. There's a reason most students have to take out loans.With online classes, you're only paying for the university credits. If you're trying to save money, this is a perfect solution. You're only spending money on the things you want to spend money on.#2—EASIER ATTENDANCEIf you take classes online, attending is as simple as opening up your computer or tablet. No rain-soaked walks or hypothermic marches for you! You can learn from the comfort of your home or favourite coffee shop while sipping on a steaming beverage.#3—A HUGE VARIETY OF OPTIONSNo matter what your desired field of study, you can almost find an online program, whether that's nursing, mathematics, science, accounting or just about any other program. And more programs are being added by online schools every day. There truly is an option for almost everyone.#4—CONVENIENCE AND FLEXIBILITYOnline courses give students the opportunity to plan study time around the rest of their day, instead of the other way around. Students can study and work at their convenience. Course material is always accessible online, making special library trips unnecessary. All of these benefits help students balance work and family commitments with their education.Online courses are just as educational and robust as their classroom counterparts.The biggest difference between online and face-to-face learning is that online students can study from anywhere, and at any time. The common goal is that “an online course can be, engaging, so that the learner enjoys the learning and is able to not only assimilate it but retain it and apply it.”A few years ago, online education was unthinkable; now it is a reality and it has expanded beyond imagination.  The Internet has allowed us to cross boundaries that took a long time to cross; technology has allowed us to learn and grow with people from around the world.It has given access to new opportunities in work, learning and in socializing.  We are now witnessing a transformation in the way people learn. The future of education in general, and college education in particular will be of more access, more educational choices, and new fields in educational research.Online classes are for everybody. They also come with technical aspects that traditional classes may not include, such as software and LMS options. By this estimation, online students not only encounter all mandatory coursework, but also gain experience with new technology as one of the advantages of online classes.Whether you want to study from the comfort of your bedroom or increase your computer skills, online classes are a fantastic option.It’s time to LEARN on the GO and start EARNING more than your peers!!!Be Your Best , Suresh Babu S, Performance CoachDirector, One Life Academy and C0-Founder at Ample Courses+919945226624www.onelifeacademy.in and www.amplecourses.com