Wizardry - How Smarty™ makes professional improvement magical, and you can, too

Alright, gather 'round, fellow wizards and witches! It's time to unveil the secrets to mastering the mystical art of professional development at Smarty. Yes, “wizardry” typically refers to wearing cloaks, wielding wands, riding broomsticks, and mixing potions. At Smarty, we think of “wizardry” as being the best at doing what we do. We’re going above and beyond to not only become experts in our field but also stay that way through shifts in technology and culture.

However, being the best shouldn’t be an afterthought; at Smarty, it’s not. Let’s get specific about the magic happening behind the curtain. 

So, how does Smarty sprinkle that extra dash of magic into its daily grind?

First, each and every employee is encouraged to research and choose individual professional training each year, paid for by Smarty. SEO conferences, pragmatic association training, product management courses, and GopherCon are just a few of the copious opportunities provided to employees. Several Smartypantses are members of professional organizations where continual learning is offered to members. If you could justify how entering the Wife Carrying World Championships (Sonkajärvi, Finland) could improve your wizardry, Smarty would probably cover that, too… maybe.

What can YOUR company do to make professional improvement a priority? 

Look at you nipping at the bud, you overachiever. When dealing with professional development, we're not just talking about sending our wizards off into the unknown without a wand. Oh no, we're all about empowering our team to chart their course to greatness, and you should too. The real magic begins when you let your employees choose their own adventures. This process doesn’t have to be utterly unregulated chaos, though. 

Feel free to set boundaries on acceptable prices. Maybe that price is $0, and that’s totally fine! Providing time for your employees to attend Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), free seminars, certificate training, and even hosting events by inviting a level 20 mage guest speaker can boost your employee wizardry levels to new heights.

So there you have it, Smarty’s tricks for improving wizardry. Witches and wizards, put your name in the Goblet of Fire. We’ll look for you and yours at the next Tournament of Champions.