If you thought those days were over when you left high school or college, you've probably learned how wrong you were.

From the kinds of continuing professional education credits required in some fields, to staying up with changes in technology so your job skills don't get out-moded, and everything in between, constant learning is the baseline expectation of the professional workforce, at every management level.

Here are the four of the "big ideas" to consider when it comes to getting additional education during your professional career - whether it's for an academic degree, a professional certification, continuing education credits to maintain that certification, or even something a little off the beaten path that's still vital to doing your job better (which means helping your company perform better):

1. Education helps everyone. Why does the lion's share of companies offer to fund continuing education for their employees? Because it doesn't just improve your game, it improves the game of everyone around you.

2. Education comes in many stripes. College or university, online or off, industry or trade group, theoretical or functional. Don't limit yourself! Make a case for the kind of learning you want to pursue, so that it'll clearly help your organization (and your performance in that organization).

3. Evolve or die. Not to put too fine a point on it, but if you're not working to get better at what you do, then you're not just stagnating. You're actually falling behind, as thousands of other people learn to do what you do, only better. And let's be honest - sometimes those big learners come younger and cheaper, and in a tight economy, you can't afford not to stay ahead of the pack.

4. Do your risk/reward analysis. Sometimes people don't take their companies up on big educational investments advanced college degrees because, if they decide to jump ship for a new position, they'll have to pay back all the tuition reimbursement money. If that's you, I'd ask you to consider the longer view. If you could get $30,000 more every year in salary, but have to pay back that much in tuition fees, would it be worth it? Personally, I'd say yes - it's a short-term hit, but an investment in long-run prosperity.

If the gurus and wise folks through the ages all say that life itself is a learning process, we shouldn't expect those 40+ hours in the office to be an exception. So get that course catalog out and sign up today!