Owning a business means you need to keep your business knowledge sharp. There are so many new thoughts and ideas about how to run a business. To stay competitive, you need to always be improving and growing your business knowledge.
- Growing your business knowledge can start on your terms by reading more books and listening to business-focused podcasts.
- Learning from the experts can give you great insights. Try finding a mentor in one of the local business giants in your area.
- Getting yourself out there is important. A unique way to do this is with an improv class that helps you break out of your comfort zone and learn to listen.
Here are some ways you can build your business knowledge and keep up with the competition:
Get Reading
If you aren’t already in the habit of reading everyday, it’s time to start. There are many ways to read about new business practices and theories. This is a great way to build knowledge from the comfort of your own home and on your own schedule. Start with books about business. The Harvard School of Business has a reading list full of some of the best business books out there.
Thanks to the internet, business experts can come to you in a variety of ways. One of those is through blogs. There are dozens of great business blogs that you can find and follow. Be sure to research about the person behind the blog to be sure you are getting great information.
Along with blogs, there are all the publications that focus on business matters. A good option for most business owners is the Harvard Business Review. The benefit of relying on publications is that they are typically written by people with training in journalism who know how to find and cite credible sources.
Turn To The Internet
By and large, the internet is a deep source of knowledge. One of the more recent developments in the last ten years is the creation of online learning platforms. Places like Khan Academy, Investopedia, and HubSpot Academy can guide you through business concepts that you might be struggling with. You can even access some of their information for free or get a certification in certain business areas. These can be done at your own pace, making it easy to work them into your busy schedule.
Many companies also offer resource pages that delve into business topics. One of the best examples of this is HubSpot, which offers tons of resources for free so you can learn the tricks of the trades and find your next business strategy without breaking the bank.
Twitter is also becoming an important source of information with their Twitter Lists. While these won’t provide you directly with the articles you might be looking for, it can make it so you only see business-related content, showing you the thoughts, news, and opinions that you might want to stay aware of.
Get Out There
Getting yourself out there is difficult at times but it can make a huge difference. There are many ways to do this, but a fun one is to take an improv class. While you might think an improv class would be a waste of time, it can actually be really helpful in getting you out of your comfort zone and how to be a better listener, both essential for growing as a business owner.
By far, you can learn the most by getting hands on and getting experience. Working as an employee teaches you what to do as a business owner from the prospective of a worker. Part of being a great business owner is having a good relationship with your employees and creating a business environment they want to work in. It will also give you a safe place to suggest ideas and see business in action.
Listen To The Experts
One of the best ways to learn more about a subject is to turn to an expert. And in business, there are plenty of experts. To start with, find a few business podcasts. These can help you by providing important information and usually include interviews with top leaders in the industry while also discussing the latest business news.
You can also use the internet to find experts speaking about business everywhere from TED Talks to graduation speeches and toastmasters. With those, you might try online conferences. While these often cost a little money, it’s an investment in to your business knowledge.
Another option is to find a mentor. There are many business owners that have decades of experience that would be happy to guide you through the business world and help you get your feet wet. Start looking through your local business leaders and attend networking events to get your foot in the door.
If all else fails, you can pursue a business degree. In your schooling, you’ll learn everything from the basics to the nitty-gritty parts of business, often taught by people with experience or expertise and you’ll have the chance to learn a range of business practices, rather than just what you stumble on.