It has been said through the ages, passed down from wise elders to the impatient, and ambitious young- you must always be a student of life. Never stop learning. Phrases like ‘keep your cup empty’ have been used so many times before, that it’s easy to forget what they might truly mean.
Even today, in the age of information, where you can practically have Google answer any question for you; ask any considerably successful entrepreneur for their secret to success and they will undoubtedly tell you, that their willingness to keep learning, was one of them.
The qualities that describe every entrepreneur who wants to win in the game, are a sense of urgency and determination to make things happen , but the biggest differentiator between those who win and those who don’t is that the winners, are also aware of their limitations and always strive to improve themselves, their skills, and their knowledge.
According to studies, highly successful business people and entrepreneurs read over 60 books every year. So, if you think that you are too busy to learn, think again. One of the easiest ways to keep up with the learning, is to continue with your education — whether it’s taking online courses or going to college — this is surely a critical part of your success in life, and in business.
But if you’re looking for more reasons, here are the top three reasons why entrepreneurs like yourself, should keep the learning going:
- Learn from the best to be the best
There is no such thing as a ‘natural-born entrepreneur’. No innate talent gives people the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Even those with typical entrepreneurial traits and characteristics can’t possibly know everything about anything. It’s hard work and learning that separates the wheat from the chaff. If you want to enjoy even a tenth of the success of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world, you need to engage in the business of your education.
- Understanding your industry
No industry is safe from change. For example, in the music industry some music labels are still around today. They adapted quickly to the threat posed by mp3s and online streaming. Others, however, failed to grasp what was happening and are now out of business. In every industry, it’s vital to be aware of the coming disruptions, and learning about the ins and outs of your sector is going to help you avoid coming to an untimely end with your business.
Don’t forget, when you are an entrepreneur it’s important to be able to understand the wider industry—not just your niche.
Who knows what could be going on in the wider world, outside of your sector’s bubble? Educating yourself on a broad industry level will help you pivot when necessary, invest if you need it, and protect your business when trouble is near.
- Don’t Forget the Opportunity
Want to know one of the biggest reasons why entrepreneurs love to keep on learning? It’s because they can.
It wasn’t so long ago that continuing your education meant returning to college or university, and many business owners simply didn’t have the time. Today, it’s a different story, learning is just a decision away.There are a multitude of avenues you can explore, from attending industry conferences, to taking online courses.
There is no doubt that learning has transformed exponentially in today’s day and age, so whether it’s heading to college every day for a year or two, or keeping your income coming in and learning on the go, technology today, doesn’t just bring you the opportunity to learn, at your fingertips, it also gives you the gift of convenience. . If you want to continue your education in any setting, there has never been a better time to do it than now.
OK, so there you have it—three compelling reasons why learning should become a habit you nurture, starting today! Educating yourself will ultimately improve your business, protect it from disruption, and give you the skills, confidence, and knowledge you need to embrace new challenges in different sectors.
Is learning important to you, or do you struggle to find the time for it?
qLearn – our new learning management platform offers courses in four languages: English, Arabic, Russian, and French, with more to come! Learning is not limited to text-based lessons; animated videos, drag-and-drop reinforcement exercises, and different types of multimedia make your learning process interactive and fun. Plus, you don’t have to access your programmes only on a desktop or a laptop; you can access qLearn programmes on your mobile phone, too (for Android and iOS), so that you can really learn on-the-go, anytime, anywhere.
