No matter how much or how little formal education you have, when you start your home-base business, or any business for that matter, continual learning is a must, since change is part of the landscape of business, you need to keep up your knowledge, and while knowledge is power, it’s how you use it that is the real power.
While knowledge is power, it’s how you use it that’s the real power.
What was popular a week ago may not be today. Given this, it behooves you to keep learning so your business will continue to thrive, because continual learning helps you to:
Stay Ahead of Industry Changes – just look back a couple of years and it’s amazing how much technology has changed the face of businesses. Who would have ever imagined that social media marketing, email marketing, or even content marketing would be as necessary today as they are? It doesn’t even matter what kind of business you have; if you’re not involved with those three types of marketing you’re limiting your business.
Learn New Skills to Add to Your Service(s) – even if you are a service provider, it’s imperative to keep up-to-date on new services your audience needs. Remember desktop publishing, which was popular a few years ago? Anyone with computer skills could’ve make a living in that field. Currently, you need to be specific and specialized. For instance, you might instead specialize in Kindle publishing.
Create New Products – when you keep learning about your industry and your audience, you’ll be in a better position to create useful products that solve problems.
Develop a Better Understanding of Your Audience – the more you learn about your audience, the more you’ll understand which problems they need solved. You’ll also understand how they prefer to solve their problems. For instance, some audiences prefer highly advanced technology, while others do not. You can’t know that if you don’t learn about your audience.
Some ways to keep learning:
Take a Course – many business coaches teach others how to start and run successful businesses. Those who have succeeded before you offer many learning opportunities that you can, and should take advantage of. Many colleges and universities offer vocational courses, as well.
Attend Events – in-person and online events are fabulous ways to learn something fast. Not only that, you’ll also make connections that you would not otherwise make. It might feel strange and outside of your comfort zone, but events are excellent ways to stay involved in learning new things in your niche.
Find an Internship – there are paid and unpaid internships available. If you’re new to a niche, find someone whose business/work you admire, ask him if you can intern for a period of time for free. Be willing to devote ten to twenty hours a week, and be ready to learn.
Follow Influencers – people in your industry who are very popular or famous, can teach you a lot. It doesn’t matter how much of an expert you are; you can always learn something. Use social media to locate and follow them. Read what they write and recommend. Agree or disagree with them; you’ll learn something new.
Lifelong learning is something that you’ll be involved in as a business owner. The knowledge you’ll gain will keep your business fresh and your audience satisfied.
Don’t get left behind.
© Cherry-Ann Carew
Cherry-Ann Carew is an Online Business Coach, who supports emerging business owners simplify their start-up journey and helps existing businesses scale, so that they can earn uncapped income and live life on their terms.