Being an entrepreneur you’re prone to wear many hats. In fact, sometimes you’re called upon to take a role you may have never thought you could do. One thing I’ve taught myself in running a business is that if I don’t know how to do something I’ll either find someone who knows how to do it or learn how to do it myself.
Of course, the most cost-effective way is to learn to do it yourself. For those who are conditioned to think that learning only happens in a classroom, the world of self-learning can be a little scary at first but in order to be successful you’ll sometimes have to teach yourself how to get it done.
Here are a few tips that have helped me learn different skills to be a better success not just individually, but for those around me.
1. Get interested
There must be a problem you need to solve or a reason you’ve thought about learning something new. Your interest in the subject is the essential driver of success. You can’t learn what you do not want to learn. Emotion is an important part of the learning process. If you are even moderately interested in a subject, give yourself a chance. The key is to get started. If you can create a routine, you may find that the subject grows on you.
2. Expect problems and you won’t be disappointed.
Don’t expect to understand things at first or even remember them. Things will get clearer as your brain logs with new information. Keep at it, and you will gradually find that things that seem difficult at first, will become second nature with time.
3. Anytime is learning time.
Take full advantage of the Internet and various mobile devices, books and magazines. Anytime is learning time. Remember, you are learning through exposure, not by nailing things down. So the more you learn with experience, the better of you’ll be.
4. Join learning communities.
Join a learning community on the web, where members share their knowledge and experience. Search for the communities that suit your interests and learning style. You will find encouragement, advice and stimulus from fellow learners, as well as from tutors, teachers and coaches. In these communities, you can measure your progress against your own goals, or compare your experience with that of other learners. You can even teach and help others, which is a great way to learn. I love LinkedIn. It’s a great way to connect with like minded individuals and industry related professionals.
Never has it been easier nor more exciting to be a learner. Let constant learning be a major part of your life-style. The rewards will be constant, personally, socially, and professionally.
Remember that learning is always earning. You either WIN or you learn.
Frank.