Why Small Business Owners Must Constantly Keep Learning

Look around the Internet today and you’ll see plenty of how-to’s. When you’re stumped, heading over to Google is practically a knee-jerk reaction.

The same goes for small business owners who have a desire to learn all the tips and tricks of the game. In fact, those who run a business must keep that desire to learn new things by continually asking questions and building their knowledge.

There are plenty of ways to exercise that desire, from reading guides across the Web to going back to school, to sharing your business findings with other users via blogs and social media.

Guides

There are countless guides available online that can help you sharpen your business skills.

Xero, for instance, offers quick 3- to 10 minute reads on topics such as, understanding cloud computing and the benefits of online invoicing, to more general business topics, such as “The pros and cons of hiring an independent contractor” and “How to raise money for your business.” The guides offer substance, not fluff. At the end of some of the guides, Xero offers quizzes to make sure you’ve consumed the information and fully understand it.

Journalists have also latched onto the “survival guide” platforms in their business articles recently. The Albany Business review recently published an “employers survival guide to health care reform.” A pretty timely topic that could help you out as you begin to hire more people and grow your business.

Make sure to reference Google News for the latest small business happenings.

Should I return to school?

Do you feel limited in your business knowledge to the point where you feel uncomfortable running your own business? It might be time to freshen up in the classroom!

That doesn’t have to mean expensive tuition, however.

Maybe you need a refresher in accounting or want to learn a little bit about the basics of human resources. Chances are there’s a community college nearby that offers classes at an affordable credit hour rate. According to the American Association of Community Colleges, the average credit hour is just over $100, which would be about $300 for a normal class. That’s manageable.

For those looking to take their education a bit further, it’s important to evaluate what you hope to get out of it. Perhaps a masters in business administration is in your future? Obtaining an MBA allows you to reflect on big business issues. It’ll build your professional network and allow you to meet some new friends along the way and you realize that there are so many smart people in the world that can help you take a good business and make it amazing. Of course, you want to make the best of your investment. You can likely be successful without an MBA. An MBA won’t make you more of an entrepreneur, but it will force you to think outside the box. I’ve found returning to school to get my MBA was a very good decision for me personally.