Keep Learning About Business And Get Good Advice

Do you have 10 years of experience or one year of experience 10 times? Are you improving your business skills every month or are you doing the same old things and expecting better results?

I had a teacher in ninth grade that bragged about his "30 years of teaching experience." The truth was that he had one year of experience and used it 30 times. Each year he gave the same lectures and the same tests. Students knew what was going to be on his tests simply by asking those who had his class in any of the previous years.

I see many business people operating the same way. They develop one process or one marketing program or one service and use it year after year after year. I am not saying to abandon something that works just for the sake of change. I am saying that you need to make sure you don't fall into a rut or comfort zone and forget to analyze what you should be doing.

Examine .... learn .... talk to other business owners ..... read .... question .... talk to customers .... analyze .... think .... ask .... discuss with employees ............................ NEVER STOP LEARNING.

All of the above are ways to learn. There is no one right way. There are many ways. Choose the ones that suit you best. I like to read business books, blogs and any business articles I can find. I also like to meet regularly with other business people to discuss problems and opportunities, and to exchange ideas. I like to have periodic, formal brainstorming sessions. I believe that a board of directors or an advisory committee can be a great help. (I'll discuss both in detail in my next posting). Other methods may work better for you.

The point is that you can't let yourself and your business become stagnant. You have to keep learning and moving ahead. If you stop learning, your competitors will pass you by.

Work hard on improving your management and business skills. Get your ego out of the way. Don't be afraid to say, "I can learn more. I can get better." I have referred to ego in other postings. I believe that ego, greed and jealousy are three of your worst enemies. I am 61 years old and I learn from people older than me AND PEOPLE YOUNGER THAN ME. I learn from people with more experience and from people with less experience. Everyone can teach me something.

Think about how you learn best. Think about what will improve your business skills ..... and DO IT NOW !!!!!!!