self education makes you a most productive entrepreneur
TRANSCRIPT
Self-education Makes You a Most Productive Entrepreneur
Md Mustafizur Rahman SonnetB.Pharm, M.Pharm, PgDMBM
e-mail: [email protected]
Self-education is the one habit you need tocultivate, because it drives your productivity, pushesyou to new heights and lights a fire underneathfeet as you carve your own path. That commitmentcontinuous learning leads you to everything else.
Here are five tangible ways self-education gives you the golden ticket to success as an entrepreneur:
1. It saves your time and money.
Twenty-four hours is never enough for an entrepreneur. A commitment to self-educationcould potentially save you weeks of time -- and your bank account.
Case in point: Alibaba founder Jack Ma rode his bike 45 minutes everyday
to an American hotel just to improve his fluency in English by talking to
English-speaking foreigners. Ma did this for nine years starting at the ripe old
age of 12. He ended up speaking English so well, he became an English
teacher at his local school in China. His eagerness for self-education is no
doubt the reason Ma is now worth approximately $35.7 billion.
For the entrepreneur building the next billion-dollar app, this means gaining a
basic knowledge of coding and user interface design before starting a
project. While it may take a little time and investment up front, it will
ultimately save hours and thousands of dollars because you have a basic
understanding of these worlds.
The smart entrepreneur understands that his or her investment in education will reward them with both short-term and long-term benefits.
2. It builds confidence.
Being an entrepreneur is one of the most challengingjobs in this planet. There is constant hurdles, and you’renever short of opportunities to throw in the towel. Ontop of that, it’s easy to fall victim to your own doubts.
Learning a new skill and using it to push through achallenge can give entrepreneurs a massive boost inconfidence. It’s been shown that there is a strong linkbetween education and confidence. It gives you themotivation you need to push through the humps thatcome with being an entrepreneur.
3. It opens new opportunities.
Case in Point: One of the successful real estate business man said “One of the
projects that challenged, but inspired, me the most was installing solar panels. It forced
me to learn everything I could about solar and renewable energy. I got involved on the
design side as we went through revisions trying to perfect and refine the use of the
panels to add an efficient, yet modern element to the building. By undertaking that
project and learning about the future of solar, it opened so many new doors for me
personally and professionally. And though the idea-to-implementation period was longer
than I would’ve liked, it is by far one of the most rewarding projects I’ve tackled. In fact,
I’m planning to install solar panels in other River 2 River properties. I’m now able to talk
fluently about solar technology and renewables, which has afforded me the opportunity
to speak and write about sustainability and the non-profit space. Through it all, Atelier
stands as a beautiful step forward for integrating alternative energy and modern
aesthetics in New York City.”
As an entrepreneur, you simply cannot predict what new business and personal opportunities you couldunleash by learning something outside your comfort zone.
4. You’ll be sharper and happier.
Investing in your self-education keeps your skills, your brain and your outlook sharp so you have theability to adapt. And the bonus is that constant learning also makes you a happier human being. Evenamoebas get bored and unhappy when they keep getting hit with the same stimuli over and over again.
Case point: One of the successful real estate business man
said, “I love real estate, particularly Dhaka city real estate,
because its changes so fast. I have to stay abreast of current
events, market shifts, etc., because the environment,
neighborhoods and tastes of my clients evolve constantly. If I
stop learning or if I stop reading, my business will suffer
because there are people out there waiting to "eat my lunch."
I'm telling you, DK real estate is not for the faint of heart.”
Not to mention, keeping your skills sharp will ward off things like Alzheimer's. In other words, an activebrain makes for a happier brain.
5. Your gray matter makes you better at business.
There is something to the old saying that “variety is the spice of life.” Entrepreneurship can be a grind.It’s easy to lose yourself in the constant responsibility and busywork. That’s when you start to getcomplacent. You develop blind spots and become vulnerable to your competition.
That’s why self-education is so important. Discovering new ideas that areunrelated to your business can release your creativity and give youperspective on your business that you would otherwise miss. Trust me,this can be the difference between life and death for your passionproject.
