I lost a job I loved in 2018. I had intended to stay there until I turned 65 and retired. But, it did not work out that way. In addition to being disappointed, I was also discouraged. On top of that I was unsure of what to do next.

My husband encouraged me to think about working for myself because I had a small business idea. Fortunately, he recalled a small business program I could apply for, to learn about entrepreneurship. I was approved, and a new phase of learning began.

The education process has continued ever since. Whether it’s new information or skills I’m picking up on the job or finding the time to take a course, it seems like I’m always learning something new. Heraclitus said, “The only thing that is constant is change.” Operating in a market that is not only competitive but also constantly changing requires sole proprietors be open to continuous learning.

What is Continuous Learning 

Continuing education is when you keep learning and developing new skills even after you’ve finished a formal education or training program. According to Amit Nagpal, it is “your self-motivated persistence in acquiring knowledge and competencies in order to expand your skill set and develop future opportunities. It forms part of your personal and professional development in an effort to avoid stagnation and reach your full potential.”

Whatever way you decide to keep learning, the aim is to stay up-to-date with industry trends. You want to maintain your expertise throughout your career.

Why It’s Important for Business Success

From the moment we are born, we are learners. In fact, “it is essential to our existence. Just like food nourishes our bodies, information and continued learning nourish our minds.” (Amit Nagpal) It stands to reason that this same principle applies to running a small business.

The following 7 reasons should encourage you to never stop learning:

1. Keeps You Current: Continuous learning keeps you up-to-date with industry trends and changes. By learning, you will avoid lagging behind. Furthermore, you will stay relevant to your industry. You must continue to learn new things in order to be useful in the rapidly evolving technological world.
2. Improves Your Skills: Learning adds to the skills you already have, making you better able to take on new challenges. In turn, your confidence and competence will grow.
3. Keeps You Competitive: It gives you a competitive edge over others in your field. When you’re always learning, you’ll continue to advance. You will likely receive recommendations from customers and clients.
4. Enhances Your Decision-Making and Creativity: It improves your critical thinking skills, enabling you to make more informed and effective decisions. Furthermore, learning new skills will open up new possibilities for you. It will assist you in coming up with creative answers to issues.
5. Opens New Doors: Learning new skills can open up new business opportunities.
6. Expands Your Network: Learning can help you meet new people and build connections in your industry, which can lead to new business opportunities.
7. Helps you Adapt to change: By building on what you already know, continuous learning can change your way of thinking and how you see things. As you learn more, you’ll be able to see more perspectives on the same issue. This helps you stay adaptable and flexible in an ever-changing business landscape.

How To Invest into Continued Learning

A.  Determine It is Worthwhile

If you are like me, it didn’t take you long to figure out that there is so much to learn when running a business. Over time, it becomes clear that there is always an area where you can improve. Even though it will take time and energy, you need to be convinced it is worth it. Having read the previous, you may now be convinced.

The second thing is to determine which areas are priorities and then prioritize those. Trying to learn too much too fast can be detrimental to your productivity. You might want to ask yourself the following questions:

• What are my biggest challenges or pain points?
• Which areas of the business do I struggle to keep up with?
• How is the feedback from my customers?
• Are there any areas where I can reduce costs or improve efficiency?

Once you have answered these questions, you can focus on an area and begin your research. As you learn, take the Kaizen approach. Apply what you are learning by making frequent, slow, incremental adjustments. Then, evaluate.

B. Determine Your Learning Style

As a former teacher, I became aware that not all individuals learn best in the same way. Essentially, there are three main ways you can learn:

Visual Learning: This involves using images, diagrams, videos, and other visual aids to help understand and retain information.

Auditory Learning: This involves using sound, such as lectures, podcasts, and discussions, to learn and retain information.

Kinesthetic Learning: This involves hands-on learning, where you learn by doing or practicing a skill, such as through simulations or interactive workshops.

By figuring out how you learn best and actively looking for ways to learn in that way, you can improve your knowledge and skills, which will help your business grow.

C. Select the Best Resource for Your Learning Style