Learning from other Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship is often viewed as a journey of one where a fearless warrior, against all odds, manages to climb the highest peak and achieve what others only dream of. While this may be the case in some way, the journey is often more about learning lessons than it is battling odds. The more lessons you learn, the less the odds you must beat. Smart entrepreneurs know this and go to great lengths to learn from other entrepreneurs who have succeeded or failed. You too should do this if you want to leap-frog over the process of learning by mistakes. Here are some ways you can learn from other entrepreneurs.
Read Books
Entrepreneurs love to write books. Not only because they have so much to share but also because writing and publishing a book can be another source of income for them. So, in a way they find a way to profit from all the lessons they have learned. For you as a budding entrepreneur, this should be your first stop. Look for books written by entrepreneurs in your industry. What lessons are they sharing? What can you learn? Branch out into related industries and see what entrepreneurs in those industries did to succeed. The more books you read, the better prepared, knowledge wise, you will be on your own entrepreneurial journey.
Follow Podcasts
There are dozens of high-quality podcasts either run by entrepreneurs or that feature an endless list of entrepreneurs as guests. Plugging into these podcasts can provide a steady flow of lessons from entrepreneurs across all walks of life. The great thing about podcasts is they are dynamic and easy to consume. Just plug in your earphone on your way to work and listen to an hour of Mark Cuban talking about his entrepreneurial journey, or Gary Vaynerchuk encouraging you to go the extra mile. Getting a daily dose of such knowledge will give you an edge as you build your venture.
Attend Meetups
If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go with others. That adage stands true in the entrepreneurial journey. Local meetups bringing together entrepreneurs are a great place not only to network but also to learn from others. Bringing together entrepreneurs in your area, this provides a ready source of insight on how entrepreneurs are fairing in your neck of the woods. What unique challenges are they facing? How are they overcoming them? Local meetups add context to the insights you learn, proving a powerful avenue to gain relevant and easily-applicable lessons for your business.
Look for a Mentor
Mentors accelerate your learning by several multiples because they act as a catalyst for your growth. Whenever you are facing certain challenges, they will often have unique insights that can help you unlock solutions you did not know you had. Mentors are also a deep well of wisdom because of the experiences they have had and the networks they move in. Things like building efficiency into a business, how to cut costs, and others are things they have done in the past and so know the pros and cons of implementing such strategies. While mentors may not be all knowing, at the very least they provide a solid sounding board against which you can bounce off your ideas.
As an entrepreneur, trying to go it alone can be the one decision that makes or breaks your business. While you may not have the luxury of recruiting a board of advisors or a crack team of coworkers, immerse yourself in knowledge and insights from other entrepreneurs to help you win in your journey.
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