Guest post by Stephanie Haywood of My Life Boost
Running a small business often starts with grit, but it grows with strategy. Whether you’re just launching or scaling an existing venture, investing in your own education can unlock new momentum. This doesn’t mean going back to school full-time or drowning in certifications. Instead, it’s about identifying the right knowledge gaps and learning opportunities that will directly fuel your next stage of growth. Learning should work in service of your business—not slow it down. You don’t need to know everything, but you do need to know what matters most right now. Here’s how to pursue the kind of education that delivers business-building results.
Clarify What You Need to Learn
Before jumping into courses or programs, take a step back and assess where you’re strong—and where you’re not. Pinpointing the knowledge gaps that are holding your business back is crucial. Maybe you’re confident in your product but struggle with customer acquisition, or maybe financial forecasting keeps tripping you up. Using a structured skills assessment framework can help you clarify these blind spots. Look at your current stage: Are you launching, stabilizing, or scaling? What core competencies are required to move you forward? Honest reflection here helps you avoid wasted time on topics that won’t move the needle.
Build a Plan You’ll Stick With
Once you know what you need to learn, treat your education like a business initiative. Don’t just sign up for random webinars and hope they add up to something. Instead, create a structured plan. Define your focus areas, list potential courses or certifications, and set a timeline. Using a small business readiness assessment tool can give you a baseline and help you align your learning with upcoming decisions. Treat this like product development: What are your milestones? What resources do you need? Planning this way turns vague self-improvement goals into actionable growth levers.
Choose an Online Program That Fits Your Life
Sometimes, the next step in your education journey is formal—especially when you need structure and credentials to push forward. Online degrees can be a powerful way to fill those gaps without pausing your business. Look for programs that emphasize applicable knowledge over theory and offer flexibility for working adults. Check this out: the University of Phoenix offers online programs for entrepreneurs that cover topics like leadership, marketing, and operations—all through a format that respects the reality of running a business. The goal isn’t to add letters after your name—it’s to make better decisions, faster.
Leverage Events for High-Impact Learning
You don’t have to learn everything through formal education. Some of the most transformative insights come from short-form, real-world exposure: workshops, seminars, and conferences. These environments give you condensed access to hard-earned wisdom and allow you to test-drive ideas in real time. The benefits of joining a professional association often include discounted event access and curated educational opportunities. Don’t attend passively. Choose sessions aligned with your business pain points and follow up with contacts who challenge your thinking. Proximity to other ambitious people can sharpen your strategy.
Find Someone Who’s Been There
A mentor can cut your learning curve in half. They’ve faced the same choices you’re now staring down and can help you avoid wasted effort. Don’t wait for the perfect guru to show up—use existing platforms that connect mentors and small business owners directly. SCORE, for example, offers free expert mentoring across nearly every industry. You can also find a mentoring program in your association that aligns with your field. A few conversations with someone 5–10 years ahead of you can often outpace weeks of solo research. The insight isn’t just in what they say—it’s in what they help you stop worrying about.
Furthering your education as a small business owner doesn’t have to mean chasing another degree or drowning in e-courses. It’s about strategic learning—focused, applied, and aligned with what your business truly needs right now. Whether it’s refining your marketing instincts, mastering financial modeling, or learning how to lead a team, the knowledge you acquire should shorten the path between where you are and where you want to be.
Explore thought-provoking insights and innovative strategies at Andrea Marson’s blog, where digital philosophy and AI meet real-world challenges.
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