As entrepreneurs, education opportunities present themselves in so many ways. We learn from other women business owners as part of NAWBO or by serving on the national or a local chapter board. We benefit from attending conferences, like the National Women’s Business Conference, and training events in our industries and fields. And many of us take advantage of more traditional education opportunities, like earning specialized college degrees or becoming certified women’s business enterprises.
Whatever ways we learn and grow, education is a definite hallmark of successful entrepreneurs—keeping us current and competitive in today’s marketplace. That’s why we have dedicated this issue of NAWBO ONE to the theme of education. In it, you’ll find a roundtable with NAWBO chapter presidents speaking about the importance of learning and how they stay educated in their lives and businesses. The NAWBO member featured in this month’s spotlight also addresses the topic of education as a successful entrepreneur.
Additionally, a recent article in Entrepreneur magazine had these easy tips for staying educated when we’re all so busy running our businesses:
- Read one article a day written by someone with an opposing opinion. Your brain chemistry switches on when you are met with competing knowledge or an opinion that flies in the face of your own experience.
- Learn one radically new thing every day and apply it to your life. Geniuses find unrelated things and put them together to come up with something new.
- Teach someone something that you’re passionate about. The teaching process reveals new learning for you since people have different questions about what you’re teaching.
- Try to get deep sleep. Research shows that neural connections are made when you’ve hit the deepest stage of sleep, and that occurs typically over a seven- to nine-hour period.
- Practice “awake sleeping” or reflection. Find a few times a day when you can turn off anything that electronically gets a hold of you and simply reflect on what your needs are and how things are going.
It’s hard to believe, but this blog marks my final one as Chair of the NAWBO National Board, as we prepare to welcome our 2016-2017 Chair Teresa Meares to her term and I step into my new role as Immediate Past Chair. When I look back over the past year, one of the most valuable parts of the experience has been the “education” I received. I have had the privilege of working with some incredibly talented, passionate and creative women on the NAWBO National Board as well in NAWBO chapters throughout the country. I have been so inspired by and gained so much from these women—valuable insights, lessons, ideas and connections that will benefit me and my business for years to come. Thank you for the incredible opportunity to serve this great organization, and best wishes to Teresa for the exciting year that lies ahead!