Starting a business can be intimidating if you don’t have much experience. Many people have entrepreneurial goals they never pursue. This is often simply because they feel they don’t have the knowledge or qualifications necessary for success.
This is an understandable concern. However, you don’t need an MBA to succeed as an entrepreneur. (And some would say an MBA might even be a drawback.) This is particularly true in this day and age, when you have access to numerous resources you can leverage to learn everything you need to know to start your business. Specific resources worth keeping in mind include:
5 Ways to Learn Entrepreneurship without an MBA
Online Courses
The Internet provides you with access to many courses on starting a business. Additionally, many of these resources are available at no cost. Although you may find some courses that are worth paying for, you should also explore the numerous free courses many major universities upload on such platforms as YouTube. Consider checking out this list for more information.
Podcasts
As this blog has pointed out before, podcasts offer you an easy way to learn more about the essentials of business. Best of all, most of them are free, and listening to them isn’t time-consuming, for the simple fact that you can listen to podcasts during other activities. Whether you’re on your commute or cooking at home, listening to a business podcast is a smart way to develop your knowledge and skills without enrolling in a long-term program.
Online Messages Boards
On such platforms as Reddit and Facebook, many people start groups and message boards devoted to sharing business advice. Look into these boards to see if any appeal to you. By participating, you can get practical advice from other entrepreneurs, and potentially even find a mentor or partner who can directly help you succeed.
Of course, just make sure you listen to advice from people who sound like they know what they are talking about. Not everyone who participates in online message boards is actually as much of an authority as they might claim to be.
Free Online Libraries
You probably already know that books will always be helpful resources for budding entrepreneurs. What you might not know is that a range of platforms (such as OpenLibrary) now provide users with access to free digital copies of thousands of books. This makes finding the perfect book for your business questions easier than it’s ever been.
Blogs
Don’t overlook the value of blogs! After all, if you’re reading this, odds are good you at least somewhat understand that reading business blogs can help you learn a lot about being an entrepreneur at absolutely no cost. While you’ll naturally have to research your options to ensure you’re reading blogs that offer valuable advice, if you search around, you’ll find plenty worth your time.
Again, feeling you can’t pursue your entrepreneurial goals because you don’t know enough about starting a business is understandable. That said, this mindset is unnecessary. Right now, you can access plenty of resources to learn more about entrepreneurship. These are simply some of the more noteworthy options to keep in mind.