How to Become a Great Entrepreneur Without a College Education
Think your career options are limited because you didn’t attend post-secondary school? Think again! Entrepreneurship is the perfect career choice for those without a college degree. Unlike many other careers, starting your own business doesn’t require formal education and allows you complete freedom and flexibility over your work life. Plus, there’s no earning limit! If you’re ready to move forward with your entrepreneurship goals and start your own business, check out the following tips from National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE)!
Join a Community for the Self-Employed
If you’re new to entrepreneurship, it can be valuable to join a community for the self-employed, such as NASE. These associations provide various opportunities to business owners. For example, you’ll have access to countless tools and resources, including business advice, funding opportunities, marketing strategies, and health insurance savings. These resources can also help you stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices in your industry. You’ll also have a chance to connect with like-minded individuals who are also pursuing entrepreneurship!
Network Often
Networking is essential for growing a new business. As Novoresume explains, networking will help you build a reputation for yourself as a reliable, supportive, and knowledgeable industry professional. Regularly attending networking events will also boost the visibility of you and your brand, strengthen your support network, and help you connect with other professionals in your industry.
Besides attending networking events, connecting with old friends and acquaintances is a great way to find support in launching your business. If you’ve lost contact with people from high school and you want to get in touch, try using a dedicated alumni search engine. For example, you can look up past friends in Baltimore as long as you know their name, graduation date, and high school.
Work with a Mentor
Working with a mentor is always a good idea for business owners, especially those without a formal business education. Your mentor will provide access to key business insights so you don’t have to navigate the same trials and errors as many first-time entrepreneurs. You’ll also receive guidance based on real-world business experience, which is something you won’t find in a classroom. Try to ensure your mentorship is valuable to your mentor as well. To do this, Front Office Sports suggests finding a mentor who wants to sharpen their leadership skills and providing constructive feedback to help them improve.
Always Be Learning
Running a business is one long learning process. Embrace every learning opportunity and always keep an eye out for new ways to advance your skills. For example, you could sign up for online classes on marketing, business management, customer service, or accounting. Even if you wind up outsourcing some of these specialized tasks, understanding the inner workings of your business will make you a better manager.
Outsource to Fill Gaps in Your Skills
While you might not have all the knowledge of a business graduate, you likely have at least a few skills that will serve you as an entrepreneur. Focus on these strengths! By focusing on what you're good at, you can differentiate yourself from competitors and create a unique value proposition for your business. However, it's also important to acknowledge the skills you may be lacking so you can outsource certain tasks to professionals. You just won’t have time to learn every specific skill necessary to run and grow a business. Knowing when to outsource is vital!
When outsourcing, look for professionals who have experience in the areas you need help with and a track record of delivering results. Be clear about your expectations and goals, and make sure you communicate effectively to ensure your needs are being met.
Becoming an entrepreneur is possible for anyone, regardless of experience or education. While education can be beneficial, it is not the only route to achieving entrepreneurial success! Use various techniques and strategies like networking, connecting with a mentor, and outsourcing to fill gaps in your knowledge.
Are you ready to build your business? Join the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) to access several membership benefits that can help you get your business off the ground!