14 Tips to Embrace Lifelong Learning

Learning is a lifelong journey, especially for entrepreneurs. Keeping up with the newest trends and best practices as society and technology evolve is critical to keep yourself and your ventures progressing.

You might aim for advanced academic degrees or enrol in formal ongoing education courses, but that's not always feasible. Luckily, there are plenty of informal learning opportunities that don't involve going back to school.

Tips to Embrace Lifelong Learning

When we asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council about their commitment to lifelong learning beyond traditional classrooms, they shared the following tips:

1. Travel

“There is no better way to grasp new ideas and educate yourself than to be in new places, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. Travelling may not give you book smarts, but it will give you an education you can’t get in a classroom.” - Colbey Pfund, co-founder of LFNT Distribution.

2. Try new things

"It is important to step outside of your comfort zone and try things you might not normally try. It could be reading a book on a topic you might not normally gravitate to, eating a cuisine you would normally never try or seeing a concert of a genre of music you have never been into. Exposing yourself to the world outside your bubble is a great way to continue growing and learning." - Adrien Schmidt, CEO of bouquet.ai.

3. Share knowledge

"Teaching others also teaches you something. It is the best test of your own knowledge. Whoever you are teaching or mentoring will have questions. This will force you to think critically and offer thoughtful answers. It will also create discussions that will tap into areas you may not have even thought about yet." - Blair Thomas, co-founder of eMerchantBroker.

4. Stay in touch with your mentor

"Every business owner has a couple of mentors they relied on when they first started their business. There’s a good chance they have much knowledge to share. Just because you’ve managed to create a successful business doesn’t mean you’ve learned everything they offer. Keep in touch with the people who helped you get started." - Syed Balkhi, founder of WPBeginner.

5. Listen to the podcasts

"Lifelong learning is the only way to stay on top of the curve. However, it’s really difficult for entrepreneurs to squeeze in at least an hour a week to gain some knowledge. I discovered podcasts a few years ago, and they have been a game-changer for me. I listen to them in traffic or when I do some physical tasks that don’t require mental concentration, like running or working out." - Solomon Thimothy, CEO of OneIMS.

6. Read blogs

"Reading industry-related blogs is a great way to practice lifelong learning. Because blog posts are shorter in comparison to books, you can learn a lot in a short amount of time. I make sure to read at least a couple a day to get inspired, improve my own writing skills and learn new things." - Stephanie Wells, founder of Formidable Forms.

7. Join like-minded groups

"Having other people around who are working toward the same or similar goals can help you grow. These members and friends keep you accountable, and you do the same for them. Meeting regularly builds the habit and commitment. In addition to building lifelong skills, from public speaking to writing to studying, you will gain lifelong friends." - Patrick Barnhill, founder and CEO of Specialist ID, Inc.

8. Tune into YouTube lectures

"YouTube is full of professors giving educational lectures for everyone to see. If you want to learn more while not sitting in a classroom, consider listening to a lecture on a subject you’re passionate about while at lunch. Even though you’re not in a class, you still get the benefits of having a student mentality." - David Henzel, founder of LTVPlus.

9. Keep asking questions

"It’s so important to stay curious about life so that it never gets dull. If you stay inquisitive about all there is to know, it’ll encourage you to keep learning new things, perhaps even things you never thought you could do. Encourage yourself to ask questions about anything and everything you’re curious about to keep your brain engaged and healthy." - Jared Atchison, developer, consultant, and co-founder of WPForms.

10. Watch documentaries

“Watching documentaries is an easy and entertaining way to practice lifelong learning. There are tons of awesome documentaries out there, and they are a great way to learn more about the world. I think it’s important to learn about a wide array of topics, not just ones that are related to your business. You never know what you’ll learn in a documentary that could inspire your next great idea.” - John Turner, co-founder of SeedProd LLC.

11. Read it all

"The most important thing I ever got out of my education was a passion for reading. Because of this, I’ve been able to continue learning and growing after finishing my degree. If you want to ensure that you’re informed about the latest developments in your field and that you’re always improving your mental capabilities, make it a habit to read everything you can get your hands on." - Bryce Welker, Founder of Beat The CPA.

12. Enroll in online courses

"I love the convenience of online courses that I can start and stop and then start again whenever I have a free half hour. It’s a productive way for me to unwind after working or something to do when I’m stuck somewhere, like at an airport or on a plane." - Serenity Gibbons, Leader at NAACP.

13. Listen to audiobooks

"Audiobooks are a super convenient way to keep learning new things daily. Whether it’s on your daily commute, while eating lunch, or even during simpler tasks at work, it’s an easy way to consume new material and maintain your edge. I personally take a 30-minute walk every day after lunch just to make sure I get my reading in.” - Karl Kangur, founder of Above House.

14. Surround yourself with curious minds

"It is said that “small minds discuss people, average minds discuss events, and great minds discuss ideas.”

If you want to be successful and a lifelong learner, hanging around other curious people would be wise. What do your peers talk about when you’re together? Do they discuss deep topics and ideas or pointless, feel-good social gossip?" - Andy Karuza, Marketing Maverick at Relm Wellness.