We’ve all heard the expression, “stay green and grow, or grow brown and rot”. Nowhere is this mindset more applicable than it is in entrepreneurship. If you are not constantly learning and growing, you will find yourself behind the eight ball, being lapped by your competitors. Even in non-technology fields, where the industry change typically is not occurring at such a rapid rate, it is imperative that you are very curious, always wanting to learn, especially about issues that directly impact your business. That being said, don’t limit your learning to those obvious issues that directly relate to your company or your industry. Time permitting, also endeavor to learn and grow in areas that are only tangentially related to your business, or not related at all (at least not on the surface). Push yourself! You’ll be amazed at the potential for cross-pollination of ideas when you take your focused industry expertise and look at it through the lens of experts from other industries and areas of endeavor. Typically, this is how the real quantum gains are made, not by those that have tunnel vision from being so intently focused in one particular area or industry. That’s why good consultants get paid big money – they can see the big picture and help industry-focused experts learn from best practices prevalent elsewhere in the business world. Never stop learning and cross-pollinating your knowledge..
