I believe in ‘guerilla learning’ or informal education. Or let me say, that idea of ditching the conventional and learning just on your own. But I also do not discount the place of “learning under guided tutelage, hence the idea of apprenticeship, student-teacher relationship”
There’s more to learning than just the direct information gained. There’s impart of the environment and the attitude it cultivates in the learner. The major resource in independent or solo learning is information, but with apprenticeship there’s culture, instruction, correction, leverage, fraternity etc.
There’s more to learning than just the information gained. When you play the “one-man squad”, you so likely to see the world from your virgin and unblended eyes and lose the blessing of having a contrast of other people’s perspective to give you a balanced vantage position. We learnt more things in class beyond the scheme of work or academic curriculum; we learnt from the teacher (mentor /boss), we also learnt from our classmates (colleagues).
That’s why no matter how sophisticated we evolve as humans, solo learning like online courses, trainings, programs and certifications can never discount the place of conventional classroom setting.
Not as though any is better than the other, but a good blend of both is very sacrosanct.
Now how does this apply to you as an entrepreneur?
Remember, owing your own business does not mean you’re an entrepreneur, neither does being on a firm’s payroll mean you are not an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is a culture, not a mode of earning. I’ve seen many folks dive into owning a start-up with big chunk of motivation, relative knowledge and zero experience. Same start out against giant competitors battling for same spot in same industry, little wonder they barely survive 5 years. They arm themselves with ‘knowledge’ and the promise of more knowledge which they can independently access via Google, books, YouTube, online courses etc.
This is not entirely wrong, but…
When you dwell on solo learning you might have a huge junk of knowledge, yet no single line of valid thought and wisdom. It’s one thing to have knowledge, another to have clarity.
Moreover, starting out in a supervised environment drills into your pocket the discipline of accountability and consistency which arguably is much higher a luxury for a green horn.
Solo learning can afford you information, but supervised environment (invariably mentor-ship) earns you secrets. Those things you read on the pages of books and websites are no secrets. If they were, you wouldn’t have found them ‘there.’
The difference between INGREDIENTS and RECIPE is that one is a piece of information, and the other a trade secret!
Not even a fool is tempted enough to spill it. Information is when you’re taught how to write a CV, secret is when you’re told of a firm’s job offering.
Now, I’m not against starting out all fresh and alone. It’s not an impossibility to make a hit that way. But if you have the privilege of first being employed before you employ, don’t see it as a taboo.
It’s not about the salary, it’s about the earning. You earn the option of simulating your future before greeting the reality.
You can be an employee with your big dreams and pursuit still intact!
It's a phase of the process, not it's entirety.
If you can’t ‘work for anybody’, then don’t forget to at least sit under somebody (mentor-ship). Whichever you choose, don’t play the one man squad.
PART II
Do not be under pressure to have achieved those major milestones everyone is discussing.
I know it appears as though everybody is landing cool positions, beginning amazing organizations, getting hitched and having children, venturing to the far corners of the planet or getting perceived for something.
Try not to feel like your life is on standby or in relapse if you haven't done every one of those things. Stressing does nothing positive for you. You simply discover you go through your time on earth concentrating on the wrong thing, as opposed to living by design.
¤All your companions are getting hitched however you've not yet had a better than average relationship in years? Don't sweat it.
¤Can't appear to "blow" in your business yet? Don't sweat it.
¤Everyone seems as though they know what they're doing however you do not understand where your life is going yet? Don't sweat it.
¤Stuck at your activity and you have no option yet in the event that you choose to stop? Forget about it.
¤Don't know what within an air ship looks like yet, however your companions have recharged their travel permits a few times? Don't worry about it.
¤Don't have your life made sense of yet? Don't worry about it.
Notice I utilized the word YET in each case. However signifies, "It hasn't happened yet it will most likely happen".
¤Don't be miserable and go into sorrow, estimating your advance by other individuals' courses of events.
¤Don't decline into loathe, envy and desire on the grounds that your companions are as of now up the stepping stool and your own step is absent. You'll get a ulcer from those negative feelings.
¤Don't abandon yourself and on God on the grounds that the ones who began before you, have ventured out in front of you.
¤Trust in God.
¤Trust in His planning for your life.
¤Those who got it simple have no stories to tell.
¤Those who make it out of the pit with scars to appear, leave a permanent check in the chronicles of history.
¤Keep your head down and continue dealing with yourself.
¤Take without rushing too much and be deliberate about everything.
¤Commit to developing yourself regularly.
¤Associate with individuals who will rouse, inspire and lift you up.
¤Spend your opportunity carefully. You have an indistinguishable 24 hours from every other person.
¤Risk everything for the fantasy no one but you can see; Not the one you get when you shut your eyes to sleep, however the one that keeps you wide awake during the night.
¤Prepare yourself rationally, mentally, physically, mentally, candidly and profoundly with the goal that when your chance comes (and it will come), it meets you prepared.
¤Commit your routes under the control of God and He will make your way straight.