I decided to get an MBA, for no other reason than to have one. Many internet gurus would argue against getting a degree that is not from an elite university since it is mostly moot in the grand scheme of things.
Remember, there are numerous business savvy billionaires that did not go the traditional route: Steve Jobs, Ali, Zuckerberg, blah, blah, blah.
But I plan on leveraging my MBA to some degree like I do with all of my resources. I plan on writing a future post that explains how I used this MBA to make money online.
Still, it is not necessary to get a degree in business to become savvy at business. For free. The internet is full of free or very low costing resources, all aimed at building better businesses (or businesspersons).
If you never heard of a MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses), then you are lagging behind in today’s hustle economy. Do take solace in the fact that you are here now, with wide eyes and a full heart. Be prepared to forge ahead and to build a base of knowledge that can match or even surpass that of a traditional college-goer.
The courses listed below have been vetted by myself and I have taken many of the free options (some courses offer you the opportunity to audit and you may have to pay a small fee for others), and they help to form the foundation of a solid business acumen.
Some say the language of business is financial accounting but I think the language of business extends beyond the numbers; it is also the language of people, marketing, influence, and strategy. Any one of these subjects can stand alone as a necessary factor in the success or failure of a business, which makes a well-rounded approach absolutely essential to sustained success.
Supplement these courses with a keen eye on everything that we publish in regards to Leadership and Entrepreneurship. Sort through our book lists and it will propel you to the next level.
Self-development is the most important thing a person can do for themselves, only surpassed by a hands-on environment with the tutelage of a seasoned mentor (not easy or practical many times).
Learn to develop an intuition for what works and what doesn’t. This part of the process will take time but the effort will pave a road to the top.
Embrace one of our most cherished mantras: love the process.
COURSERA
Free with paid certificate options:
Leading People & Teams (Leadership)
Be a Leader, Develop a Leader (Leadership)
Business Essentials (Management)
Game Theory (Strategy)
Game Theory II: Advanced Applications (Strategy)
Marketing in a Digital World (Marketing)
What’s Your Big Idea? (Marketing/Entrepreneurship)
Organizational Analysis (Organizational Behavior & Change)
Behavioral Finance (Finance)
Principles of Financial Accounting (Finance)
Entrepreneurship Specialization (Entrepreneurship)
UDEMY
An Entire MBA in 1 Course (#1 most purchased business course)
How to Start a Business (Incorporates all aspects of new business ventures)
Writing with Flair (Includes concepts of business writing, an important skill that never taught and often overlooked)
Introduction to Finance, Accounting, Modeling, & Valuation (Stuff you need to know but don’t know you need to know because you don’t know what you don’t know till you know you don’t know it)
How to Come Up with Killer Business Ideas (You have to start somewhere)
Marking Fundamentals, Social Media Marketing, and Branding (Because this stuff is kind of important)
The value of these courses cannot be overstated. They will give you the inspiration to take action and the tools to succeed.
Still, nothing trumps the power of reading. For self-development, there is something about the written word that cannot be matched.
Check out these books to encapsulate the entrepreneurial mindset:
♦ The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
♦ The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco
♦ The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman
♦ Zero to One by Peter Thiel
♦ Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
BONUS: We often take deep dives into select books as part of The Outwork Book Club. This is the link for Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco.
Also, I just started reading Ultralearning by Scott Young. In it, Young acquires all the essential information of a four-year computer science degree from MIT by taking all of the course material for free online. A great insight into the power of process and how you can learn everything you need on your own.
Onward,
Chief
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