“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”
Aristotle
As the owner of your growing small business where you choose to spend your time can influence the return you get. One of the best returns is investing in your professional development on a weekly basis.
We are all busy and are limited by the same time constraints but those who build the habit to continue their learning propel their business further than those that don’t.
Each quarter, pick one area you need to boost your knowledge or skills in and set a diet of learning to undertake. Courses, books, podcasts, conferences or simply networking.
Be sure to focus your learning on one area a quarter, rather than splaying your time across multiple topics. What will add the greatest value to your business and team this quarter?
A good rule-of-thumb is to invest 5% – 10% of your work hours a week in PD (professional development). That is you working ON your business, not IN it as Gerber coined in The E-myth.
If you think you can’t fit those two – four hours a week in an already far too busy schedule, here are some suggestions on how to build this important habit into your week:
- Switch the radio off in the car a few times a week, listen to an audio book or podcast
- Go for a walk in the sun a lunch time – added bonus of some exercise and vitamin D
- Save articles or videos to read and watch on a list somewhere and go out for a coffee and work through those that align with
- Cut down a few hours of Netflix time a week
- Work with a coach
- Attend a business networking event once a month, our Grow A Small Business meet-ups in Hobart and Launceston are a good start
- Find a mentor or two to challenge your thinking, add experience and knowledge from their business journey and catch up with them for a coffee or lunch once a month
Batching your learning helps you squeeze a little more out of your precious time.
Don’t try and do your PD while you are watching TV, you won’t take in what you are consuming. Lower cognitive heavy tasks like cleaning, ironing, washing or driving are more effective than more intensive activities like doing email while listening to a podcast or audiobook.
Set aside focused time with no distractions to dive deep into your topic. One of the best books you can start your weekly PD journey with is Deep Work by Cal Newport. He talks about the cost of distractions, how many hours a day we can be truly creative and at
Leading by example and showing your team continual professional development is important will magnify the return on this often underutilised business tool.
Start by building this powerful habit – your PD.
This is an article for Business Blindspots Tasmania. To ensure you receive regular updates from expert business advisers across a range of areas follow our LinkedIn Group
