Capitalize on the explosion of the self-education industry

Education is a main pillar of the world that we live in today. It is responsible for humanity’s technological, social, and economic development. It propels us forward and is the reason behind the success of the human race. It is also critical as a foundational element for the growth of executive coaching services.

The importance of self-education is that it allows people to learn new things, grow as individuals, and to better understand the world around them. It also allows people to develop new skills and knowledge that can be used in their personal lives and careers without formal education.

The self-education industry is rapidly growing and allows individuals to learn new skills and knowledge outside of traditional educational institutions. This industry includes a wide range of businesses and organizations that offer online courses, tutorials, books, and other resources that can be used for self-study.

This industry has seen significant growth in recent years due to the increasing popularity of online learning and the rise of the gig economy. In addition, the self-education industry has benefited from the growth of the internet and social media, making it easier for people to find and access educational resources.

“Formal education will make you a living;
Self-education will make you a fortune”
– Jim Rohn

“The definition of success is derived from education, humility, and a whole lot of tenacity. The keyword here is education. To pave our way and craft our dream career, a drive to continue learning. It is the key to personal and professional powering a good life” (Hassan, 2018) [1].

Self-Education & Business

The fact is that most university courses are based on textbooks and other materials that are often a decade or older and cannot keep pace with development. This effectively means that without updating your knowledge, you’re out of date on the day you get your degree.

Worker Perspective

Self-education is critical for business development because it allows business owners and professionals to keep up with the latest trends and best practices. By continuously learning and keeping up with new developments, businesses can improve their products, services, and processes.

“By committing to self-education, your business can achieve many goals and resolutions. Once you decide to upskill, you have those skills for life and only need to build or update them as necessary” (Ingram, 2019) [2].

Additionally, self-education can help individuals identify new opportunities for business growth. Self-education puts you in touch with the current market needs and informs you about the state of the world.

Finally, self-educated individuals tend to be more innovative and creative, which can lead to greater success in business. For real success, a mind needs to be open about different fields and topics because, more often than not, the best ideas come from a different discipline which you can then apply to your business and give it a unique, competitive edge.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow.
Learn as if you were to live forever”
– Mahatma Gandhi

Business Perspective

All of this work is not just the burden of the employees alone. Companies can help by providing their workers with resources, arranging seminars and workshops, providing market research, or giving employees free access to certain certifications through online courses.

This will improve the skill sets of your employees, who can learn to utilize technology more efficiently and become updated on the current standards around the world. This can save your business money and even increase profits.

The best result that businesses can hope for is the realization and practice of new technologies and methodologies to build a more productive and efficient workplace. Just helping your employees master the current technology of your business will have a net positive result.

In business, the more you know, the better positioned you will be!

Self-Education Provider Perspective

If you are an educational content creator, whether you run an online course or just a YouTube channel, you all need to know that the world realizes the importance of self-education.

It is no longer just for those passionate about their work. Every day, people look for online certification and ways to increase their skill sets. As a result, there has been a significant boom in the self-education industry.

The best practice for a self-education provider is to keep track of the current trend of the world and how you can make content regarding that trend. Additional tips include trying to keep the content short and providing essential knowledge, ensuring your knowledge sources are reliable, and, if possible, trying to make it fun. Fun learning means repeated views and increased online presence.

“As innovation continues to ramp up and increase at new and exciting rates, so will the emergence of various micro-niches and other verticals. This will prompt self-education service providers to meet the demand and create new content, programs, products, and services for this new level of specialization” (Weimer, 2020) [3].

Benefits

Education in a school/institution is challenging, but it is almost necessary for a successful life today. Self-education is an even harder challenge, and on top of the benefits of traditional education, here is a small list of additional benefits:

Learn At Your Own Pace

Self-education has many benefits, including the ability to learn at your own pace, choose what you want, and tailor your learning to your specific needs.

Most students of higher education state the greatest problem is that they can’t learn all they want because of the time constraints placed on students at that level. Self-education cuts through that by giving you the material and allowing you to move at your comfortable pace.

Affordability

Self-education can be more affordable than traditional education, giving you more control over your educational experience. Most online resources are free, and many different explanations and points of view on the same topic ensure that you won’t have much trouble learning.

Some people are not fortunate enough to afford higher education, so this can be a great substitute for those who don’t have a choice.

Life Skills

Finally, self-education can help you develop important life skills, such as time management, critical thinking, and self-discipline. The responsibilities and demands of life usually slow down people who choose the path of self-education.

Committing yourself to completing a task like an online course requires discipline. Learn when you have the time, not when you feel like it. Time management is essential for this endeavor since you must carve out at least one distraction-free hour per day to progress.

“Informal education – through reading, experience and
Self-learning – is often more effective than formal education”
– Dr. T.P. Chia

Ultimately, the decision to pursue self-education is a personal one. Still, it can be a great way to gain knowledge and skills that you otherwise might not have access to, not to mention a great boon to your professional life.

“In the digital age, it’s clear that self-education is far easier than ever before. Much of this is driven by access to around-the-clock news and various websites providing constant information” (FutureLearn, 2021) [4].

Examples

Self-education takes time and effort, but it is ultimately rewarding. It allows you to develop new skills and knowledge at your own pace and ultimately provides you with a sense of satisfaction. It opens many doors for your professional and personal life. Here are some examples of self-education:

Books

One of the oldest and most reliable sources of self-education is books. According to google data scientists, There are just shy of 130 million unique books (excluding what library scientists call “works”) in the world. You are bound to find a book about the topic you are looking for that can propel you forward.

Educational Podcasts

Most people can’t find enough time in their daily lives to fully dedicate hours of their precious time to study, whether due to their jobs, responsibilities, or families. For those people, podcasts are lifesavers. They can listen to what they want to learn while performing menial tasks.

Workshops/Seminars

Workshops and seminars are a great source of up-to-date information regarding your field of interest and are usually provided to you by trained experts or experienced veterans. It is a great store of knowledge that also has the side benefit of social experiences, such as an increase in your social network.

Online

Perhaps the easiest and most common of the self-educational pathways are online resources which can be a great resource for everyone. Millions of online resources cover nearly all subjects in existence, and all of this information is free. Online course websites can provide certifications; tutorials can tackle specific problems, virtual teachers can answer your questions, etc. The possibilities are limitless!

“Education is not preparation for life;
Education is life itself”
– John Dewey

Some great examples of self-educated, successful individuals include Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg, and many others.

Many resources available, especially in today’s technologically advanced world, can propel you and your business forward, but you have to actively look and invest time in these resources for them to be of any use to you. Ultimately the choice is up to you!

Conclusion

Self-education is not only a way to improve your career, but it is also the path to a more enriching and fulfilling life. Many of the world’s greatest minds treat life as a never-ending pursuit of knowledge.

The benefits of self-education are vast, and while you might have to give up your time and energy now, it is proven that the price is nothing compared to the rewards. If you can capitalize on the self-education industry, you are heading upward.

“The only person who is educated is the one
Who has learned how to learn and change”
– Carl Rogers

“Don’t stop learning after finishing your formal education. View your knowledge and abilities as valuable intellectual assets. By committing to self-education, you can make your company grow faster. Fortunately, in the modern world, we have many affordable ways to study any topic, including business. You don’t need to enroll in a university degree to gain helpful knowledge and new skills anymore” (Nelson) [5].

If you’re interested in self-education, many resources are available. The internet provides a wealth of information on virtually any topic imaginable, so you can find resources on anything you’re interested in learning about.

No matter your interests, there are plenty of ways to engage in self-education!

Leverage data mining and enhance your strategies

Tactics for leadership in an employee-centric world

Edge computing – what’s the connection to cloud computing

Coaching 4 Companies – Your premier executive coaching service

(Book-in-a-call-today)

We are a young, vibrant, and diverse executive leadership coaching group, with the operation registered in 2019, however, the formation was a 45-year career lifetime in preparation. During that period our founder Wayne Brown observed and worked with leaders of all levels in organizations across industries and cultures globally.

Based on that exposure, our company has intentionally set out to support those practicing the art and science of leadership – or as often referred to, “Executive Talent.” These are people who acknowledge that they are not experts. They are open to opportunities for continued growth and carry the desire for learning what is needed to become a success in today’s complexity and uncertainty.

To this end, we have purposely structured our company and engaged with associates in strategic global locations, so that we are able to provide the full suite of transformational executive leadership coaching, facilitation, and education support required.