There’s no right way to go about learning. We all have different styles and methods and that’s something to celebrate! Internet courses are awesome: you have guidance as you learn the material, you can interact with a group, and you have deadlines to keep you accountable. Not to mention they are growing more and more sophisticated and many are now free or very affordable. Books are also cool: you can learn at your own pace and in the privacy of your home or office. Audiobooks can be listened to while driving, eating, or folding laundry. I find that my mind wanders when I listen to fiction audiobooks so I’d rather read physical fiction books and audiobooks when it comes to non-fiction. That’s what works for me. Let’s not forget podcasts, which are a great learning tool and help keeping the mind sharp.
Below, I compiled a list of great learning resources for entrepreneurs.
Books
- Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, E-books, Webinars and More That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business
In this digital age, every business and every entrepreneur must become an online publisher to create amazing content that will engage their target market and propel their business forward. This book is THE resource to show you how to create a publishing schedule or how to create killer headlines, for example. It is full of ideas, tips, and insider knowledge on the best ways to create engaging, fun, and educational content that will keep your customers coming back for more.
- Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All
This book, a collaboration between brothers David Kelley and Tom Kelley, is a labor of love in the truest sense since it came about after one of the siblings recovered from cancer. It is chock-full of tips and exercises meant to unleash your creativity and to give you confidence in your own creative self. The book is directed at those in an organizational setting (not artists). My favorite tip from this book is to create a community chalkboard where people can answer questions like “what fun things can we do this year?”
- Design the Life You Love: A Step-By-Step Guide to Building a Meaningful Future
This is a neat little book full of doodles and drawings that invites you to get a pencil and join the fun! The author, Ayse Birsel, draws on her design experience to create exercises that are creative and meaningful; they truly help build a tool for self-knowledge. My favorite exercise is called “If Life is Soup” and asks: What are the ingredients? What ingredients do you want to change, replace, or keep? What if you change the way you always made it? What if you change the way you eat it?
- The Neuro-Science of Change: A Compassion-Based program for Personal Transformation
This is not a book but a collection of CDs by psychologist Kelly McGonigal. The program consists of six sessions of breakthrough ideas, exercises, and meditations that pull from both the latest scientific research and traditional wisdom traditions. The aim is to get you to break entrenched patterns through gaining insight into your thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
Podcasts
- Intelligence Squared
From fascinating conversations with Yuval Noah Harari and Umberto Eco, to debates about the state of modern democracy or why art has sold out to the market, this show is pertinent, impassioned, and lively. I always listen to it with great pleasure.
- Entrepreneur on Fire
With episode titles like “Align Your Mission with Your Identity” and “How to Handle Public Relations on Your Own and Under Budget,” this show lives up to its name. There is a huge variety of themes that entrepreneurs would find useful and the guests include authors, coaches, entrepreneurs, and lifestyle experts.
- Warrior Mind
With episode titles like “11 Tips for Personal Development” and “Pushing Through Mental Barriers,” this podcast is about building mental fortitude. Each episode is around 20 minutes so it’s short and sweet.
Internet Classes
- Leading with Effective Communication (Inclusive Leadership Training)
Effective communication is vital to inspire people, promote your ideas or even to have healthy relationships.
This course will cover a number of tools and methods to understand and navigate through the complexity and uncertainty of our world.
This course will teach you how to incorporate mindfulness into your life so that you reduce stress and improve functioning.
This class, taught by Elizabeth Gilbert, will provide you with the tools to add more creativity to your life and learn how to pursue a life driven more by curiosity than fear.
What is your preferred method of learning and why? Are there any learning resources that you have found particularly effective and that you would like to share?
Nezha | The Edge Blog