Here's how you can stay current in your field as a mid-career professional in small business.

Small business, big knowledge! Here's my plan to stay sharp: Industry sponge: Devour industry news, podcasts, and attend webinars to stay on top of trends. Absorb it all! Peer power: Connect with other small business owners. Share challenges & ideas. Collaboration is key. Course conqueror: Invest in online courses or workshops to develop new skills & stay ahead of the curve. Network like a ninja: Attend industry events & conferences to connect with experts and learn from their experiences. By actively seeking knowledge, collaborating with peers, acquiring new skills, and expanding my network, I can stay current in the ever-evolving world of small business.

Keep Learning, Keep Leading My top reasons for leveraging the power of certifications and continued education to remain relevant in my small business career. ✨️Certifications elevate skills, bypassing lengthy college returns ✨️They provide a competitive edge for career advancement and promotions ✨️Increase earning potential with industry-recognized credentials ✨️Demonstrate dedication to continuous personal and professional development ✨️Boost credibility within my network and with clients ✨️Facilitate growth and success in pursuing new business opportunities ✨️My updated knowledge positions me as a valuable resource and trusted advisor for clients ✨️I become a respected expert and leader in my industry

Being totally aligned with your purpose and goal every day needs to be a conscious decision. Authenticity in who you are and what you do, is the core of what brings meaning in one's life. Beginning with the end in mind will keep you anchored in the direction you want to go with your bigger picture in mind. Stay true to your values and say no to the things that does not serve you. Bring back the human side to everything you do and sow seeds of compassion. Listen intentionally and speak less. Be fully present. It is the small things you do that means to most. MT

In my opinion, your peers and competitors are the best source of knowledge… all of the items mentioned here are helpful; but focus and networking groups that allow information sharing, and encourage small group break out meetings can really help. These activities allow you to learn what works, and what does not work, from people who have been doing this for many years. Groups that focus on forced referrals are not my cup of tea, although it is hard to find a networking activity that is a waste of time.

It's so important to keep a curiosity mindset, especially knowing how fast the world is changing. For example, before taking on a new resume client, I research any changes that have evolved with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Online research on specific topics is just one piece of the learning process. Read legitimate news sources, ones that practice high-quality journalism to stay up to date with your community, national and the world. Stay in touch with your peers. Keep your personal and business networking strong. Ask for feedback. Listen. Volunteer in some capacity. Expose yourself to something entirely new...and watch your horizons expand.

That I agree with, networking is a business style, it's what I do often. I have monthly events that I've been a part of for years. I also sponsor monthly and bi-weekly events that bring different industries together. Networking, is a skill the more you do it the better you get at it. It's essential for small business growth.

I definitely am a proponent of continued networking. There are so many solid people out there to connect with, why not? I am also always very encouraged by other women in tech. Makes me realize that I am apart of a greater community of strong women leaders!

Networking offers more than new customer introductions! It's also a source of insights, into legal change, economic change, social, and technological change. Embracing change to remain competitive, may be through finding out from other people who has embraced a new development, or meeting someone who can implement change for you. Networking is therefore an infinite resource, and the choice is therefore, how often, who with, and where. One way to consistently tap into networking is to join what one writer calls a MasterMind Group. The inference is higher knowledge that is nevertheless consistently accessible, and therefore, the choice is a group of open minded people of different experiences, who are able and willing to share.

La creación de redes es un proceso continuo y vital para cualquier profesional. Aunque ya tengas una red establecida, sigue expandiéndola y nutriéndola. Participa en eventos de la industria, asóciate a grupos profesionales y mantente activo en foros en línea. Cada interacción puede brindarte nuevas perspectivas, información sobre tendencias y oportunidades de colaboración en proyectos innovadores, asegurando así tu relevancia y actualización constante en tu campo.

As we journey through our careers and build our businesses, we need a trove of advisors to learn new ideas and skills, progress, and open our minds to new skills and opportunities. Mentors are a means to build and learn new ideas and grow. Different mentors can open doors at different points in our lives. An open mindset is an agile mind.

La tutoría es crucial para el crecimiento profesional. Actuar como mentor te permite compartir tus conocimientos y al mismo tiempo aprender de nuevas perspectivas. Buscar un mentor te proporciona orientación y una comprensión más profunda de las tendencias emergentes y estrategias comerciales. Un buen mentor actúa como caja de resonancia para tus ideas, desafiándote a pensar de manera innovadora y asegurando tu desarrollo continuo en el ámbito profesional.

The experience of a mentor can help accelerate your progress. They can challenge your thinking on a particular project, offer alternative options, save time by reducing the need for trial and error. Mentors come in different forms, it’s important to consider what the objective of the relationship is.

Technology is a key component of almost every business and while all of these items can help your business grow, cybersecurity and training for you and your team is now essential. This focus will help you reduce risk associated with scams, hackers and social engineering, especially via email. This be your number one priority as the downside of ignoring it can have a huge impact on your business.

Technology simply means the study of skills, and therefore, technology, takes many forms including new processes, management techniques, software, & machinery. Every business therefore embraces, manages, and applies technology in its many forms to produce revenue, and consequently, new technologies, have the potential to increase revenues. Learning of new technologies is therefore central to the growth, if not the survival of a firm. Consequently, a leader of a small biz has a responsibility to keep informed of new technologies. The best way is to every week block time to research, attend events, visit other biz, and generally find out how to compete, survive, and grow through new technology.

I find some people fear and resist change by not understanding it. Don't be afraid to say/ask - explain this to me or how can I use this in my business?

To stay current as a mid-career professional in small business, focus on strategic studies: Review Market Reports: Regularly read market reports for economic and industry insights. Monitor Indicators: Track GDP, inflation, and employment rates to understand the economic landscape. Analyze Competitors: Study competitors' strategies and market positions. Use Frameworks: Apply SWOT and PEST analyses for comprehensive assessments. Attend Events: Join webinars and conferences for insights and networking. Read Trade Publications: Stay updated on trends and expert opinions. Follow Thought Leaders: Engage with influencers on social media for the latest developments. This strategic approach keeps you informed and ready for industry changes.

I’m not real big on personal branding. I’m big into company branding. I want my company recognized as the best, not me. I also prefer for my employees to be in the spotlight because they’re the ones doing the work. If clients think I’m personally the expert they’re going to constantly want my advice which destroys the leverage of having my team handling it.

In the past, I was afraid to change because the industry knew me one way but the industry was changing and so was I so my branding needed an upgrade.

Keep building genuine strong relationships and friendships by giving more than you take and enjoy being around people you connect with and you find compatibility. Nothing will be more enjoyable or last longer.