University Degree - No Longer A Passport To Success

Matt Gubba, founder and CEO of BizBritain, believes a University degree is no longer a passport to success or a guarantee to a profitable business. He outlines alternative steps aspiring entrepreneurs can take to reach their goals.

Going to university doesn’t necessarily equal success, and skipping university doesn’t necessarily equal failure. Becoming successful is all about hard work and adopting the right mindset.

University can be a fantastic experience and for many professions, such as law and medicine, having a university degree is a prerequisite but does a degree really equal success in the world of work?

With rising student debt and thousands of graduates struggling to break into the business world, getting a degree doesn’t provide a guarantee for business success, particularly if you have ambitions to start your own business.

I’ve seen many enthusiastic, hard-working and driven individuals who have gone on to build successful businesses without a degree, I included – Still not convinced?

Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, and Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, are just two of the people without a university degree who went on to have massive success.

I believe that entrepreneurs come from all walks of life so if you’re thinking that university might not be right for you, fear not.

There are certain steps that you can take to get on the road to success without the need for a university degree.

Find The Right Resources

Using the resources at your fingertips doesn’t just mean money. This applies to a number of things including skills, free advice, and technology.

Once you have come up with a business idea and have identified your market, tap into the free advice available to you. These days, there are many ways to learn and develop the skills you need to become a successful entrepreneur.

There are numerous events, countrywide, for start-ups and you can access eBooks, audio courses, podcasts and other great resources on a wide range of topics online.

You can also have a look into skills swapping groups in your local area or online, which can help you save money on things such as building a website or creating marketing collateral.

Lack of funds for investment should not act as a roadblock on the path to achievement.

Business success is about being resourceful and thinking your way around obstacles and being determined to overcome them.

Network

Networking will bring huge benefits to you and your career, and savvy postgraduates will start networking while they are at university, building a web of useful industry contacts.

When you start out on your own you will need to build that network without anyone’s help which means you have to become an expert networker. This may sound daunting, but networking is all about preparation.

Before you attend any networking event you need to decide what you want to get out of it and what kind of contacts you’re looking for.

This will make it easier for you to identify contacts that are necessary to grow your business.

Ask questions of people and listen to their stories – you never know who you might meet and how they might be able to help you.

Find A Mentor

Regardless how great your business concept might be, you will still benefit from a good mentor who will show you the ropes and will help challenge you to consider all aspects of your business, so reach out and connect with someone who might be able to help you.

There are hundreds of business coaches out there, but ideally, you need a successful entrepreneur who understands your sector and had experience in it.

Alternatively, find someone who has started a venture similar to yours and who understands the trials and tribulations of building a business in that area so attend industry seminars, talks or conferences.

If there’s someone you particularly admire get in touch with them. Asking for help is the first step to finding a supportive mentor who can show you how to continue to grow and develop in your chosen field.