My grandfather came to South Africa from the Ukraine, with no education, not speaking the language, and managed to build a successful business that is still around today. He taught me about the importance of education and putting 100% into what you do.
I think about this advice often – it applies to all aspects of life and especially to business. There is no replacement for hard work. It’s what builds success.
On the education front, I believe it’s incredibly important to make sure you are always learning. Education is not just about getting your foot in the door. It should be an ongoing process. And it doesn’t have to be an MBA – every opportunity is a learning opportunity.
I try to learn the different jobs of the people I work with so I can understand their challenges and how best to resolve them. Just because you are a leader doesn’t mean you know everything, so I believe you should never be afraid to admit what you don’t know, and sit down with an individual to learn from them.
“Education is not just about getting your foot in the door. It should be an ongoing process.”