What have you learned today?

So, you’ve been in business for while, now. You have a respectable number of clients and the income is, well, coming in a little more regularly than before. In fact, you might even be what some people would call “busy.”

Have you taken any time lately to build on those skills that are bringing you success?

I’m talking about your client-relation, marketing, or organization skills, your time-management skills and all of the other skills you need to be successful. Are you at the top of your game?

Not that I have any doubts about your abilities, of course, but let’s face it, how many of us can do all of that exceedingly well?

I’m going to suggest none of us.

“So how is yabbering on about “learning” going to help me make earn more money?”

WARNING: INCOMING OBVIOUS STATEMENT…

If you want to increase your income, get better at what you do.

This may sound obvious, but I can tell you that anecdotal evidence suggests that many of us rarely take the time—or spend the money—to improve the skills that will make us better business people.

When was the last time you took a course on bookkeeping, computers, time management or marketing? Even the worst marketing book has one or two good ideas.

Why not take a look at improving other critical skills that will make you more efficient, more knowledgeable, more confident and a better earner?

Spend 20 or 30 bucks and pick up a copy of the latest book on client relations or marketing.

How about attending a seminar on further developing your confidence? Or, you could attend a seminar on further developing your confidence. Oh, did I mention that already? (In my opinion, the top three skills you need to be successful in this, or any other, business are confidence, confidence and confidence—but not necessarily in that order.)

These are investments in your business—and investments in you—that are no less important than investing in updated software or computers. And they will pay off like good investments tend to do.

Why not make a promise to yourself (not one that is hard to keep like “I will quit eating chocolate”), one that will make you a better businessperson? Here’s one for you: “By the end of the year, I will have done three things that improve skills other than those related to my product or service.”

The way I see it, this will accomplish two things: your income will improve and you can have all the chocolate you want.