While having a tertiary education is more important today than it ever has been, it doesn’t mean those without degrees cannot achieve success. In fact, take a look around at some of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs, and there is barely a university degree between them.

However, that doesn’t mean that you can get by without learning. And you can bet your bottom dollar that every single one of those successful entrepreneurs made sure that educating themselves was always at the top of their priority lists.

But what, exactly, are the best ways of learning your way to the top? How can someone with a degree survive and thrive in the modern workplace, and work from the ground up to achieve maximum success? We’re going to spend today discussing a few ways you can keep on educating yourself, and explain how always job hunting also involves always learning. Let’s get started right away.

Hit the books

First of all, you need to put aside a significant amount of time aside for reading. Whether it’s industry insider books, marketing tomes, or even inspirational biographies, you will learn a lot from the written word. Read everything you can get your hand on, too. Eye catching brochures will teach you how to market yourself and your business. Popular newspapers will teach you how to talk to the average person and understand how they think. According to research, 85% of wealthy people read two or more self-improvement or educational books every month – I would suggest if you want success, you try to match that at the very least.

Scour the web

The Internet is full of awesome information – much of it completely free. In fact, if you have the time to search for any given subject and devour everything you find, there is probably everything you need to know online. From entrepreneurial secrets through to how to do SEO properly, all you need to do is search, consume and put what you learn into practice. And all it will cost you is time.

Pay for some courses

There are hundreds – if not thousands – of online courses available on the Internet at any given time. And while they can cost a significant amount of money, depending on who is selling the course, they could be worth your while. Don’t let cost be a barrier to you, either.

A good course can improve your earning potential by a great deal, and whether you have to take out a bank loan or borrow from a friend, it might be worth your while. Even short-term loan companies could come in handy if the course is time-sensitive.

Before borrowing money from loan companies, however, you should click here to find out a little more on what to expect. They aren’t for everyone, and thorough research is required as you need to be aware of what you are signing up to regarding paying back interest and time scales.

You’ll need to balance out whether paying for a course with a loan such as this will be financially worth it in the long run.

Network

Networking is a skill everyone needs to master, regardless of whether they are an employee or business owner. Meet with the right people at the right event, and a whole new world could open up for you.

Not everyone is comfortable striking up conversations with every Tom, Dick, or Harriet, of course, but it’s a skill you will pick up over time. The point is if you don’t attend local business meetups or industry events, you might miss out on a meeting with an individual who can teach you so much it could have a profound effect on your career.

Find the time, find the money, and networking can – and will – pay off if you put your mind to it.

Learn on the job

In the old days, a master would always have an apprentice. Sadly, apprenticeships are few and far between these days – officially, at least. But that isn’t to say that you can’t learn on the job – far from it. If you show willing and ask to shadow someone who you admire, there is nothing to stop you from picking up critical skills that could do wonders for your career.

Not only will it teach you a lot about your job, the way the company works, and your industry, but you will also be seen by your employers as keen to learn, and ultra motivated to do well. Those are both desirable traits which tend to be rewarded.

Start writing a blog

You don’t have to be an expert on a particular subject to start writing a blog. But by the time you call it a day you will have learned a lot about your job or industry – more than enough to call yourself an expert. Blogging requires a tremendous depth of research skills, and presenting your work is just like turning in a university paper.

The only difference is that your audience isn’t a college tutor or professor – it’s your industry peers. And if you want to impress them, you will have to provide them with compelling, original thoughts about your industry that marks you out as one to watch.

Do something new every day

Of course, research and reading aren’t up everyone’s alley, but that’s not an excuse to shy away from learning. Just get in there, try new things, and learn from your experiences if things go awry. Never be afraid of failure, as failing is how the vast majority of us learn. There are no successful entrepreneurs who have never failed, and it’s those disappointments that have driven them on and taught them how to do things the right way.

Failure is never a pleasant experience, of course, but in ten years time, if you take those lessons learned and apply them in different settings, you could be laughing all the way to the top of the career tree.

As you can see, a college education isn’t the only way to receive a bona fide education. Learn something new every day, fix your shortcomings, and career success shouldn’t be too far away.

This post has been contributed by Ryan Gatt, it may contain affiliate links.