No doubt you have heard this famous phrase many times before - it is used in context with both scientific application and general business principles.
I will borrow it today to talk about an important habit that I think all entrepreneurs ought to adopt and practice for the rest of their lives.
I have mentioned many times that the most successful solo business owners are the ones that ride the crest of the wave of trends and technology in their niche.
One of the ways they do that is by keeping themselves informed about the environment in which they operate (their niche subject) and the world of business both nationally and globally.
To meet that challenge, you need to begin the habit of reading and digesting the best news and thought on these and other subjects from sources online, in books, and magazine articles.
Today's business environment is global, fast paced, and open to anyone that cares to learn about new trends, services, principles of success, and pitfalls to avoid.
Sometimes small business owners "hole up" and focus so intently on running their business they overlook the value of stepping away for an hour or two on a regular basis to notice what's happening all around them.
Isaac Newton, who has been called the "father of modern science," wrote to his friend Robert Hooke, a fellow scientist, “If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants.” (1676)
Newton recognized that he was able to make important scientific and mathematical discoveries because he read about, studied and further developed the body of knowledge and experimentation done by others that had gone on before him.
As a solo Internet business owner, you don't have the time to reinvent business systems, approaches, strategies, ideas, and resources. But you need to spend a little bit of time understanding what other successful people have accomplished and what tools and methods they used to get it done.
I love libraries and bookstores where I find this body of information and knowledge. Often, when I go on out-of-state business trips I spend my free time in the evenings at local libraries or book stores while my companions head to the movies or the local drinking establishments.
I love to read about great business people and the ideas and concepts they find successful in their businesses. I am not as smart as any of the folks I study and I rely heavily upon them to teach me what they have learned.
I am adding a new category today to this blog. It's called "Books to Read." I would like to share with you the reading I have found both interesting and of great value to the solo business owner.
But don't just review what I've written. Adopt the habit yourself of staying in touch with the "outside" business world by reading articles and books and news about the latest trends in your niche. Read whatever appeals to you.
Stand on the shoulders of the giants that have gone before you. It will allow you to see much farther into the distance than you can from your solo perspective!
