Summer’s here, but maybe you’re thinking of going back to school. There are many opportunities for small business owners to level up their leadership, grow their businesses or learn new skills. Here are some of our favourites.
If you’re looking to grow your business:
Strategic Coach: Ambitious entrepreneurs looking to grow every aspect of their business should check this out. Started by Dan Sullivan, this entrepreneur coaching program provides the structure, tools and support to take your business to the next level and help you find more freedom.
“Quarter by quarter, you change the way you do things, the way you think, and the way you see yourself and your business. Your results improve, your freedom increases, and your opportunities expand.”
Growth Institute: Verne Harnish’s book, “Scaling Up,” was exactly what I needed to hear one summer. I loved it, and I searched for some workshops that could help me work through the exercises in the book and coach me through implementing them in my business. After a quick Google search, I found the Growth Institute. I have taken two of their courses now and would recommend these MBA-level courses to any business owner looking to scale their business.
“At Growth Institute, you will get the best training resources specifically for mid-market companies to build the systems and processes you need to thrive.”
If you’re looking for peer support and networking:
TEC Canada: It’s lonely at the top. Your friends and family probably never have to deal with the decisions you face daily. If you are searching for a group of peers who understand life as a business leader, then The Executive Committee (TEC) might be right for you. You're placed in a group of about seven other business owners and an expert Chair who provides one-to-one coaching.
“It all adds up to the most comprehensive executive and leadership development program in the industry.”
EO: The Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO) is a global network for entrepreneurs. You can connect with entrepreneurs and hear from speakers at local chapters or connect virtually with peers worldwide through forums. EO also offers regional and global events.
“For entrepreneurs and founders of businesses making more than US$1 million in annual revenue, there is no better opportunity to learn and grow than the one that is provided to you through membership in EO.”
As a side note, Verne Harnish, who wrote “Scaling Up,” founded EO in 1987.
Corpath: These forum groups of business owners were modelled after EO, but with a bit of a niche: each month, your group shares business, personal and spiritual highs and lows. The Corpath events offer insights from the biggest names in business and politics.
“It’s about personal development. It’s about business excellence and sharing with a group of peers. In fact, there’s a competitive advantage in the marketplace for you to be able to get all this great advice from a group of peers in business.” - Dale Hodgson
If you (or someone on your team) want(s) to become a bookkeeping whiz, check out:
Xero Certification: Gain a solid understanding of all that Xero offers and ensure that your business is getting the most out of it.
Quickbooks Certification: Attend a training session, get all the study materials and pass your exam. Small business accounting is no longer another language!
CPB Canada: Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada is a member-based association and the leading professional and career development organization for bookkeepers in Canada. Here, you can find resources for meaningful networking, mentoring and peer support.
Trifold Bookkeeping Advisors: Learn to read between the lines and dive deep into small business finance through bookkeeping. Their courses focus on manual bookkeeping, and they believe knowing the underlying principles is a major contributor to what makes a great bookkeeper stand out.
If you want to conquer modern marketing:
The Social School: Learn about digital marketing, social marketing and modern PR. While they're no longer in business, they have opened their entire digital marketing course portfolio completely free on their YouTube channel.
Hootsuite Academy: Another place to master social media. Learn best practices, how to grow your community and how to build a strategy.
HubSpot Academy: Features on-the-go videos on topics like social media marketing, inbound marketing, content marketing, digital marketing and more.
If you want to map out your business processes:
Zapier Learn: Level up your automation skills with self-paced courses, tutorials and learning paths. Deep-dive into subjects such as customer onboarding, automated lead management and admin essentials.
Inbox Xero: If you feel like your inbox is a constant stream of never-ending emails, adopting the Inbox Zero methodology will be one of the most productive changes you’ll ever make.
If you want to understand and analyze digital data:
Google Analytics Academy: We all know that Google has powerful tools for collecting and analyzing data. Google offers free courses that teach you about what data Google collects, how it’s collected and how you can put all that data to good use.
Mount Royal and SAIT also offer many continuing education opportunities. Here’s to kicking off a new school year!
Read more about Strategic Advisory topics that may be helpful to you and your small business.
Like what you hear?
Are you on the hunt for a more proactive small business accountant? That’s us.
