To be very blunt, if a college degree was needed to be successful in business we wouldn’t have individuals like Bill Gates and there wouldn’t be as many business owners. Extending your education is one of the best things you can do for yourself by any means, but having book smarts doesn’t always translate to business success. But since I don’ t want to downplay going to school if the college your in or considering going to has an Entrepreneurship program or club, I’d suggest you join. This is a great opportunity to network with like minded individuals, get a good understanding of what goes into running a business, and often your teachers are successful entrepreneurs in their own rights who don’t mind spending one-on-one time to help you improve your concept. On top of that your professors/entrepreneurs are usually well connected themselves and can put you in contact with individuals who can give you great advice, information and get you going in the right direction towards achieving your dreams. The only catch is that you have to be motivated enough to want to seek advice and guidance from them.

Even with that being said a book or someone else’s experiences and advice can only take you so far. One thing about being a business owner is that what works for someone else might not work for you because everyone’s situation is different. Even the information you find on businessempiremag.com will not ensure your success, help you identify and alleviate problems—hopefully. My goal is to give you as many tactics as possible that have worked for successful entrepreneurs so that you have the opportunity to pick and choose different techniques, to get a feel of what works for you. Being in North Carolina State’s EEI program has allowed me to do a lot of networking myself. However, there is no better knowledge than that you gain from hands on experience.

Read and do it often—I’m an avid reader myself, not only with reading the books I have to for classes but the books that others recommend. If you are in college now you’re already paying huge tuition fees so why not go to the library and make the most out of your money. On top of that joining a public library is free, so why not do it. Think about it—Americans are notorious for wanting the most out of their money, so why not get the most out of your education. It was by doing something as simple as picking up a book and asking for help that made the difference between going bankrupt and rebuilding a business for me. “The more you know, the more you can grow.” A book and anyone else for that matter can only lead you to water– it is your decision to drink.