What do you do if your entrepreneurial skills are outdated in the digital age?

We all know that the only constant in business is change. My title CEO means Change equals opportunity. Surround yourself with younger entrepreneurs who grew up in the digital age who have a different mindset and you will also see the world differently-learning from them. When we launched motherswork in China, we had to run fast, evolve and adapt to the China speed, the largest and fastest growing digital retail landscape. I am someone who grew up in the 70s with B&W television. During the pandemic, I came out of my comfort zone and did live stream selling at 60 years old. I'm looking and talking to an iPhone every week in order to drive the business to move with the digital age. Embracing change is so important in life and in business.

Here's your action plan: Step 1: Self-Awareness is Key. Take a good, honest look at your skillset. Are there areas, like digital marketing or data analysis, that feel a little rusty? Don't sweat it! Step 2: Identify Your Learning Journey. What resources, courses, or even a mentor can help you bridge the gap? The digital world is overflowing with learning opportunities! Step 3: Embrace the New! Don't be afraid to experiment with new technologies or business models. Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs come from stepping outside your comfort zone.

- Acknowledge the need for change and adaptation. - Identify which skills are outdated in the digital age. - Assess areas for improvement such as digital marketing, data analysis, etc. - Seek out resources, courses, or mentorship to update your skills. - Embrace a mindset of continuous learning and growth. - Experiment with new strategies and technologies to stay relevant. - Stay proactive in adapting to the evolving business landscape.

Are your entrepreneurial skills feeling a bit outdated in this digital era? ?? Embrace continuous learning as your secret weapon to stay ahead of the curve! ?? Dive into online courses, workshops, and industry events to upgrade your skills and stay updated with the latest trends. ?? Engage with mentors and network with fellow entrepreneurs to gain fresh insights and perspectives.

Entrepreneurship skills might be outdated but entrepreneurship mindset never gets old. The fundamentals will always remain the same. Follow these steps to move and get going: 1. Know which area you are lacking in. 2. Join a community, go to random meetups, and talk to as many entrepreneurs and operators as you can. This is the most important step to upgrade yourself. 3. If the 2nd step is not enough, join a fellowship that is up to date and upskill yourself. 4. Lastly, just be confident irrespective of what you know because fundamentally you do know it.

There is no choice but to ensure continuous learning. I do it in one of the two ways: 1) Only some of what is new is worth incorporating into our business. So, I carefully analyse new digital solutions and technologies vis-a-vis our business requirements. 2) I spend more time self-learning and using and applying the latest in the digital ecosystem. I am in my 60s and have limitations on what I can learn. So, I delegate what I cannot learn to my team members. I let them come forward with appropriate suggestions and implement the ones best suited to our business model.

First begin by identifying gaps in your knowledge and committing to continuous learning. Enhance your digital literacy and become familiar with essential tools and platforms. Specialize in digital marketing strategies to effectively promote your ventures online. Embrace emerging technologies such as AI, big data, and e-commerce to stay competitive. Gain practical experience through projects and internships. Be adaptable, willing to experiment with new ideas, and pivot when necessary. Prioritize understanding digital consumer needs and preferences to stay customer-centric. Measure performance, analyze data, and iterate strategies based on feedback. Foster a culture of innovation and agility to thrive in the dynamic digital landscape.

Try to prioritize omni-channel engagement to reach customers across various touch points seamlessly. Integration with CRM systems enables a holistic view of customer interactions, facilitating personalized communication. Employ user-generated content to foster community involvement and brand advocacy.

Remember when Typing was a skill you put on your resume? If you placed Fax Machine as a skill on your resume today, you would be called out as a dinosaur! Having the perspective that AI takes the authenticity out of a business is similar dinosaur thinking. AI is a friend who can provide improved automation, predictive analytics and personalized recommendations at a low cost and as a way to leverage a business to a new level of efficiency (saving money and time). If your plan is to stay relevant, you actually have no choice but to embrace innovation.

I have realised that I lack the aptitude to learn and adapt to all digital platforms. The best strategy is to hire team members with the required skills or outsource digital engagements to external stakeholders with the requisite skills. I have followed it in theory and practice. Then, there are platforms that I feel comfortable with and relate to. I keep my focus on those and work on them. A known presence and satisfaction on one is better than an obscure, irrelevant one on others. An entrepreneur's key focus should always be ensuring business viability, growth and development. Maximum time should be spent on this critical aspect. Hiring and outsourcing to keep the business relevant in the digital world is helpful.