A question many people ask is, ‘Is it necessary to take a small business course before embarking on the journey of opening a business?
In this portion of an interview between Dale Beaumont and Kristina Karlsson find out how kikki.K’s CEO found success without the degree to back her. Founder of kikki.K, a boutique stationery company with 21 gorgeous stores Australia and New Zealand. Kristina has also recently started exporting to the UK and back to her home country of Sweden. In 2007 Kristina was named Victorian Young Business Women of the Year.
What seminars or courses did you attend to fill in some of the gaps in your business knowledge?
For someone who started a business with very little in the way of business knowledge I think it’s important to remember that common sense can get you a long way, and not being scared to ask questions will get you even further. I’ve never been scared to ask the questions that lots of people might think are stupid. In fact, I don’t think a question is ever too stupid, because what I’ve learnt from asking those questions has been a huge contributor to filling the gaps in my business knowledge.
I did do a simple Starting Your Own Business TAFE course, which was some help, but it was certainly no substitute for just getting into it and learning as you go. I’d recommend to anyone considering starting a business to just do it or at least try a business of some type – anything will do – a garage sale or a lemonade stand – whatever will expose you to business experiences like buying, budgeting, merchandising, promotion, pricing, selling, and so on. There’s no way like just doing it to learn how to do it.
I am conscious that as my business grows I need to grow myself and my abilities. Adding better people to my team helps fill my knowledge gaps, but a business never outpaces its leader. So now I take courses at places like the Australian Institute of Management to fill any gaps I see as important.
For more of this interview and small business course check out “Secrets of Female Entrepreneurs Exposed!“
