A traditional MBA can be a powerful credential, but it's not the only path to business mastery. In fact, for many entrepreneurs, a self-directed learning journey, an "underground MBA," can be a more effective, more affordable, and more practical way to learn the skills they need to succeed. It's a curriculum of your own design, a personalized learning experience that is tailored to your specific goals and interests.
The Curriculum of an Underground MBA
The beauty of an underground MBA is that you are the dean. You get to choose the curriculum, the professors, and the pace of your learning. Here are a few of the essential "courses" to include in your self-directed business education:
- The Classics: Start with the timeless classics of business literature. Read books like "The E-Myth Revisited" by Michael E. Gerber, "Good to Great" by Jim Collins, and "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries.
- The Modern Masters: Supplement the classics with the work of modern business thinkers. Follow the blogs of people like Seth Godin, Ben Thompson, and Paul Graham. Listen to podcasts like "How I Built This" and "The Tim Ferriss Show."
- The School of Hard Knocks: The most important part of your underground MBA is the real-world experience of building a business. You can't learn entrepreneurship in a classroom; you have to learn it in the trenches. Start a side hustle, launch a product, and learn from your own successes and failures.
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Socrates
The Lifelong Learner
An underground MBA is not a two-year program; it's a lifelong commitment to learning. It's a recognition that the world of business is constantly changing, and that the only way to stay ahead is to be a perpetual student. It's about cultivating a sense of curiosity, a hunger for knowledge, and a willingness to be a beginner again and again.
So, if you're an aspiring entrepreneur who doesn't have the time or the money for a traditional MBA, don't despair. You have the power to create your own business education, one that is more practical, more affordable, and more effective than any degree you could ever earn. You have the power to create your own underground MBA.