Business degree?

[vitality]

Hello geeks! i'm very new to this site and after reading through the forums I think this is the most helpful sit ever!

Anyways I start a full time business degree in september (18 hours a week) and am in the process of becoming self employed by renting a space in a hair salon for a nail station. I have signed up to my local business link (invest NI) to help me with this process.

I am just wondering if anybody here has done a business degree and if they found it helpful with small business ventures. Also if anybody has any advice or tips to becoming self employed xo

 

[Verve Designs]

I have a design degree and business and marketing qualifications - and if im really honest- I found out more in the first four weeks of running my own business than I did in three years at University.

The theory is fine- but without practical application, most of what I learnt was/is useless.

This is entirely personal of course, and don't let me put people off getting qualifications, but theres no substitute for hard graft on your own.

It might just be me, but most business courses don't tend to be empoyER focused, they tend to be geared towards making you a better employee. In other words- it doesnt create great entrepreneur's IMO

All that said- you might be in a better position as you're doing both at the same time! so you're getting practical and theorectical exposure all at once...which can be great.

 

[vitality]

Thanks for the quick reply! That's what I thought, maybe getting best of both starting at the same time. I actually have an interview with the course tutor tonight so will just ask her about the relevance with what I want to do as nails and beauty are my passion. xo

 

[lilacm]

I did an MA in Management and Economics. I found the accounting courses useful as well as the HR and marketing so i definately think it will help you in the future. By working at the same time it will also help you with some of your case studies at uni as well. I even did my final dissertation using my business model.

 

[vitality]

Hi lilacm, yeh thats what I would be more interested in marketing, HRM, finance. I never thought about the casestudies that way, supose it makes sense rely and on top of that i'll be getting an extra qualification.

thanks for the advice people i'm guna go for it although it will be tough doing both plus the course tutor says theirs different entrepreneurial workshops, trips and modules x x

 

[WaxGirl]

I have degree in marketing and finance/funding post grad qualifications and before moving to beauty and opening the salon a background in this field. I think they are good for building confidence and contacts however as someone else pointed out the real business learning is done on he job. I think its great you doin the qualification - keeps your options open and sure if you can do both then you have nothing to lose.

The passion and enthusiasm and love for the world of beauty/nails will be the best qualifications you can have as these will drive you on through the tough times.

Business tips: start small and work your way up, do your financial planning, work your contacts - get out and network and speak to people, dont be afraid to make your business/work different from what others are doing, market smart on a low budget, research endlessly, go above and beyond for your customer, and give it time to grow

Hope my wee words help. Best of luck with your studies and business!

 

[vitality]

From my two years managerial experience I have definitely learned that hands on experience and enthusiasm is invaluable. I hope to learn the fundamentals and with my skills, experience and qualifications combined hope to someday be happy and successful.

great advice loveleelady! I'm so nervous and excited at the same time! x x

 

[Velveteen]

I am just wondering if anybody here has done a business degree and if they found it helpful with small business ventures.

A business degree has very little to do with running your own micro business venture.

Also if anybody has any advice or tips to becoming self employed

Get your training, buy your equipment, lease a workspace, ensure you're insured, market yourself and put out your shingle. That's how ye get self employed.

 

[essentia]

A business degree has very little to do with running your own micro business venture.

No of course you don't need one to run a business but I would not say that it has very little to do with it. I did a business degree half way through my beauty career and it has been invaluable. I have been so much better at all sorts of things because of it and learned ideas through the case studies and exams that I probably would not have considered. I think you can teach good business skills - not everyone has them either due to lack of confidence, knowledge or personal beliefs about themselves. Good training can really stand you in good stead and start you off the right way with a business brain. A lot of therapists can do the skills of the job but find running a business is a whole different ball game.

 

[vitality]

Thanks for the replies, the course question was aimed to someone who's actually done a degree and if or how they found it helpful.

I understand a lot of successful business people do not have degree's but I think if have the opportunity to do one think it may help me to grow my business and manage it on the bigger scale of things.

From my experience I understand that you always have to drive your business and just because you were once busy doesn't mean you'll always be as i've seen once successful businesses fail. I've also seen people who think they know how to market and run businesses but slowly fails.

thanks for the great advice peoples!

 

[Velveteen]

the course question was aimed to someone who's actually done a degree and if or how they found it helpful.

Actually, Little Miss Arrogant, I can read. And I have three of the buggers. But hey, if I were to mention that off the cuff that'd be boasting, right?

I wish people would READ what people actually post and not what they want to see. I actually wrote that a business degree has very little to do with running a MICRO BUSINESS. This is because a batchelor course is not geared toward that angle but on a larger, more generic scale. So no, I don't find it helpful. In fact, I find it more of a distraction and in my experience the best businesses are run better without them. Of course, there are those that believe faffing about with a uni degree would serve them well but, in reality, the finest businesswomen on the planet have a year 9 education. Fact.

But then again, what you weren't really asking for that, were you

 

[vitality]

Actually, Little Miss Arrogant, I can read. And I have three of the buggers. But hey, if I were to mention that off the cuff that'd be boasting, right?

I wish people would READ what people actually post and not what they want to see. I actually wrote that a business degree has very little to do with running a MICRO BUSINESS. This is because a batchelor course is not geared toward that angle but on a larger, more generic scale. So no, I don't find it helpful. In fact, I find it more of a distraction and in my experience the best businesses are run better without them. Of course, there are those that believe faffing about with a uni degree would serve them well but, in reality, the finest businesswomen on the planet have a year 9 education. Fact.

But then again, what you weren't really asking for that, were you

lol sorry to sound cheeky, yes your right that was my question. How did you find it distracting? My dad died a few months ago and he really wanted me to do a degree which he thought was good to fall back on. I thought if I studied business It could help me with my own personal goals which is start small and try and grow my micro business into a larger scale.

Don't mean to sound like a sob story with my dad but it makes me determined to do both, I might look into other more specialised courses such as finance or marketing but liked the idea of business as it covered everything.

x x

 

[Velveteen]

You're winding me up.
Good for you.

You asked a question.
I answered it.
It didn't sit well with you.
And you said as much.

I replied with further clarification to my original post.
And now you're attempting to manipulate the situation.

I've given my opinion based on my experience (and expense!)
If you don't like it, that's fine. After all, my opinion does not mean I'm 'right'. It's just an opinion to do with as you wish.

My only regret here is that I reduced myself to namecalling. Such a retort was an err in judgement on my part and is beneath my normal conduct. It is certainly not conducive to the cameraderie on this site and for that I do apologise.

 

[WaxGirl]

I think you should act with a little more kindness and compassion toward vitality! The wee girl just spoke about her father dying and his dreams for her and all you are concerned with is getting your point across!

 

[persianista]

It did come across as condescending to those of us that do not have a business degree.

A degree in common sense is probably more worthwhile when dealing with running a business.

If you want a sob story, my Father had 5 degrees. Maths, physics, engineering, mining sciences and English. An incredibly clever and educated man. He never had a penny in his life and died in debt, which I, a mere hairdresser paid off.

To be good in business, which I presume you measure by money made, is really not connected with how "educated" you are in random concepts. I beleive it is how you understand the world surrounding you and how to respond to the opportunities that present.

 

[vitality]

good advice persinista! thanks! I admire your stubbornness velveteen tho I am not interested in anymore of your opinions! thanks for your time to reply to me, no hard feelings x x