Why founders need a learning habit

Your business will only grow as fast as you do.

As I learn more about the entrepreneurship journey, I see how habits are one of the most important things to establish, not just for personal development but for business development too. We'll explore that more in the coming days and weeks, but for today I wanted to focus on the singular habit that I believe makes the most difference for entrepreneurs - the learning habit.

The framework

The way processing works in anything we do in life is:
INPUT → THROUGHPUT → OUTPUT

For business:

• Input is our thoughts, learnings, basically what we have in our second brain

• Throughput is processing that information, learning more, building more, strategizing

• Output is our ideas in action

The problem most founders face is a lack of quality input and proper throughput. We're constantly outputting without refueling our minds.

Unlike traditional careers where you have training programs and mentors assigned to you, founders have to be their own teachers. That's where the learning habit comes in.

4 ways to build your learning habit

Here are my favourite ways to learn as an entrepreneur, and how to establish habits in each area:

1. Reading: Books and articles

The habit: Read for at least 15 minutes every morning before checking your phone, or block 30 minutes before bed.

How to make it stick:

• Keep a book on your nightstand or a reading list saved on your phone

• Start with topics you're genuinely curious about, not what you "should" read

• Use the 2-minute rule: if a book doesn't grab you after 2 chapters, move on

• Take action notes, not just highlights - write down what you'll actually implement

My approach: I alternate between business strategy books and personal development. Right now I'm exploring books on delegation and systems thinking because those are the areas I'm actively working on in my business.

2. Listening: Podcasts

The habit: Turn dead time into learning time - listen during commutes, workouts, or while doing household chores.

How to make it stick:

• Download episodes in advance so you're not scrambling to find something

• Speed up playback to 1.5x or 2x to consume more content

• Keep a running list of podcast recommendations from people you trust

• If an episode doesn't serve you in the first 10 minutes, skip it

My approach: I subscribe to podcasts about entrepreneurship, marketing strategy, and productivity. I listen while traveling or during my morning routine. The key is making it effortless - it's already built into activities I'm doing anyway. When I hear something useful, I voice memo myself the action item immediately.

3. Watching: Masterclasses and courses

The habit: Block 1-2 hours per week specifically for structured learning. Treat it like a non-negotiable meeting with yourself.

How to make it stick:

• Choose one course or masterclass at a time - don't hoard courses you'll never finish

• Before buying, ask yourself: "What specific problem will this solve in my business this month?"

• Schedule it in your calendar like you would a client meeting

• Take action notes: write down 1-3 things you'll implement immediately, not just interesting ideas

My approach: I invest in courses and mentorship that solve specific problems I'm facing right now. Learning with others makes it easier to show up and actually implement what you learn.

4. Talking: Learning from other people

The habit: Schedule regular conversations with mentors, peers, or join a community where knowledge-sharing happens naturally.

How to make it stick:

• Set up recurring coffee chats or calls with people in your industry

• Join mastermind groups or online communities where founders gather

• Share what you're learning too - teaching others reinforces your own knowledge

My approach: I'm part of focus lab sessions where we share struggles and wins. I also make it a point to have weekly check-ins with other founders. Sometimes the best learning comes from hearing how someone else solved a problem you're currently facing. After every meaningful conversation, I write down one thing I'll do differently, then I do it within a week while the insight is fresh.

From learning to doing

We consume tons of content but don't do anything with it. We feel productive because we're learning, but our business doesn't actually change.

The throughput step is where the magic happens. Here's what works for me:

• Capture immediately. When you learn something useful, capture it right away. Voice memo, note in your phone, whatever's fastest. Don't trust your memory.

• Process weekly. Once a week, review what you captured and ask: "What's worth testing this week?" Pick 1-2 things maximum.

• Test quickly. Run small experiments. You don't need to overhaul everything. Test one approach, try one new system, implement one framework.

• Learn from results. After testing, reflect: Did it work? Why or why not? This becomes your next input, and the cycle continues.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop consuming content and execute with what you already know.

Making it a habit, not a task

The key to any learning habit is consistency over intensity. You don't need to read for 2 hours, listen to 5 podcasts, finish a course, and attend 3 meetups all in one week.

Pick one or two methods that feel most natural to you right now and commit to them. As they become automatic, layer in the others.

Start simple: Choose your easiest learning method and do it consistently for a week. Then add the throughput step - after each session, write down one thing you'll test. Start small. Once that feels natural, add a second learning method.

The learning habit compounds. What you learn this week informs what you build next week, which teaches you something new the week after.

Again, remember: INPUT → THROUGHPUT → OUTPUT

The quality of your decisions depends on the quality of what you're feeding your mind. Make learning a habit, and watch how it transforms not just what you know, but what you build.

This week, I challenge you to pick one learning method and commit to it for 7 days. But don't just consume - after each session, write down one thing you'll test in your business. Then test it. Track what you learn and what you implement.

Because knowledge without action is just entertainment.

What's your go-to learning method? And more importantly - what's the last thing you learned that actually changed how you run your business?