By Bizna Brand Analyst

Schools teach us a lot of things about business but in the end, some of the most important realities of entrepreneurship are overlooked. Many people end up learning tough business lessons on the field. Sometimes it’s too late so it’s better to know some of them in advance.

This is not to say that textbook theories aren’t important. There’s a limit to how much classroom learning can prepare you for the real world. Here are some of the things you might not have learned in school .

Connections are important

School never taught us that we shouldn’t be loners in business. The more connections you have, the more you are likely to succeed. When opportunities arise, people usually give them to people they know rather than just random people.  When you are a car dealer and your associate’s brother wants to buy a Mercedes, that associate is more likely to recommend his brother to you, not to a DT Dobbie showroom. So make it an effort to know as many people in the business word as possible

It’s great if people like you

Again, this is another psychology issue that is never taught in school. Personally, when I want to by mboga, I’ll go to the mama mboga that usually talks to me nicely and smiles than the one who doesn’t even look at me in the eyes when I buy. It’s important to be liked. The only time you can afford to be arrogant is when you have made it big and people need you. This is not to say that entrepreneurship should be reduced to a simple popularity contest but it’s ignorant to think that likability doesn’t matter in the business world.

Schools place much emphasis on knowledge, theories and models but they rarely focus on ‘people skills. If you have no idea how to communicate with people and make them like you, you can never be a success story in business. The good news is that most likeable characteristic such as smiling, showing interest and making eye contact can be developed. No need to be a super extrovert.

You have to know how to sell yourself

Self promotion is a staple for success. You might not have studied sales as a course but you have to know how to sell yourself to each and every person you meet. To get ahead of your competitors, you must learn how to sell your accomplishments and skill set. No matter the setting, always try to pitch yourself. You never know who will buy. And you never know who will spread the word. Assuming that a place or time is not appropriate in talking business is a grave mistake. Business is life. Great entrepreneurs know that

Policies are flexible, not rigid

Something that worked two years ago might not work today. You need to be prepared to shift gears according to waves.  When you start your business, you might have a clear vision of where you want it to go. Sometimes things might not work they way you want them to. When hit with such scenarios, you should be prepared to adopt new strategies