There are several opportunities for career progression out there! However, I see increasing numbers of people looking for help starting or growing their business without a clue what they want or need. Honestly, it’s infuriating—I want people to succeed, and making unfocused investments is not the way to do it.
Then, what is?
The first step to knowing what you want and need to break into a field or launch and grow a business is to understand the key differences between academic, online courses, mentorship, apprenticeships, and coaching options. Presenting each option (in order of least to most valuable), I’m going to share my personal experiences and the reasoning behind my thoughts and business decisions.
Let’s roll!
1. Academia: The Paper Chase
Before I became an entrepreneur (when the idea of working for someone else wasn’t quite as unappealing or preposterous as it is now), I did an undergraduate degree in Nutrition & Dietetics. I saw it as a vocational route that would land me in the exact job I wanted to have—being a Registered Dietitian. There was no other way to work as an RD than to have this qualification, and it was paid for by the UK government, so I felt I had nothing to lose.
The problem was: I hated being a Dietitian. Suddenly, my credentials and comprehensive understanding of pathology and medicine, pharmacology, toxicology, etc. were worthless. After 5 years of hard work and determination, jumping through all of the hoops that were laid out in front of me, I ended up exhausted, job-less, and uninspired. I was back at Square One. The elation I had upon graduating lasted for all of 5 minutes before I was left thinking “what next?!”
Upon emigrating to Canada, my degree counted for nothing. I couldn’t have practiced as an RD here even if I wanted to because the qualification isn’t recognized in this country. My only saving grace was coming out of university debt-free: more than most people can say these days.
It took years before I was able to start a business that utilized my university education—to get to a place in life where I didn’t hate myself for having made that decision. Would I go back to school? Absolutely not. Unless I had oodles of extra cash lying around and had already achieved everything I wanted to in life and it was purely an expensive form of entertainment. It didn’t set me up for life whatsoever.
The main allure of academia, for many, lies in the attainment of a certificate or degree. This piece of paper signifies your knowledge and competence in a specific field, potentially opening doors to job opportunities and boosting your professional image. It often feels like a badge of honour and a way to stand out among peers in the competitive job market. I get it.
But the reality of academic pursuits rarely matches up to that which is imagined. While a university level education undoubtedly imparts theoretical knowledge and a deeper understanding of a subject, it usually falls short when it comes to practical, real-world application.
For entrepreneurs, this can be a crucial limitation. The business world demands more than just theoretical knowledge. It requires the ability to adapt, problem-solve, and innovate in dynamic environments. But, more often than not, the time and financial resources invested in academia do not translate into a substantial improvement in entrepreneurial skills or success.
While certificates and credentials act as filters for job applicants in traditional industries, they hold less weight in entrepreneurial arenas. Prospects and partners will primarily be concerned with your transferable skills, practical work experience, and the value you can bring to their organization. In this vein, academic qualifications do not carry the same significance for business owners as they might in a corporate job hunt.
All in all, academia is one of the several opportunities for career progression to gain foundational knowledge and credentials in a certain field. However, it’s not the most effective route for entrepreneurs, as it places a heavy emphasis on theory and usually requires a considerable investment of time and money. The benefits of certification should not be overestimated, especially in an entrepreneurial context where practical skills and experience take precedence, every time.
TLDR: Certificates aren’t as valuable as you might think. They’re used to filter out applicants for corporate jobs and are not a game-changer when it comes to client acquisition or building your business or reputation as an entrepreneur.
2. Online Courses: The Information Overflow
Online courses haven’t played a huge role in my own personal journey to and through entrepreneurship. They tend to serve as a cost-effective and convenient way to bolster one’s knowledge in a certain area, but they certainly aren’t life-changing. Some courses that I’ve bought, I’ve never even taken (I’m sure you can relate). Others, I’ve dropped mid-way through because I got bored or didn’t find them helpful. Honestly, there’s never been an online course I’ve taken that is even worth mentioning. The fact that I’ve already forgotten about most of them says it all.
While both are designed to impart knowledge to the masses, online courses differ from courses or programs offered by academic institutions in a number of ways. One is that they are usually much less involved. There aren’t any or many assignments associated with them, and you don’t get much in the way of feedback (though the same can be true for university programs, too, with no re-submissions or second attempts permitted—not reflective of real life whatsoever). The main appeal is that they’re quick and easy to do. They’re supposed to take you from A to B in no time, with structured content that you can consume at your own pace. And the certificate you get at the end is either non-existent, crappy, mass-produced, or meaningless (probably all four).
Needless to say, online courses, while being one of the well-known opportunities for career progression, have their limitations. With a focus on the transmission of knowledge rather than the practical application of skills, they’re not going to set you up for success in business. Their mass market approach doesn’t offer a personal connection or a supportive relationship between instructors and learners—it’s all about the $$$. The more courses are sold, the more profits are made. Once a course has been created, it can be distributed to anyone who’ll buy. What happens to the end user? No-one cares.
Consequently, online courses don’t prioritize the individual development of each student, they don’t ensure their material changes lives for the better, and they certainly don’t significantly impact anyone’s business or career development. The founder’s bottom line is all that counts. You don’t like it? Join the virtual queue or everyone else who’s complaining online. They’re already onto the next sucker who doesn’t know what’s around the corner.
When it comes to learning, online courses vary widely in quality and relevance. The authenticity of instructors and the reliability and applicability of the course content is, to say the least, unpredictable. Word of mouth makes a big difference in choosing a course, of course (😅). But the inconsistency of quality from one creator to another makes it challenging to discern the actual value and impact that an online course may impart on the buyer.
To summarize, online courses are readily available resources for aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals seeking opportunities for career progression. They offer affordable, structured content delivery by so-called experts in a certain field. However, their primary focus is on transmitting knowledge, rather than driving meaningful change in peoples’ lives or careers. The credibility and impact of online courses varies greatly, making it a risky (albeit low) investment for business owners.
TLDR: My experience with online courses has been a mixed, but disappointing bag. They’ve certainly added to my knowledge base, but they’ve always left me craving something more personalized and impactful. The best word to describe them? Forgettable.
3. Mentorship: Learning from the Experts
As we rise up the ranks of available support for first-time entrepreneurs, we must talk about mentors. Mentorship has played a significant role in my entrepreneurial journey, and I’ve encountered both the benefits and challenges associated with this form of support.
Mentors are typically experienced professionals in the field one aims to enter or excel in. They offer invaluable insights at little-to-no cost, having achieved considerable success themselves. Mentors are looking to pass on their knowledge and wisdom to others who are just starting out, or who are in the early stages of growth. They’re usually motivated by a desire to “give back” to the industry by helping the next generation of business owners.
One of the primary advantages of having a mentor is the real-world experience they bring to the table. Mentors have been through the trenches, worked with countless clients and companies, and have achieved impressive milestones and enviable success in their own careers. Their insights are practical, offering a unique perspective that goes far beyond theoretical knowledge.
Another thing I love about mentorship is that the mentor and mentee can form a personal connection or bond. The mentor often sees themselves in the mentee, recalling their own early career struggles. They take the mentee under their wing, offering guidance tailored to suit their individual needs. And another great benefit is that the mentor-mentee relationship goes beyond professional guidance; it can also offer emotional support and encouragement.
Although it is one of the most valuable opportunities for career progression (I would not be where I am today without my mentors), mentorship has its drawbacks. At the top of their industry, mentors are often extremely busy, have far too many commitments, and are being pulled in a million different directions at all times. This means that you—the mentee—will never be their top priority. Mentor calls or meetings are often sporadic, cut short, and rescheduled at the last second. And you don’t get to complain about it because they’re helping you out.
I can’t stress enough how essential it is for a mentee to understand and respect their mentor’s time and commitments. If you respect all of their boundaries, you may be able to receive mentorship for a prolonged period of time (possibly a month, or maybe even six months). But, more often than not, mentorship relationships are very short-term, informal agreements. In fact, a mentor can literally ditch you at any moment with no warning or explanation, and you’ll be left wondering what you did wrong (yes, I’ve been there, and it still hurts). You might only meet with them once or twice before they move on. Even in business accelerator programs, the mentorship structure only tends to be in place for a few weeks or months before it’s cut short.
To sum things up, mentorship, among several other opportunities for career progression, has been a fantastic resource in my entrepreneurial journey. It’s offered invaluable practical, real-world insights that I’m extremely grateful for. But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t effortful, unpredictable, frustrating, and emotionally challenging, too. Knowing that it can end at any moment and that that’s probably not really in my control is hard for me, because when I’m establishing and investing in professional relationships, I want them to last.
TLDR: While mentorship has been a valuable piece of my entrepreneurial puzzle, I’ve found it difficult to navigate knowing that the mentor can easily disengage from the relationship if they perceive it as a burden or not worth their time.
4. Apprenticeships: Hands-On Learning
While I’ve never done an apprenticeship myself (it wasn’t the best route for my chosen career path), I have hired, trained, and managed 7 or so apprentices over the last 5 years, 3 of whom still remain as valued contractors at Prospology.
One of the biggest selling points about apprenticeships is that they involve on-the-job training and direct feedback. With practical, hands-on learning being provided, it’s easy to see why I’ve ranked apprenticeships as the second most valuable way of “getting ahead” professionally, in this review. Learning while doing is something I whole-heartedly believe in, and it definitely makes apprenticeships stand out from other routes we’ve explored.
But it’s not all rainbows and butterflies here either. It can be virtually impossible to find an apprenticeship or get accepted into one, and they may not even exist in your field of choice. Back in my parents’ day, they were popping up left, right, and centre. You could practically walk into any business with a suit jacket and well-polished resume and walk out with an apprenticeship lined up for Monday morning, without having to bat an eyelid. Nowadays, that’s a pipe dream. There’s a lot of red tape required for a company to take on an apprentice, and many of them are (probably illegally) still unpaid.
Another drawback is that you can’t customize your experience much, if at all. Apprentices are at the bottom of the hierachy, being forced to take on all the crappy, time-consuming jobs that no-one else wants to be responsible for. If you have specific interests and goals that you want to achieve or explore, you can forget it. You’re everybody’s bitch and you know it. (I speak very broadly here because, of course, that’s not how we treat our apprentices. But you’d be surprised how often I hear that this is how it is out there! We’re the exception; not the rule).
Also, despite what you might think, you’re not guaranteed a job offer at the end of a work placement. Some companies make it their goal to constantly rotate apprentices in and out, without ever hiring any, just so they can have a cost-effective way to execute menial tasks. And, honestly, I don’t blame them! It makes sense from a business operations perspective. But, from the perspective of the apprentice, the lack of job security is a major downside to this route.
As a budding or blossoming entrepreneur, apprenticeships, while one of the various opportunities for career progression, are unlikely to help you get a leg up in your own business. You many learn some practical tricks of the trade, but companies are either going to chew you up and spit you out so that you can start at the bottom of your own company, or worse—you’ll get stuck in the lowest position at someone else’s company and never have the time, energy, or balls to jump headfirst into entrepreneurship yourself.
TLDR: Apprenticeships can provide useful, practical guidance but can also be intensely demanding and completely irrelevant to entrepreneurship. This may not be the best fit for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking creative independence.
5. Coaching: Your Personal Catalyst
Coaching has played a pivotal role in my entrepreneurial journey, providing me with powerful direction and a strong footing in countless critical moments. As of today, I’ve invested close to $70k in coaching across a variety of disciplines and it’s been truly life-changing. But I don’t think it’s the fact that I’ve invested in coaching that’s made it so valuable, nor the amount I’ve invested; it’s the fact that I’m very good at determining who to invest in, at which time, and why.
I’d say the most significant benefit of coaching, among numerous valuable opportunities for career progression, is the level of personalized attention and accountability it offers. The best coaches ensure that you stay on track with your goals and objectives and are genuinely invested in your professional success, holding you accountable for your commitments. Their focus is on the tangible outcomes you want to achieve, such as revenue targets, growth metrics, and brand recognition, rather than arbitrary learning objectives.
One of the biggest factors that causes me to choose or return to a coach is the genuine rapport I’m able to build with each individual. We must have honest and open communication in all our interactions, and I have to feel adequately safe and supported in order to express all that I am doing, thinking, feeling, and experiencing, in life and in business, at that time. If you don’t feel you can talk openly about your concerns, challenges, or deepest, darkest fears with a coach, they’re not for you.
I personally look for equal doses of empathy and tough love in a coach, which I’ve found to be a winning formula in my own business endeavours. Not only do I want them to provide love and compassion when I need it most, I most definitely want them to call me out on my BS (repeatedly, if necessary) and help me get on track when I lose myself or can’t see what’s clearly right in front of me.
Successful coaches are typically experts in their field and already have a proven track record of helping others achieve tangible results. But it’s not just credibility that I look out for when choosing a coach; it’s their own income, lifestyle, attitudes, values, and way of showing up in the world. If I’m not inspired by them, it’s not a fit. If they don’t already have what I want, it’s a “no”. If they jumped straight from doing to coaching, with no success in between, I’m out.
A great coach will guide you in your own entrepreneurial journey, without trying to force you to reproduce theirs. While their real-world experience is super useful (they know which pitfalls may be up ahead and how to avoid them), they recognize that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to entrepreneurship and that true success comes from originality, authenticity, and raw passion.
One way in which I know coaching will be a worthwhile investment is that the support or package they offer me is customized to suit my needs. When I push back and say “actually, I don’t think I need or want that part” and they say “ok—how about this?” I know we’re going to make waves together. Of course, sometimes the first thing they offer is a perfect match to my needs because they’re that good. But it helps to know that when I challenge them, it doesn’t falter their commitment or crush their confidence—they’ve been there, done that, and it shows.
Have I ever felt that a coaching program I’ve invested in wasn’t worthwhile? No, definitely not. Though, I have experienced minor issues relating to scheduling and reliability. Sometimes, a coach will have kids and they’ll need to cancel or reschedule sessions at the last minute due to a “family emergency,” which leaves me feeling pretty meh. Or there’s a technical glitch and they had no idea we were supposed to meet when I really needed to. But, despite these hiccups, our relationship was strong enough to prevail and was never significantly hindered by logistical problems. I got what I needed and more, at the end of the day—a satisfied customer who kept/keeps coming back for more!
To conclude, coaching has been instrumental in my career growth and business success, making it my top choice in terms of opportunities for career progression. It provides me with personalized attention, accountability, open communication, and the guidance of an expert in entrepreneurial growth—something that none of the above options can replicate to the same extent. Does it still feel risky to hire a coach? Sure. But the more I do it and experience the payoff, the more I trust myself to make smart investment decisions that benefit my future.
TLDR: Though it can require a significant financial investment, I’ve always found business coaching to be well worth the investment. It’s enabled me to build multiple successful businesses, gain oodles of confidence, and achieve a better work-life balance than I ever thought possible.
Everyone’s entrepreneurial journey is unique. Each of these opportunities for career progression has its merits and drawbacks, and it’s crucial to choose based on your goals, values, and desired outcomes. Whether it’s academic programs, online courses, mentorship, apprenticeships, coaching, or a combination of several, your decision should align with what’s best for your own journey.
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