Considering the increasing number of unemployment in Nigeria and most of the countries in the world, one option that comes to mind is to come up with business ideas and earn a living from such ventures.

However, as good as entrepreneurship may sound, the budding aspirant/entrepreneur is likely to face certain challenges which, due to a lack of experience in their chosen career path, makes it difficult for them to gain attention in the marketplace.

Among other qualities, experience is obviously the most vital requirement needed for a successful service business. But this is not to say that you cannot venture into some service businesses with little or no experience.

If you’re considering starting an interior decorating business, for example, you’re more likely to do well if you’ve worked in an organization or with someone who has a similar interest. Consider someone who starts a business and offers human relationship management services, but has never worked in an HR firm or as an HR manager for a company!

Experience easily brings the judgment you would need to run your business. This is the single most important skill needed in the service industry (and perhaps all kinds of businesses).

All hope is not lost if you’re just a cool. You can start a particular service business and do well even if you have not worked professionally in a similar field. “As?” you ask. I’ll tell you now.

Let me identify two types of experience. These are: 1. Practical experience; and 2. Self-acquired experience.

Practical experience is the type of training you get as a result of your participation in a particular activity. Here, you learn the skill first hand; you make mistakes/mistakes and they correct you. Over the years, practical experience has proven to be the most accepted method of staff training, and many companies are aware of this. An accountant just starting out cannot, in any way, be compared to one with many years of practical experience. Likewise, a veteran salesperson will, in most cases, outsell a beginner.

However, it is worth noting that the acquisition of corporate experience is not limited to the practical level. At the self-acquisition experience level, you engage in a conscious exercise of self-acquisition in order to be at the forefront of your chosen career path.

The following are methods you can quickly use to become a savvy business person:

1. Read books written by people who have several years of practical experience in the field that interests you. For example, one of the professional books that have shaped my career is Robert Dilenschneider’s The Corporate Communications Bible. In just one book, I was able to acquire PR “wisdom” that took the author several decades to learn!

2. Attend vocational training/short courses. Attending programs of this nature gives you a unique opportunity to hear from the experts as they teach. In most cases, you have the opportunity to ask questions and practice what you have learned.

3. Subscribe to and read newsletters regularly (whether in paper or electronic format). Newsletters offer unique information that cannot be found anywhere else. Your self-acquisition effort may pay off by reading one more newsletter.

4. Associated with ‘older’ friends. You don’t have to spend your time with people who don’t know as much as you do. Build your shop with people who have been ahead of you (and are successful) in similar businesses. Ask them to guide you. By doing this, their experience rubs off on you.

5. Apply what you have acquired. It is important to note that acquiring is not the same as applying. It is necessary to apply the acquired wisdom. Start small. Offer a type of service to which you can offer immediate solutions. The more you use what you know, the more skilled you will become in the art and the more experience you will have in that area! In the words of Dr. David Oyedepo, “Every piece of information you locate and apply gives you control of life’s circumstances.”