PODCASTS - there are hundreds of podcasts out there, covering every subject and they are a really helpful guide for business owners.  You can listen to advice about sales, marketing, hiring a team or how to stand out from the crowd.  There are business guides and coaches giving free advice so that you can start to learn from other people's mistakes.  As a business owner myself I have recently become obsessed with podcasts as I work from home a lot. When I walk the dogs in the morning I can listen to a podcast and pick up advice about best practice or how to tackle challenges while I walk.  For anyone feeling they have areas to improve on, I can't recommend this enough - search for the answers as they are already out there!

BOOKS - I have read some really great books by business experts, owners and entrepreneurs.  If you are not a big reader, a lot of books are available as audio books now, so you can listen rather than sit reading.  If there are areas that you really want to learn the nuts and bots of, I have found the FOR DUMMIES range of books to be helpful.  We are not born knowing everything and each of us has our own skill set, so branching out into new areas can really help - and there is pretty much a book out there on every subject imaginable.

NETWORKING - Personally I am keen on the less formal end of networking, I struggle to commit to a group that meets each week though I know some people rave about this.  I have found the Chamber of Commerce networking events to be welcoming and friendly.  As I work on my own at home a lot of the time, networking is a great way to mix/chat with other business owners so that you feel part of a community.  There are also networking events centred on specific industries - I have recently joined the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and then gone on to attend online networking sessions.  I confess I hadn't really thought of the community aspect of networking enough, I had assumed it was a marketing tool. to realise there are people who have taken the steps you are trying to take with your own business out there was a gold mine.  It is reassuring to know other people face the same hurdles and challenges, and they are really happy to tell the tale.