5 Business Lessons You Can Learn at iTunes University
Forget the old sales maxim ABC. In today's business world, the better lesson is ABL: Always Be Learning. You should always strive to learn more about leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, and the like.
Fortunately, you don't have to go back to business school. Instead, try "attending" iTunes University. Apple's often-overlooked section of the iTunes Store (which is built into the iTunes software for Windows and Mac) is home to thousands of free lectures and courses from institutions like Oxford, Yale, and Stanford.
All you need is an iPod, iPad, iPhone, or even just a PC, and a yearning for learning. Here's a roundup of five killer business courses from iTunes U.
Building a Business
Oxford University's 10-part audio series looks at all manner of basic business skills, from raising capital to managing people to developing a product.
Hot Topics in Marketing
The University of Virginia's Darden School of Business invited 14 presidents, CEOs, and managers to share their marketing success stories -- and filmed them. You'll learn from people like Scott Creighton, VP of Johnson & Johnson, and John Frederiksen, General Manager of Microsoft Services.
SEO 101
Though not technically a part of iTunes University, this podcast certainly could be. Hosts Ross Dunn and John Carcutt aim to "teach you SEO from square one." (SEO, of course, stands for Search Engine Optimization, which can make or break a business.) It's without a doubt one of the most important lessons a business owner can learn.
What Great Bosses Know
The Poynter Institute's Jill Geisler has recorded nearly a hundred short sessions on leadership and management. Topics include "6 Tips for New Managers," "10 Things Great Bosses Know," and "Choosing Your Deputies." Most segments range from 3-5 minutes, so you can consume them quick.
Yale Entrepreneurial Institute
Created with startups in mind, the YEI offers dozens of lectures (ranging from 20 minutes to an hour) on topics like writing a business plan, finding investors, and "guerrilla" marketing.
Well, there you have it. Ready to "enroll" in iTunes University? Let me know what lectures you found most interesting -- or if you found any other worthwhile courses not listed here.
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