When most people think of business studies or business schools, they think of advanced courses of study geared towards those who seek to become, or are already, business managers and executives. That perception is true to some extent, especially as it applies to university degrees in business or economics. What most don't realize is that the study of business concepts and practices can help almost anyone, and especially young people who are just starting out in life. Knowing how business works is a valuable life skill that everyone can benefit from.



When you think about it, no matter what we do in life, no matter what profession we're in or seek to break into, it always comes down to business. In the most basic terms, if you are looking for a job, you're really a product and you're trying to sell yourself. In order for there to be a buyer, someone who will hire you, you must offer something they want and need. So you must have certain skills that are attractive to the potential buyer, and you must present them (and yourself) in a way that closes the deal. You must also know where to go to sell yourself and what to do to attract a buyer's attention. Those are all basic business and marketing skills.

For example, if you seek a job in bookkeeping or accounting, you will need to make sure you have a good product (your knowledge and skills), that the buyer can see that the product is good (your nicely presented degree, resume, experience and credentials), that the product fits in (by looking, acting and coming across as expected), and by working as advertised (perform well enough to keep the job and getting raises and promotions). This is no different from creating and then marketing and selling a product. In other words, it's business.

Taking it to the next level, the study of business provides other knowledge and resources that make life easier and more productive even if a student does not start their own business. Understanding how markets work, how to create and manage a budget, how to analyze competition, and what it takes to sell, those are all skills that can be applied throughout various careers as well as just life itself.

Unfortunately, most schools, and our educational system in general, put the emphasis on academics and less on real life skills and practices. It's good to have a working knowledge of academics and academic and scientific principles, but it all remains academic without knowing how all that knowledge is applied in the real world. A good teacher will make sure students see the connection of what is taught in school and in preparation for a GCSE and other degrees, and how it all applies to business and the future.

In life, almost everything comes down to business. Why does one person get the job or a promotion and another doesn't? Why does business A fail when business B succeeds? Why is one country's economy up when another's fails? Why is the price of milk up one month and down the next? It's all business, and knowing how business works helps understanding the world and the economy, and how one can make the most of it.