If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that change is relentless. Markets shift overnight. Technology evolves faster than ever. And what made your business successful yesterday might not be enough tomorrow.

Take artificial intelligence. When OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November 2022, it hit 100 million users in just two months. To put that in perspective: the internet took seven years to reach that milestone, and mobile phones took 16.

For small businesses, that speed of change can feel overwhelming — but it’s also full of possibility. Technology is levelling the playing field, and customers are rethinking who they buy from. The challenge, and the opportunity, is the same: are we ready to take advantage of it?

And that comes down to one thing: skills.

The cost of standing still

Running a business is tough. Most business leaders I know work 12-hour days, six or seven days a week. There’s barely time to breathe, let alone make space for learning.

So, it’s understandable when I hear: “We don’t have time.” “We’ve done training before.” “People just leave once we’ve trained them.” I get it — time and money are tight, and training can feel like a luxury.

But here’s the truth: not learning costs more.

When everything around you is changing this fast, standing still is the same as falling behind. The businesses that are thriving right now are led by people who make learning a habit — who see it not as a one-off event, but as part of how they run their business every day.

Learning gives you options. It builds confidence. It helps you spot opportunities before your competitors do. And it makes your business more resilient when the next wave of change hits.

How business leaders are getting the most effective results

Since 2017, Be the Business has been working with thousands of small and medium-sized firms to help them improve their productivity and performance. And we’ve seen first-hand what really moves the dial.

The good news? Learning doesn’t have to mean signing up for a long course or taking a week away from the office. Some of the most effective results come from small, consistent actions:

  • Spending just 15 minutes a day over two weeks developing leadership skills has helped leaders sharpen their strategic thinking.
  • Working with a mentor has helped eight in ten leaders improve their knowledge, confidence, and decision-making.
  • Joining a community of practice gives leaders the chance to learn from peers tackling similar challenges — like how to get the best results from using AI.
  • Businesses that invest in training their teams see stronger engagement, higher productivity, and better retention — the kind of results that go straight to the bottom line.

Learning works because it compounds. The more you do it, the more benefit you see.

The bottom line

That’s why I’m such a fan of the Get the Nation Learning campaign — because learning isn’t something you do once a year, or only when things slow down.

It’s something you embed into the rhythm of how you and your team work. Whether it’s a short online session, a mentoring chat, or simply taking ten minutes to reflect on what went well today — it all counts.

If there’s one lesson from the last few years, it’s this: the most successful businesses aren’t the biggest — they’re the ones that learn fastest.

Anthony Impey MBE, CEO, Be the Business