4 Things Teaching Has Taught Me About Running a Business A commitment to teaching others has the inestimable benefit of being a continuous learning experience.

By Timothy Sykes Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

John Fedele | Getty Images

I have created a successful career out of helping others learn about the stock market. I've been teaching for nearly a decade, and while I made the majority of my money from trading, my true passion from my career is teaching. I currently teach more than 5,000 students from 80 countries about the stock market and about how to trade. I trade small accounts now, so that my students know my priorities lie with them. Teaching has been such a rewarding experience for me. It has taught me a great deal not only about myself and about the stock market, but about business as well.

Here are four things that teaching has taught me about running a business:

1. Most people are lazy.

This is an unfortunate, harsh and true lesson that I have learned from teaching and it is one that I apply to my business all of the time. People, in general are lazy. Eighty percent of people who have gym memberships don't go to the gym, and the same holds true for those who watch my daily video lessons. Even if you give people specific instructions, they likely aren't going to follow them very closely. Keep this in mind and don't worry about over-sharing information when teaching others.

Related: 5 Signs That Your Competitors Are Lazy

2. It pays to give and give and give.

I work 14-16 hours per day teaching and I focus really hard on offering as much value as I possibly can. I give everything to my students and many have chastised me for giving too much information as a teacher. I have nothing to hide. I want my students to be as successful as me or even more successful than I have. I truly operate on a philosophy of give, give, give and as a result my education business has been booming.

Related: 4 Tips for Finding Open-Minded Investors

3. Be open minded.

I have learned through teaching that it is important to try different tactics but to be open minded on what strategies are going to work best. Most of my assumptions are usually wrong. However, with social media I found out that I am able to optimize and now utilize social media to my advanced. Once I find a strategy that works, even if it is only briefly or if it is something that is out of my normal wheelhouse, I try to be open-minded about it.

Related: 8 Tips to Grow Your Business Using Social Media

4. Utilize social media for every aspect of your business.

I have been able to reach so many more students on a more personal level thanks to social media. It is important for every business out there, not matter what industry you are in, to utilize social media to your advantage. In today's day and age there is no end to the way in which social media can help you and it gives you an opportunity to really connect with more people on a personal level, whether they are a customer, business associate or a student, this allows you to prove you're real.

It allows you to cut through all of the noise and the fakeness that can come with promoting a business and show your real self while highlighting happy customer testimonials.

Timothy Sykes

Entrepreneur and Penny Stock Expert

Timothy Sykes is an entrepreneur and a penny stock expert, trader and advocate. He has been featured on CNN, Fox News, CNBC and more. Watch his media appearances and speeches on Youtube here.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Growing a Business

What Brands and Consumers Can Do to Build a Privacy-First Digital Future

As privacy concerns grow, consumers and businesses alike are rethinking how data is collected and used. A cultural shift toward transparency and accountability is paving the way for privacy-first solutions — and raising the stakes for companies that fail to adapt.

Marketing

We Are in a Mental Health Crisis — Here's How Leaders Can Create High Performance Workplaces

Marketing leaders should prioritize mental health by restructuring workflows, thoughtfully using technology and fostering a supportive culture to achieve sustainable success and innovation.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Amazon Intends to Spend Over $100 Billion on AI This Year. Here's How It Compares to Google, Meta, and Microsoft.

Amazon's forecasted spending in 2025 is 35% higher than 2024 and well above the $86 billion analysts expected.

Thought Leaders

I've Worked with Over 400 Married Entrepreneurs — Here are 4 Lessons I've Learned

Entrepreneurs often face an intense balancing act: scaling their businesses while nurturing their relationships. In my years of coaching over 400 married business owners, I've observed the struggles that frequently arise in these partnerships.

Growing a Business

7 Things Every Growing Business Needs to Monitor to Scale Successfully

Discover the key factors every growing business must monitor to ensure successful scaling. From financial health to customer experience, these seven critical areas can help sustain growth and streamline operations.