The best business leaders and entrepreneurs view life as a journey. They’re on a constant road to self-discovery and improvement. They’re always on the lookout for new opportunities to learn, grow, and develop. 

We’d all do well to follow their example. 

Professional development doesn’t simply happen in a vacuum, however. In order to ensure you can practice continual growth, you must first lay the groundwork to make that possible. Here are the three most important components in that regard.

A Firm Foundation

First and most importantly, you need something to actually build on. This will often involve some degree of formal education in your chosen field, though that isn’t strictly necessary. Realistically, it’s enough to have a career that allows for progression.

The second component of this foundation is knowledge. Seek sources of inspiration and information wherever you can, and ensure you always have some way of jotting down new concepts, ideas, and perspectives as you encounter them. As you might expect, an open mind is also crucial in this regard.

A Strong Support Network

The best growth often occurs through collaboration. From your first day, focus on building a network of professional colleagues and mentors that you can both bounce ideas off of and learn from. In pursuing these relationships, don’t focus on their value to you — instead, every time you meet someone new, ask what you can do for them. 

What value do you provide that justifies them forming a close connection with you? 

To build this network, you’ll obviously need to look beyond the office. You’ll want to attend meetups, conferences, and trade shows. Join any industry groups or forums in your area. See if there are any online communities dedicated to your profession. 

In short, be on the lookout for new professional connections in the same way you’re always looking out for new knowledge. 

Equally important, however, is a personal network. Friends and family you can lean on for emotional support, people you can spend time with outside the office, and loved ones to help you maintain a positive work-life balance all qualify.

Too many entrepreneurs throw themselves into their careers to the point that they neglect all else. Not only is that unhealthy, but it’s also counterproductive. And it’s a sure path to eventual burnout. 

Passion and Drive

We’ve saved the most important for last. If you’re truly going to pursue a path of constant professional improvement, it has to be something you actually want. While you can pursue professional growth in a field you don’t particularly care about, you aren’t going to go as far as you would chasing your passion. 

Passion itself isn’t enough, either. Even if you do what you love, there will be days when it’s challenging. There will be days where you don’t particularly want to do your job. 

You need the grit and determination to stick with it — to focus on your end goal rather than your current problems. 

Learn. Grow. Thrive.

The best business people never stop growing. They always look for new opportunities to improve their skill set, extend their horizon, and expand their network. And now that you understand the basic building blocks, you can do the same.