So you don't need a degree to be an entrepreneur (though it can help) but that doesn't mean that you can neglect your brain and academic side in lieu of pursuing your small business ambitions. It's important to not only work on the business, but to work on yourself.

For many entrepreneurs, there is often an aspect to their self-training and personal development that is often neglected. It's that academic, traditional, prescribed learning system (call me old fashioned). Statistics show that if you aren't in a continuous state of learning and being challenged, you being to lose that ability to learn at all (and no, I don't think that reading an industry book is an acceptable form of challenged learning)

Most, if not all, big companies (and many small) have some sort of training and personal development program in place, and while an entrepreneur's program doesn't need to be as regimented, having something planned - a goal to meet and complete - is imperative.

A lot of lessons are learned by doing stuff - making mistakes and doing things right - and taking those lessons away. Why not save yourself the hassle and time and take it upon yourself to learn something?

The beauty of being an entrepreneur lies in that they don't really need to have a degree or know anything in particular. It's ironic then, that in order to be a successful entrepreneur, you need to know everything.

School House Rock was right: Knowledge is power.

So where do you go to beef up your brain?

MIT Open Course - ACK! Talk about the ultimate test of motivation. Completing, for no credit at all, with no one to hold you accountable, a University course (all the readings, assignments... the whole deal). There's a ton of courses to choose from and even if you don't "complete" the course, It's a great way to explore political ideas, literature, math, physics. Something you may never do "on your own"

iTunes U - Something a little more palpable. They're podcasts, generally all audio, but some video. The topics are pretty diverse and come from a wide variety of esteemed Universities (nay, Colleges): Princeton, Yale, Stanford. They're nice to sit down with when you're traveling to work, sitting in the backyard soaking up sun and lying in bed before falling asleep. (Try listening to them while your sleeping and see if you can retain anything)

Books (Hurray!) - Okay, not what I would call honing your learning skills, so I say use books purely for insight and facts (i.e. newspapers and magazines, trends, etc.) A hatred of mine during the school year ($150, and I don't even enjoy it) but a real treat during summer.