The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business

Kaufman argues that meaningful business education is not confined to classrooms or credentials; it is a lifelong practice of deliberate, self-directed learning. The core idea is that motivated individuals can acquire the mental models, tools, and decision-making frameworks of a business degree through independent but disciplined study and application. In practice, this means building a personal curriculum grounded in credible sources, consistent reading, and real-world experimentation. For example, an early-stage entrepreneur might design a “learning sprint” around pricing psychology by studying Kaufman, Robert Cialdini, and behavioral economics research and then testing those principles in a live marketing campaign. A mid-career manager could adopt the same principle by documenting key lessons from projects, analyzing what worked, and teaching it to peers, transforming experience into structured knowledge. Kaufman’s broader point is that self-education thrives on curiosity, reflection, and experimentation and that it thus empowers learners to think independently rather than simply follow prescribed paths. Consequently, those who commit to continuous, intentional learning not only match but often surpass the practical insight of traditional programs, developing agility and independent judgment in an economy where adaptability matters more than credentials.