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Introduction to Business 2e

Introduction

Introduction to Business 2eIntroduction
Exhibit 17.1 (Credit: public Information Office / flickr / Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))

Introduction

Learning Outcomes

After reading this chapter, you should be able to answer these questions:

  1. How can you enhance your interpersonal skills?
  2. Why is learning to plan so important in your education and in the real world?
  3. What skills should you develop that can transfer easily to your professional life and make it a success?
  4. What are some strategies that will help you find, keep, and advance in your career?
  5. What key attributes do employers look for when interviewing job candidates?

What makes someone successful in life? For many, it means going through the various stages of life satisfied in knowing that they have done their best: their best at work and home, in health and mind, in self and relationships, and in all pursuits of life. A big part of having a happy life is pursuing a career that offers job satisfaction. And for many, an education helps to unlock opportunities that can lead to professional and personal fulfillment. An education can help you to:

  • Get and keep a better job. Because the world is changing rapidly and many jobs rely on new technology, more jobs require education beyond high school. With a college education, you will have more jobs from which to choose.
  • Earn more money. People who go to college usually earn more than those who do not. Education beyond a high school diploma is worth between $5,000 and $10,000 a year. That salary increase grows with the more education you attain, whether in the form of advanced degrees, certifications, or licenses.1
  • Get a good start in life. A business education helps you acquire a wide range of knowledge in many subjects as well as a deeper understanding of your specialized area of business.

Simply stated, an education in business gives you the chance to pursue and achieve the satisfaction in life you deserve. The knowledge, experience, networking connections, and additional purchasing power of a degree won't guarantee a satisfying life and career, but it can put you well onto the road to finding it.

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© Apr 3, 2026 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.