Entrepreneurship is the process of planning, launching and growing a new business venture. It requires many different skills and is a highly complicated task, especially in the current volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) business environment. However, with the right skills and the proper attitude, anyone can become an entrepreneur and develop their own successful business from scratch. People become entrepreneurs for a variety of reasons – some do it to help serve others, while others want to create something that will make their life better. Whatever the motivation, they all take a chance by leaving the security of their full-time jobs and starting a company from nothing.
They know that they will probably not see any immediate gratification, and they may even fail. But they are willing to put in the long hours because they believe that their effort will pay off in the end. In this way, they are like a master painter or sculptor who envisions their masterpiece from a blank slate or lump of clay. The most important trait that entrepreneurs need to succeed is their vision. They need to believe in their idea and in themselves, and they must be able to translate this belief into a viable product or service that they can sell to customers. It is also essential that they are able to recognize and seize opportunities, which may present themselves in the form of a customer need or a change in market conditions. To do this, they need to be able to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
They must also be able to find the right team members for their business. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help aspiring entrepreneurs get started on their entrepreneurial journey. Some of these include online courses, books and events. But some of the most helpful resources are mentors and role models, who can guide them through the process of developing their own businesses. When creating a startup, there are many things to consider, from the legal structure of the business to the product or service that they are selling. To ensure that their ideas are a good fit for the marketplace, entrepreneurs must conduct market research and test their concepts with potential customers. This will allow them to make adjustments before investing a large amount of time and money.
Whether they are innovating in the arts, technology or business, Weinberg College students and alumni bring unique perspectives to the world of entrepreneurship. They are able to use their critical thinking, creativity and leadership skills to address real-world problems in innovative ways. For example, Weinberg College alumnus Kim Weiss ’14 and her team created a simple app that helps students buy snacks from local stores and then deliver them to their dorm rooms. In the future, we will continue to see new innovations coming from a wide variety of entrepreneurs. These innovations will impact all aspects of our lives, and they will be made possible by the efforts of those who dare to think differently and take risks.