Is Entrepreneurship Out of Vogue?
As a long-time entrepreneur, I naturally find myself spending time with other like minded businessmen and women.
One of them, an owner of a successful auto body repair shop, has experienced quite a bit of success over the years.
We had a conversation a few days ago about our experiences and the desire we share to invest in the young people in high school and college classrooms.
What better way to give back than to share our passion and enjoyment for being business owners? Almost four hundred years ago, a group of people landed on the shores of a new land; while there were many reasons folks chose to pursue such a dangerous undertaking, one thing most had in common was an entrepreneurial spirit.
True, they didn't all plan on starting businesses and few probably even had any business experience, but all were risking everything for a chance to control their futures and have a new life in a new land.
"...
for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony...
" - excerpt from the Mayflower Compact, November 1620 Our country has always maintained that independent streak, typified by a rugged individualism and a willingness to take chances that might pay off in a big way.
From the original settlers, to those who headed out West, to the Gold Rush participants, the entrepreneurial spirit was evident.
Fast forward to today- it seems that individualism has gotten a black eye and the government continues to take away reasons for people to be self-sustaining.
My auto body friend has been speaking at several local colleges, sharing his business experience with Sophomores and Juniors.
Remembering his younger years and his desire to be "the man," he felt that his story would be compelling for the typical business student.
Sadly, this is far from the truth; the last class he spoke to had only three out of the forty or so students who wanted to work for themselves.
It seems that the lure to work from 9-5 for a company is more interesting than the prospect of creating one's own future.
This trend is disturbing to me and it makes me wonder what our economy will look like in 20 or 30 years.
Maybe, it is time for entrepreneurs to step up and toot our horns.
Hopefully, as we share the opportunities that our businesses have created, we will catch the eye of those who have never thought about starting a small business or have been too fearful to take that first step.
One of them, an owner of a successful auto body repair shop, has experienced quite a bit of success over the years.
We had a conversation a few days ago about our experiences and the desire we share to invest in the young people in high school and college classrooms.
What better way to give back than to share our passion and enjoyment for being business owners? Almost four hundred years ago, a group of people landed on the shores of a new land; while there were many reasons folks chose to pursue such a dangerous undertaking, one thing most had in common was an entrepreneurial spirit.
True, they didn't all plan on starting businesses and few probably even had any business experience, but all were risking everything for a chance to control their futures and have a new life in a new land.
"...
for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony...
" - excerpt from the Mayflower Compact, November 1620 Our country has always maintained that independent streak, typified by a rugged individualism and a willingness to take chances that might pay off in a big way.
From the original settlers, to those who headed out West, to the Gold Rush participants, the entrepreneurial spirit was evident.
Fast forward to today- it seems that individualism has gotten a black eye and the government continues to take away reasons for people to be self-sustaining.
My auto body friend has been speaking at several local colleges, sharing his business experience with Sophomores and Juniors.
Remembering his younger years and his desire to be "the man," he felt that his story would be compelling for the typical business student.
Sadly, this is far from the truth; the last class he spoke to had only three out of the forty or so students who wanted to work for themselves.
It seems that the lure to work from 9-5 for a company is more interesting than the prospect of creating one's own future.
This trend is disturbing to me and it makes me wonder what our economy will look like in 20 or 30 years.
Maybe, it is time for entrepreneurs to step up and toot our horns.
Hopefully, as we share the opportunities that our businesses have created, we will catch the eye of those who have never thought about starting a small business or have been too fearful to take that first step.
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