“The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer.” Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari.
Western society is inundated by the notion of the ‘self made’ entrepreneur. While some might see Kim Kardashian or Paris Hilton as savvy business women and born entrepreneurs, there is a whole other breed out there who specialise in creating the income and lifestyle they desire. This is done without the inhibitions of an employer, salary, work hours and hourly wages.
It might come as a surprise to you but millionaires do not grow on trees or manufactured in a factory in China. They might be hard to find in our fluctuating economy but they are not a myth. They do exist. History is rich with self made millionaires who transformed their industry with their skill and dedication. Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Walt Disney and Steve Jobs were all visionaries and strove to achieve their dream – whatever the cost. As Peter Drucker, an American businessman once said, “The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it and exploits it as an opportunity.”
Pursuing a Passion
Walt Disney began his career decorating the Red Cross Ambulance he drove during WW1 with his cartoon drawings. They fought against great odds to start their renowned businesses, battling depression, wars, faltering economies and grim futures.
While times have changed, young people today are facing the same depressing economy many of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs faced. According to the Guardian.co.uk, it’s hard for a young person to find opportunities to develop their talents. With a million 18-25s unemployed in the United Kingdom and many people working for free simply to gain experience, it’s not an easy time for those looking to get on the job ladder. It’s even harder to start a business, and get it off the ground with strong funding and support.
Sir Richard Branson is an English business magnate and the epitome of the self made entrepreneur. He started his record business from the crypt of a church where he ran The Student Magazine. He called it Virgin Records. Branson believes entrepreneurs can grow from wealth, but there is something more important to implement in their business strategy. “For a successful entrepreneur it can mean extreme wealth. But with extreme wealth comes extreme responsibility. And the responsibility for me is to invest in creating new businesses, create jobs, employ people, and to put money aside to tackle issues where we can make a difference,” he says. “There is no point in starting your own business unless you do it out of a sense of frustration.”
Age Has No Restriction For Passion and Drive
Entrepreneurs are not constricted by age. American Tanner Leuellen was only an eight years old when he attended business forums in 2009, handing out his business card. Some of the world’s most prolific entrepreneurs started very young, including Cameron Johnson, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg and Peter Cashmore.
But there may be other factors, according to longtime entrepreneurial consultant John J. Rooney that contributes to their success. A survey from a business training program he worked in at the University of Southern California revealed that 87 percent of successful entrepreneurs started companies in niches where they already have business experience. People who get formal training are much more likely to succeed than those who do it impulsively. “I’ve seen students do very well even if they don’t have the flamboyant personality that we expect from entrepreneurs. They can learn how to sell even if they are uncomfortable with it or have cultural challenges,” he says.
Optimism and persistence, perhaps the two most essential entrepreneurial traits, can be intentionally practiced, says David Weiman, a management psychologist in suburban Philadelphia and a psychology professor at Strayer University.
Entrepreneurs – A Driving Force In Society
Former American President Ronald Reagan said once, “Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States.”
You are probably asking yourself: how do they do that? Experience shows without the actions of entrepreneurs, a country may not reach its full potential. National economic growth is dependent upon ideas, innovations, and advancements.
However, getting resources out into the national and international marketplaces depends on the concepts and their implementations by entrepreneurs. These visionary business people do in depth market research, create business plans, seek out investors and financing. Then they strive to create products and services that utilise a country’s resources. From technology, food products to entertainment, entrepreneurs are the backbone of the national economy, sharing space with established multinational corporations and government agencies.
Entrepreneurs create jobs, increase profits, and pay taxes that support a country’s social programs, health care system and infrastructure such as roadways. Without the tax dollars of entrepreneurs, countries might not be able to properly care for their citizens.
Do What You Love And Succeed
In this technology and celebrity saturated world, it might seem like a large feat to reach the status of Branson or Zuckerberg, but before his death in 2011, Steve Jobs put it in simple terms: “You have to love what you do.”
And he was right. Everyone has a dream to earn money doing what they love. Whether it’s writing novels, painting, creating jewelry or gardening, people are driven by passion. Entrepreneurship isn’t all about making money and bringing your product to the market place. It is about shaping the future of your industry with your visions. As Brain Tippens, an American business consultant said, “An entrepreneur is not simply someone who creates a company, someone whom we thank for investing in our country. An entrepreneur, in my opinion, is someone who has a dream and a life project.”