12 Jun What is Entrepreneurship?

When I tell people I’m an entrepreneur I’m often fascinated by the response I get from some, ranging from ‘I don’t relate myself to being an entrepreneur, to ‘I’m not an entrepreneur’ to ‘I think people who call themselves entrepreneur have to be XYZ, so I’m only a business owner.’

The dictionary definition is: ‘a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.’

There are so many other reasons I relate to the term of being an entrepreneur.

• I believe it’s about taking persistent action towards an innovative solution to a key problem.
• It’s about believing in yourself, your mission and inspiring others to join you on the journey.
• It’s the constant hunger for making things better and the idea that you are here to make a difference.
• It’s about being brave – it’s rarely obvious what to do next, and you have to rely on yourself and your strength of character a lot as you manage the challenges along the way.
• It’s about having a passion for learning and being driven by an innate need to create, build and grow as you realise you don’t know what you don’t know.
• It’s about knowing what drives you and being constantly curious.
• It’s about being people-oriented and staying open to building meaningful business relationships and collaborating with people cleverer than you because it’s easier when you have support.
• It’s about being able to ask for what you want – money, clients, contracts, favours, a helping hand, advice…etc.
• It’s about having good focus, habits and disciplines that contribute to your success.
• It’s about choosing to commit every day to show up to your cause.

And as my friend and nomadic entrepreneur Logan Elliot says, “It’s the most effective tool to chase your own potential and help create the world you want to see.” I agree wholeheartedly with Logan. Infact I see entrepreneurship as being one of the fastest opportunities for personal growth – as well as professional. And it’s an adventure I wouldn’t have missed for the world.

Peter Drucker says, “Entrepreneurship is neither a science, nor and art. It is a practice.”

You can come and practice being an entrepreneur and get the support you need  through our 12 week Program to help you turn your idea into reality! Go to www.aut.ac.nz/pracinnov and come and join us! Next intake starts July 19th, 2018