In a world buzzing with innovation and change, the entrepreneurial spirit is much more than a business characteristic – it’s a mindset for life, writes Ren Kapur MBE, Founder of X-Forces Enterprise.
In 2023, 48% of young people aged 18 to 24 thought about starting a venture, showing the strength of entrepreneurial ambition. For the many people who aren’t focused on self-employment or running a business, the word ‘entrepreneurship’ might feel distant and alien – but I’m here to tell you that whether you’re a student, partner, parent, or employee, entrepreneurial skills are for everyone, and here’s why.
What is Entrepreneurship?
Let’s start with what entrepreneurship means. If we’re going the simple route and looking at definitions, they include, ‘skill in starting new businesses, especially when this involves seeing new opportunities’, and ‘the ability and readiness to develop, organise, and run a business venture, along with any of its uncertainties’. Again, most will be thinking, this is about running a full-on limited business with all it entails.
But from these definitions I hear,
- ‘seeing new opportunities’
- ‘ability and readiness’
- ‘developing and organising’
And these are attributes for everyone!
Entrepreneurship isn’t just about the possible end goal of starting a business or being self-employed, it’s about the adaptable mindset that comes with it. Cultivating entrepreneurial skills can empower you to navigate the complexities of the modern world with confidence and resilience and allow you to take advantage of your strengths. These skills of open-mindedness, adaptability, and organisation are valuable in numerous employment settings and incredibly sought after by employers across industries. Let’s look at this in a bit more detail.
Embracing Adaptability and Fostering Resilience
To paraphrase a well-known military quote, ‘no plan survives first contact’. Life too often comes with unforeseen challenges, and sometimes your well-thought-out plan might go out the window – I’m sure we’ve all had those times. But it is in these situations that the entrepreneurial mindset is most vital: the ability to pivot, innovate, and thrive is essential in a fast-paced world and can allow you to embrace change and think on your feet.
These skills are not limited to your own venture; forward leaning employers not only want these skills but are now demanding them. Take for instance the fast pace of technology: you need to be looking six steps ahead in order to stay ahead. Innovation, the ability to pivot, and being agile are part of the entrepreneur’s skillset.
Resilience is also a key skill that runs particularly in parallel with the military mindset. But whether military or not, journeys can be filled with ups and downs, setbacks, and successes. By embracing these setbacks as a learning opportunity, we turn obstacles into opportunities.
Therefore, the entrepreneurial spirit is not reserved for a select few; it’s a critical life skill that is going to be needed for a long time as our working lives continue to evolve and, let’s face it, our retirement age gets further away! It’s a mindset and a set of skills that can be cultivated by anyone willing to embrace change, think creatively, and persevere in the face of adversity.
By unlocking our inner entrepreneur, we can navigate the complexities of the modern world with confidence and a sense of purpose, empowering ourselves to pursue our passions, overcome obstacles, and create a brighter future for ourselves and others.
So, I encourage everyone to look at Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Skills as lifelong learning and join us for one our programmes or events. But you needn’t take our word for it – we have supported thousands on this journey with so many successes in job creation, confidence, connections, and not least self-employment.
In that spirit, why not join us in one of the many ways in which we touch entrepreneurship, whether that be training, networking, funding, knowledge exchange, or webinars in conjunction with Anglia Ruskin University. Head to www.x-forces.com today.