HOW can you best prepare for the future? Choosing to go to college is a great first step. You can study problems, with both theoretical and practical solutions, in business, biology, history, psychology or many other areas of college study. Then, after graduation, you can apply what you learned about the existing best practices to meet the challenges of the future.
By studying entrepreneurship and innovation in college you can learn to understand and adapt to change because change is at the very core of entrepreneurship.But let's pause for just a minute and think about the bigger picture. You can learn even more from your college education. It has been said, quite truly, that in tomorrow's world, your world, the rate of change will continue to increase...at an increasing rate. By studying entrepreneurship and innovation in college you can learn to understand and adapt to change because change is at the very core of entrepreneurship.
In business, entrepreneurs observe a problem or challenge, analyze its potential for solution, identify the untapped opportunity within, and implement their own innovative solution that has the potential to benefit many people - to change lives and to create jobs and wealth. That's how our economy grows. If you learn about entrepreneurship and innovation while in college, you will bring a dynamic and problem solving orientation to whatever direction your life path takes you, whether you do that start up, or not.
And, there are even more great reasons to learn about entrepreneurship and innovation. Economies have their ups and downs. If the U.S. or the world economy is down your ability to adapt to change, to solve problems, to find opportunities can be your ace in the hole. When the economy is good, your ability to find the value in innovative solutions is your ticket into the most exciting careers or companies in the world. Either way, you win.
Or, if you learn how to recognize the hidden opportunities around you like an entrepreneur, you might become a social entrepreneur. As a social entrepreneur you can be that person who finds the new solutions to society's most chronic problems, hunger, war, responsible energy policy to name a few. You can be a change maker.
And, even if you work for a large corporation, a small business, a not-for-profit organization or a government agency you can still be that most valuable person who will help your employer meet the challenges of tomorrow so that your organization can grow and prosper instead of failing to meet the competitive challenges of a global economy.
Flexibility, relevance and innovation will determine which companies and organizations succeed in your global future. You will be promoted more quickly and have more fun on the job because you'll be working on more interesting projects and will be backed by your managers. You will climb the ladder faster.
Yes, you can be the change maker, that person that sees a problem, finds the hidden opportunity and implements that innovative solution that changes lives. That's what entrepreneurs really do and you can do it too.
