Thoughts on Entrepreneurship
I posted the following on Facebook awhile back. I thought it would make a great first post for my new blog!
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(Originally posted 11/29/06)
What is entrepreneurship? In the traditional sense of the word, it is starting your own business; creating something out of nothing. To me it's more than that, though. When most people think of an entrepreneur they think of someone in a suit and tie, perhaps in an office board meeting. In my little world, that's not what it means to be an entrepreneur.
To me, being an entrepreneur is about freedom. It's about not having to wake up to an alarm clock. It's about wearing whatever you feel like, not an uncomfortable suit and tie. It's about being your own boss, creating your own rules, and owning your own time. It's about planning your work around your day, instead of planning your day around your work. And most of all, it's about having the power to make your dreams come true.
When I was 12, I started my first business, writing a newsletter and selling copies for a quarter each. I was ridiculed by many of my classmates, but all the while I was gaining valuable business experience while enjoying my work.
At the age of 17 I watched a video that would change my outlook on careers completely. I learned how time is our most valuable resource, and that most of the population trades their time for money in order to make a living. This barter of time for dollars has its limits, as there are only so many hours in a day. Only by creating leverage from other people's time and talent can one escape this "rat race" and transcend the time-for-money mentality.
After turning 20 I soon became financially independent and dropped out of college to be an entrepreneur full-time. By creating leverage, I actually ended up with an incredible surplus of free time! That's why I made the decision last fall to return to college. I'm trying to use my free time more efficiently now.
Now I'm 25 and it's hard to imagine what the future will hold. A few short years ago I ran around trying to preach to the world the advantages of being an entrepreneur, only to be ignored by most. Now I sit quietly watching the world go by, and think to myself that I must have done something right to get to where I am today.
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7/27/08
I have been going to UW-Oshkosh part-time for five semesters so far. One thing I've learned is that I learn best at my own pace, which I now know to be two or three classes at a time. I learned this the hard way when I tried taking *five* math classes one semester at Stony Brook. Besides, being an entrepreneur means that I'm going to school to learn things I can use to improve my business, not just to get a piece of paper so some company can hire me. Who cares how long it takes?
I have already learned new ways to examine my business from classes such as Marketing, Operations Management, and Managerial Accounting. I am very much looking forward to exploring further into the world of business these coming semesters.