"Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration" - Thomas Edison
This quotation by Mr. Edison has always been in my eye, an apt description of the difference between successful and non-successful entrepreneurs. Do you have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur?
It would seem that the difficulties of graduate employment in conjunction with soaring costs in higher education are giving birth to a new breed of student, student entrepreneurs. While some students continue to simply test the waters in the ocean of entrepreneurship, others are diving in head first. Either way, both kinds are gradually learning how to swim. As a result, more and more universities are setting up enterprise societies (some of which have already been awarded lucrative contracts) and/or 'business incubators' offering advice and support. According to Hushpreet Dhaliwal, chief executive of the National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs, the number of these types of societies has increased from 12 to 86 across the country within the last couple of years. This is certainly good news for all those budding entrepreneurs out there as well as good food for thought for other students.
Ignoring the potential for personal financial gains as well as skill and personal development, any entrepreneurial experience that students can hold a claim to is going to prove extremely attractive to graduate employers. It is a definite game changer. Having said that, make no mistake, being an entrepreneur is hard. But there are also lots of different ways to be an entrepreneur. You don't need to come up with the next 'Big Thing' or start raking in thousands of pounds in net profit for it to be a noteworthy or worthwhile endeavor. Although of course nobody would complain if you did. But you could also consider something on a smaller scale such as; starting your own society, hosting your own events, offering a travel service to certain locations, providing special discounts or offers on student items tailored to your university, or setting up a web related service or forum. As with most things, what you need first of all is a good idea. Once you have one and you're confident about it, then don't let anything stand between you and your future success, especially not yourself.
Now for anyone understandably daunted by the prospect of entrepreneurship, here's a great example of an entrepreneur who refused to take no for an answer; in 1944, at the suggestion of his daughter, Walt Disney decided to adapt the Pamela Travers novel into a screenplay. However, Travers had no interest in selling Mary Poppins to Hollywood. To win her over, Disney visited Travers at her England home repeatedly for the next 16 years. After more than a decade-and-a-half of persuasion, she gave in. The result is a timeless classic.
Students, dare to soar.
Charles, GRB Journalist
