Everyone Can Be An Entrepreneur

Can everyone be an entrepreneur? Our resident contributor Cobalt Paladin shares an optimistic view here on the issue at hand.

I was just an average guy with average grades. I didn’t get into NTU on my first attempt. I nearly could not graduate after I got in. But I’m doing something on my own now. I’m what people would call an entrepreneur. It would seem common sense about what I’m doing now but it wasn’t so when I started.

Being a businessman is different from being an entrepreneur. By doing something someone else is already doing only makes you a business person, not an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur is one who introduces a new product, new way of doing things or new process that changes the status quo. Usually, what an entrepreneur introduces to the market is new and disruptive which makes the idea difficult to be accepted in the beginning as no one is doing it at the moment. Why is it disruptive? Because when it is accepted, it rocks the status quo and changes the way things will be done. No one can ignore the idea and pressence when it works. But before then, it is up to you to convince the market of your new idea.

It may take years before the market is convinced. Sometimes it is not the idea that does not work, it is the market that does not accept it…. yet. Being an entrepreneur is having the tenacity to see it through.

Can a person be taught to become an entrepreneur? Well, no one can make you an entrepreneur unless you make a conscious decision to become one. You must dare to dream and believe in your own dream. The dream must not about making money. Money should not be your motivating force. It is your faith and passion of your dream that keep you driven. The spirit of entrepreneurship cannot be taught but teaching subjects like Economics, Fianance, Taxation, Accounting etc would be helpful. Case studies of successful companies or failed attempts will bring insights. These will help to increase the chance of success of new entrepreneurial ventures. For me, I wished I had training in these areas. Now, I just have to find time to learn all these on my own. :)

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