How you can become an entrepreneur
Becoming an entrepreneur is more than just getting an idea.
You need to practise being creative, resourceful and a good
communicator. You might decide that are more inclined
towards management than entrepreneurship, or maybe you can
do both. Ask yourself the following questions.
How can I be more creative?
Creativity is an important quality for a successful
entrepreneur. It helps you respond to the changes and
challenges that you will inevitably face as you set up and
run your enterprise.
There are two types of creative thinking that
entrepreneurs use:
- evaluating, analysing and selecting the best of a
range of ideas (convergent thinking)
- having new, diverse and complex ideas (divergent
thinking).
Everyone can be creative. If you feel unsure of your
creative abilities, here are some ideas to help you
enhance them.
- Adopt an entrepreneur. Find out about successful
entrepreneurs on the Internet. Use a search engine and
the search keywords ‘famous entrepreneurs’.
- Take on a new challenge. Set yourself goals; for
example, to work on the solution to a new problem each
week.
- Develop thinking techniques. Find out about
techniques that will help you to think clearly and solve
problems in different ways. Some examples include:
- concept mapping
- associational thinking
- creative visualisation
- relaxation and meditation.
- Look for new ideas. To think of new ideas, you need
to take in fresh ideas and images. Different activities
will help you do this: watching a movie that’s not your
usual style, listening to new music, reading different
types of books and magazines, visiting galleries,
people-watching in a park or café, trying new food. Keep
your five senses open to new experiences. Listen, watch,
smell, taste and see new things.
- Keep a journal. Write in it each morning when you get
up, for about ten minutes. Write down your ideas,
problems and thoughts. Add any observations you have
during the day.
How can I become more resourceful?
Being resourceful means having skills and knowledge that
you can apply to finding solutions to issues that arise in
your business. Learning how to obtain and analyse
information will increase your resourcefulness. Some ways
to do this are:
- Work in a team to utilise different skills, knowledge
and abilities.
- Join online entrepreneur forums and discussion groups.
- Look for educational resources.
- Join professional associations.
- Subscribe to professional journals.
How can I be a good communicator?
Creative, resourceful entrepreneurs need to be able to
communicate their ideas clearly and effectively. If you have
difficulties communicating with other people, this doesn't
mean your ideas are no good, or that you can’t start your own
business. But it may mean you need to find strategies to help
you feel comfortable and effective when you interact with
others.
Good communication is an important part of a successful
business. If you want to hire an employee, good
communication skills will help you pick the right person
and make sure they know what the job involves.
Good communication can help you:
- get your ideas across, and be receptive to other
people’s ideas
- solve problems
- build and improve your relationships with other people
- encourage the people around you to be creative, too.
Good communication isn’t all about talking. Good listening
skills come into it, too. Listening is a valuable
entrepreneurial skill. It can be learned and improved with
practice.
If you want to improve your listening or speaking skills,
asking for help from your home teacher or school counsellor
(if you’re still at school) or (if you’re an adult) attending
a communication course can be the first step. These people
and others can help you find communication strategies you
might not have thought about.
You can also try these online and telephone resources:
- For young people, the Kids Help
Line website—a national 24 hour telephone counselling
service for young people between 5 and 18 years old. You can
call the Help Line on 1800 551 800, free in Australia.
- For everyone, Lifeline offer courses in communication
skills as part of their community and corporate training
program.