Entrepreneurship is not becoming more accessible than ever and is no longer limited to just business veterans and boomers. More millennials are starting businesses in favor of flexible schedules, freedom, and the work-life balance that comes with it. Many of these young entrepreneurs are proving that age is only a number as they deliver some of the most exciting new ideas and innovations in business and technology. Clean energy and digital media have benefitted from this new wave of entrepreneurship as young people show that starting a business doesn’t necessarily require decades of experience. Of course, this comes with a caveat: a great idea alone won’t make your business succeed, and you’re likely to run into a whole host of challenges that seem especially daunting when you don’t have lived experience. Fortunately, however, the wisdom of others can help guide your journey into the world of small business ownership. Here are some tips and helpful pieces of advice that you’ll likely receive along the way.
Lean On Your Strengths
You may not have a ton of business experience under your belt, but it’s likely that you have plenty of experience in other areas. It might come as a surprise, but it’s a good idea to put those strengths to use. Sometimes your skills may seem irrelevant, but it takes some creativity to find areas where you can apply them. For example, if you previously worked in sales, you can use that to leverage your business into a sales-driven organization instead of having to start over from scratch. Turn your strengths into important assets for your business. If you’re more of the creative type with a background in media and writing, you can use those abilities to create engaging marketing content. Have HR experience? Use that knowledge to oversee your team. Your roots can prove to be invaluable on your new career journey in business.
Be The Change You Want To See
One of the reasons that millennials are starting their own businesses is that they’re dissatisfied with corporate America. By starting your own business, you have the opportunity to enact change and run your business in a way that fulfills you. By creating an environment that provides opportunities for both individual and group advancement, you’ll find that your business will also give you better returns. One of the best investments you can make is in your employees by nurturing them and providing them with the chance to be a part of something important.
Entrepreneurship can be daunting, but you don’t need to wait until you’re older or more experienced to give it a shot. What’s the best way to learn about entrepreneurship? Start a company! While you may not succeed the first time, you’ll never know success if you don’t start somewhere.
Originally published on AmbrosioBlackwell.org