Unleashing Your Entrepreneurial Leadership
To define who an entrepreneur really is, let us first have a clear understanding of what entrepreneurship is all about. Many facet of definitions have been given as to what entrepreneurship is, but a “common denominator” to all of these definitions is that entrepreneurship is the practice of starting new organizations, particularly new businesses generally in response to identified opportunities. An entrepreneur on the other hand, is a person who undertakes and operates a new enterprise or venture and assumes some accountability for the inherent risks.
Inherent in the life of each and every one of us lays a hidden entrepreneur waiting to be unleashed. You and I are talented in one area or the other which in turn can become our entrepreneurial prowess towards living a better life and developing our economy.
In this 21st century, it is the force of entrepreneurship that can drive forward any nation that desires to achieve a sustainable economic growth. Entrepreneurship is a major contributing factor of economic well-being of a country both in terms of economic growth or job creation. With the seeming job cuts and massive layouts, the only resort will be the force of entrepreneurship. More important, our future rests squarely on entrepreneurial venture founded by creative individuals. They are inspired people, often adventurers, who can at once disrupt a society and instigate progress. They are risk takers who seize opportunities to harness and use resources in unusual ways, and then thrust us into the twenty-first century with a thunderous roar.
According to Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 2000, “One in ten adults in the United States today is an entrepreneur. This phenomenon is by no means restricted to North America. The leading country for entrepreneurship is Brazil with one in eight adults an entrepreneur. Australia is not far behind the U.S. with one in twelve. These countries – Brazil, the United States and Australia – lead the way. Contrast, for example, Germany (one in 25), the United Kingdom (one in 33), Finland and Sweden (one in 50) and Ireland and Japan (less than one in 100).” The question is: As Nigerians, where do we stand in this paradigm shift to entrepreneurial venture? As a nation, we have so many jobless applicants looking for jobs rather than what they can do by unleashing their potential. While preparing this article, I was watching a lady on television, who was narrating her testimony on how she spent five solid years looking for a job without a breakthrough until it dawn on her to unleash her entrepreneurial potential. What did she do? She spotted a need when she noticed that during parties, the celebrants are always out looking for ice to chill their drinks. Then she started an Ice Block business, and not long, the business started booming. And today she is a boss of her own, and financially comfortable. Isn’t that wonderful? Some of you may say, well that is not for me.
Let me tell you, you have what it takes to live a better life. Just simply unleash the entrepreneur in you by spotting a need around your environment and then fill the gap. There are untapped hidden talents in you that can be turned into business opportunities. There are people out there with needs looking for solution. All you need is to recognize them and become the solution center that they need.
Hear this, you are a created creator! Look inward and take a personal inventory of your life. What have you to offer to someone? You are not an accident or a mistake. You are created to continue in creation. The ultimate creator, God, stopped creation in six days and left you to continue from where he stopped. No wonder, He did not make a chair but He created trees so that out of the tree a chair can be produced. He created mango, not mango juice. If all the unemployed in our society today begin to look inward to discover what they possess, they will be amazed of what they can do. In other words, they will become job creators rather than job seekers. Is anything wrong in looking for a job? Absolutely not! The problem is – not everyone will get the desired job they want because competition is fierce. A lot of applicants keep updating their resume in order to secure a place in the job market but all to no avail. The number of applicants on the street out-numbers the available job in the market. That means the odds against an applicant getting a job is high. And in most cases, some of these job seekers settle for jobs far below their personal worth as a result of frustration. This is not to discourage anyone seeking for a white-collar job but that so many have sacrificed their great potentials in seeking for jobs all their life.
That reminds me of the inaugural speech made by President John F. Kennedy, at the U.S Capitol in Washington DC, 1961. His profound speech on that day brought a mental revolution to the American people. In his speech, he said, “In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country”. He challenged their status quo, thus motivating them to unleash their potential. Rather than fighting their government to provide all their needs for them, the American people became challenged to do something that will add to their national GDP. That move of unleashing their potential gave way to great entrepreneurs including the likes of Bill Gates, who turned his talent and passion for computer into business. At the young age of nineteen, in 1974, Bill Gates has incorporated Microsoft computers. Bill Clinton, the former American President said, “Meeting then President John F. Kennedy when he was just 16-years-old led him to decide to pursue a life in politics.” Clinton’s leadership potential was unleashed when he had a handshake with President John Kennedy. As a young boy, Clinton became so determined with a mission to become an American President. Some of the leadership and entrepreneurial success in the lives of the American people were unleashed as a result of the magnetic effect of a profound statement made by John F. Kennedy.
Majority of times, some of us need a push to wake up from our slumber to the true reality of who we really are. We are all endowed with magnificent potential to create the beautiful world that we desire to live. Right now, if what you are doing is draining you, you cannot find any passion or fulfillment, and you feel you are working completely outside your area of purpose and potential, then you should begin to ask yourself some real personal questions.
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