A couple weeks ago, our class was given another challenge. This one came from Look-Look magazine out of
Our challenge was to do a little trend spotting of our own at Southern Methodist University. SMU, a private university in
Look-Look asked us several questions on the “New Entrepreneur” after realizing that young people are redefining their values concerning work, careers and happiness. There is this shift towards individuals starting their own businesses, industries and independent ventures.
Look-Look first asks us how and where have you seen New Entrepreneurs in your world?
That’s easy for me, my own brother is on his way to becoming a New Entrepreneur. After graduating from the Cox School of Business at SMU with a 4.0, Andrew Nichols took a job with Ryan & Co. in
“I wasn’t happy with my job. There was this lack of freedom that I couldn’t stand. I want to be my own boss and schedule my own hours, it’s as simple as that,” said Nichols.
With poker being a long time passion of his he decided to play professionally in 2006. Over the past several months, he has come up with a plan to start up his own company. He hopes to teach people how to play poker as well as set up casinos for charity events. Although he still has much to learn, he is on his way to success.
After speaking with my brother, he informed me of friend of his who started his own company on the side. Jonathan Welschmeyer, a 2005 SMU graduate just recently formed his own company called Buying Made Easy, L.L.C. Buying Made Easy, L.L.C finds any car you are looking for down to every last specification, full negotiation of the deal/terms and finalization of financial paperwork.
SMU’s Cox School of Business even offers a prestigious masters program in Entrepreneurship. To find out more check out: http://www.cox.smu.edu/grad/msie
I could go on for pages about new entrepreneurs on the campus of SMU but lets move on to Look-Looks next question.
Do you see a shift to a certain type of attitude toward work?
For young people there is definitely this shift from predictable jobs to jobs you are creating on your own. In our parents’ generation, they went to college, got a job and stayed there until retirement. For our generation, after college could mean several jobs as well as this goal of entrepreneurial ship. Competition is the driving force in our society and everyone is looking for new ways to get ahead.
Just like my brother mentioned, everyone wants to be their own boss. It gives them a sense of freedom. The more time and dedication you put into your own business the more success and empowerment you will have. If you are working for a corporate company you get the same salary no matter how much time you put into it and most of the time you are not recognized for your success.
Check out youtube.com video for inspirational words from an entrepreneur: http://youtube.com/watch?v=pnS4lTZ133w
The final question Look-Look asked us was how do you think this will change
business in the future, if at all?
I think businesses will change in the sense that they will get smaller and less corporate. Also, this idea of a global business with an office anywhere you want it. It will also create the emergence of new business models or contemporary business models that are more diverse. I think it will be very interesting to see how entrepreneurs really do change the business world in the future. Just the other day, our professor asked the class to raise their hands if they wanted to start their own business and I wasn’t surprised to see a majority of the hands up in the air.
1 comment:
Some good points and personal insight, but your wording need polish, tightening. Provide background on SMU and additional sources. You'll need to add more for to make this an adequate response to a trend challenge.
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