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IntelliGrad obsessively promotes entrepreneurship because we believe it’s the next big thing in education and career choice. I have yet to meet a current college student, a drummer, or an investment banker who isn’t excited by the idea of having her own business. When we say “her own business” what we mean is working for a company in which you have ownership. Why do we think entrepreneurship is the next big thing? Entrepreneurship is above all else empowering. Two primary motives are often cited as catalysts for aspiring entrepreneurs: being your own boss and having the potential to have a lucrative business. Setting your own schedule, making your own decisions and doing something you believe in creates an incredibly positive work environment. Then there is the potential money: as described in the book Rich Dad Poor Dad you don’t get wealthy working for other people – you can, but that wealth is almost always limited. Assuming you are interested in entrepreneurship (you are reading this article!) there are five reason why now, more than ever before, entrepreneurship is poised to explode: First, the barriers to entry have never been lower. Anyone can build a web-site and employ low cost marketing strategies using “guerrilla” techniques. A simple e-commerce solution can be integrated into a web-site at very low cost. PayPal.com allows almost anyone to accept credit card payments over the internet. Globalization is increasing the demand for informational products, while at the same time the ability to convey information is easier and cheaper (think podcasts, YouTube.com, e-books, online newsletters, etc...). Second, these lower barriers to entry are fueled by an emphasis on mobility, which in turn leads to has led to increased independence. Workers can communicate and access information from anywhere. This mobility allows for greater productivity and allows businesses to exist virtually anywhere - often at lower cost. A great example is the consulting firm Accenture – not one employee has an office or cubicle including the CEO. Third, more emphasis is being placed on variety and choice: the internet has been instrumental in bringing new products, services, experiences and cultures to anyone with internet access. People are more connected now than ever before and they are subsequently being exposed to new concepts, jobs and information unknown only 20 years ago. Fourth, variety and choice leads to more opportunities. More opportunity means that people are more likely to discover something unique that they truly value, rather than adhering to convention. It might have been unthinkable for a college student to be involved in international development projects in Nepal 20 years ago, but thanks to reduced airfares, access to information and the ability to rapidly communicate and market, one young graduate of Bates College was able to set up a clothing exchange program for Sherpa on Mt. Everest and the Himalaya. Each year more and more graduate students end up working abroad at such companies as Infosys headquartered in India. Finally, entrepreneurs are more accepted in academic and business circles. Thanks to efforts by such organizations as the Eugene Marion Kauffman Foundation, entrepreneurship has been shown to have a tremendous effect on the economy through the creation of small business. Major universities and business schools are embracing entrepreneurship as its own discipline, offering numerous courses and degrees in the subject. These five factors mean that the time is right to pursue entrepreneurship. There is now time like the present and it doesn’t take much to sit down and think out your idea. Even if your invention, business, service, or band never takes off, simply thinking through the process will pay huge dividends for you. In businesses, just like in science, experimentation is supreme. You learn best by being in the field, observing, practicing and taking smart risks. Check Us Out: www.IntelliGrad.com
Article Source: http://allentrepreneurinfo.com
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