Breeding 'Antipreneurs'
Posted: 01 May 2012A blog about education, entrepreneurship and a few pictures from life in the last few weeks and a recent weekend trip to the Orcas Islands near the Canadian border.
Waiting for the ferry to Orcas Island
Right now, perhaps more than ever in recent times, is there a calling for 'entrepreneurs'. We're billed as the saviours of a struggling economy, the building blocks of recovery and the lifeblood of growth. There is increasing government grants and support available. You can take out library books on entrepreneurship, get funding for MBA's, get quick and easy press coverage as a young entrepreneur and be given many tools or opportunities to help your new business grow. The country is practically throwing money at new businesses, and it's not just the UK, many western nations echo the same story. We're desperate to encourage entrepreneurial growth. But I think we have a fundamental problem facing us.
Our fantastic little cabin in the woods.
The biggest barrier to fostering new entrepreneurs is our education system. We're taught to study academic topics, pass exams, write CV's and find a job. The whole purpose of higher education from the graduate's perspective is to make it easier to get a job and the system encourages that train of thought. Universities compete on employment statistics, we're trained our whole life to make decisions that will lead us to a 'good career'. "Oh, don't study art/music/dance/sport etc you'll never get a job in it, they're not real degrees".
My companions for the weekend: two great people and two excitable dogs.
Nearing graduation our parents ask us, our grandparents ask us, our teachers, our friends anybody we meet ask us the same question, "what are you going to do now you're graduating?". It's not acceptable to say 'go travelling', or even worse to say, 'I don't know'. The only acceptable answer is to get a job. So we jump at the first job that is offered to us, because now we have a job, now we can say, 'oh yes Grandma, I have a great job with so and so company'.
A view to Canada.
We're actively taught NOT to start companies. Starting your own company is terrible for University ratings. And we're taught by people who have championed the system. Who have followed an academic path. Who have passed exams, written journal papers and become institutionalised.
The reason the island got its name. apparently killer whales are a common sighting.
Most graduates come out with the same skill-set, I mean, barring vocational degrees like becoming a doctor or an engineer, most graduates can do most jobs. They just learn on the job. So why do we compete on our skill-set, why are we trained to be good at exams and to build great CV's? If our skills are largely all the same, or worse, irrelevant, why does the education system continue to power on regardless?
The boys!
How can you feel supported or encouraged as an entrepreneur if the system you have known your whole life doesn't even entertain the the idea of creating your own business as a viable career? Someone said to me recently, "well you can do both, get a job first, clear your graduate debt and then build your own company". The average age for entrepreneurs is 35. 35! Deciding to throw in the 'career towl' and start your own company is often seen as a pretty risky move. Well, young people are less adverse to risk. The average graduate doesn't have a family to support, doesn't have a spouse or children, doesn't have half of the responsibilities as your average 35yr old. Your average graduate is more likely to take the 'risk' of entrepreneurship because they have comparatively less to loose. So why are we encouraging people to become entrepreneurs at 35 rather than 25?
A refreshing dip in a meltwater lake!
So this is a call for the radical reformation of our current education system. Let's stop the incessant pursuit of standardised tests and start encouraging creativity. Growing true grass root entrepreneurs by teaching graduates that there is another way! And yes Grandma, that means I could be the next Bill Gates instead of the next Microsoft tea boy.
The 'new' Startup weekend office. We moved office about 3 weeks ago to this shiny new space.
Comments
wow
what a great post, just signed up to your RSS feed and hope to read more of your posts in the future. keep it up!
good
just want to say thanks article
Great comments! I really can
Great comments! I really can relate to what you're saying. we are constantly made to feel that being an Entrpreneur is the most dangerous move out there.
The system has had its effect on me. I will get a Grad job when I leave and then become an entrepreneur following that. I predict I'll be 27. I feel safe and comfortable with this idea.
So true
This is a really good observation. I´ve read through most of your posts and you seem to be quite good in observing things that most people can´t put their finger on, but feel nonetheless. Especially this post made me realize what´s keeping so many people from starting something.
I am going to pitch to get in the Kauffman Programm next friday and I think I will include this in my pitch. Thanks a lot and I hope you´re having a great time!
Cheers,
Mila
What a great article. So
What a great article. So true. Most entrepeneurs will argue that the skills and tactics of successful entrepreneurship are best learnt by 'doing' and confronting your fears.
I was taught that running a business is like walking a tightrope. You spend a lot of time concentrating on not falling off. Its only when you do, that you realise the drop is only a step down, you don't get hurt and its easy to get back up and start walking again, only this time without the fear of failure.
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Some sharp thinking but...
Entrepreneurship is not just about risk for the sake of risk. If you are 35 you are more likely to have built the professional networks some of which will be vital on the entrepreneurial journey. The key to success is being able to influence without having formal power, everyone needs as much help as you can get. That's harder when you dont know as many relevant people and havent had the chance to hone the softer skills.
Support at home is vital, bringing a student loan to a family situation is just part of the total obligation.
Many entrepreneurs will not "make it" and I guess they need to think about that too. Each failure should provide ample learning but I think it is not as simple as "start earlier then you are more likely to have the time to succeed". For most, time will not be the scarce resource - it will be the patience and credibility with backers - whether friends, family, fools or Angels.
The institutionalised "get a job" attitude comes from an age when UK still had large stable champions of industry. This no longer applies - so if you have the risk, then why not the chance for some upside?
There are some lovely
There are some lovely pictures in the article. I personally really like the photo taken with the two dogs, it looks like a wonderful place :)
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