How to Develop your Sense of Entrepreneurship

BY Ben Lang Dec. 12, 2009 39 Comments

Not everybody is born a natural entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is a skill that can always be developed and expanded. Here are some ideas based on my personal experience that will help kids or adults acquire useful skills to become a successful entrepreneur.

Some of the skills every entrepreneur needs:

  • Initiative – You have to have the motivation to take the initiative and create on your own.
  • Responsibility – You have to be responsible for your actions and understand the importance of responsibility.
  • Creativity – You should have a sense of creativity, innovation and always be one step ahead in ideas.
  • Communication – You have to be able to communicate your ideas, network and connect with others.
  • Leadership – You need to be able to be the leader and be in charge of a project, or company.
  • Problem solving -  You have to have the ability to solve simple or more complicated problems.
  • Determination – You have to be extremely motivated and keep going even when things are tough.

Here are some ideas to develop those skills:

  • Start a school club – If you are still in  school, start a club. It requires that you be creative and come up with a new idea, take initiative, become the leader of the club and communicate with the school.
  • Join volunteer programs - Volunteering is not only a benefit to society but also to you.  You will learn to communicate, lead and initiate. Go out and find the right organization for you! Here are some resources: VolunteerMatch, Serve or Volunteer Work.
  • Help your friends and family – Helping others is a great way to develop your problem solving and communication skills. In addition, when you help others you become aware of their problems which gives you a great source of ideas to create a business.
  • Build a website - Building a site requires initiative and creativity and will get you accustomed to new technology. Also, you will probably need help of advise from others which will develop your communication and networking skills. You can use free services such as Blogger, Wix, or Webs.
  • Lemonade Stand - Classic, a lemonade stand! Although a lemonade stand won’t make you a millionaire, it will teach you a lot of good business lessons. It takes initiative, and creativity to market something as simple as lemonade.
  • Garage Sale – Similar to a lemonade stand, you can learn a lot by putting together a garage sale. The interactions with the customers will also develop your communication and negotiation skills
  • Buy stocks – If you have the financial ability to buy stocks, even just a few, its a superb challenge.  You will have to take the initiative, ask for advise, research and ultimately take responsibility for your decisions. Start with games: VSE or Up Down, and then move on to ETrade or Scottrade.
Advice, Entrepreneurship

39 Responses to “How to Develop your Sense of Entrepreneurship”

  1. Blog Guide Reply Dec. 13, 2009 at 11:03 am

    Creativity and determination are probably the biggest things needed for web entrepreneurs. The creative guys always seem to make the best posts and get a lot of readers. Still, without determination you will not make it. Never give up, that’s my motto.

    Great list of skills reguired for entrepreneurs, thanks Ben! :)
    Blog Guide´s last blog post: Twitter Guide for Beginner Bloggers My ComLuv Profile

  2. Shirley Reply Dec. 13, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    These are great skills, Ben. Your tips to develop entrepreneurial skills are also great and I would love to add one.

    I think to develop entrepreneurial skills one should read books related to entrepreneurship. That helps greatly too :) .
    Shirley´s last blog post: BarCamp Ghana 09 – Leadership For Our Times – Cultivating Change Makers My ComLuv Profile

  3. Agent 001 Reply Dec. 13, 2009 at 3:59 pm

    Wow! Nice. You have shared lots of tips. thanks for the insight.
    Agent 001´s last blog post: Christmas Gift: 7 Dollar – 7 Minutes – 7 Days My ComLuv Profile

  4. Alex Ainsberg Reply Dec. 13, 2009 at 4:19 pm

    Cool post. Nice advice I hope to implement one day

  5. chandan Reply Dec. 14, 2009 at 12:24 am

    Hi Ben really nice bro, you have share some nice information here and I think you have develop your mind with very small age. Keep it up brother.
    chandan´s last blog post: Useful tips for building backlink [Digg] My ComLuv Profile

  6. Copy-Blogger Reply Dec. 14, 2009 at 1:52 am

    Ben,you posts are very interesting and informative as always.Thanks very much
    Copy-Blogger´s last blog post: Interview with Blogger,Lax,the Owner of TechZoomIn My ComLuv Profile

  7. Ed Reply Dec. 14, 2009 at 6:00 am

    Cool entrepreneurship sounds like a cool gig

  8. Clinton Skakun Reply Dec. 14, 2009 at 10:29 am

    Hi Ben,

    Great post. Glad you found a topic to write about. Great insight man. These are a few crucial qualities of an entrepreneur. Gerber of E-Myth said everyone has an inner entrepreneur. But for the most part you’re right, you need to develop any skill, it’s not easy but it’s rewarding.
    Clinton Skakun´s last blog post: Does your Business have a Mission Statement? My ComLuv Profile

  9. Ms. Freeman Reply Dec. 14, 2009 at 2:16 pm

    I currently use a free website service for my concierge business site. I am not totally impressed with it, but it is free and it was quite simple to set up. Once more revenue is generated I will of course ugrade and improve the site.

    This is a fantastic list you have compiled. :)
    Ms. Freeman´s last blog post: Learn Something Useful at 2CreateAWebsite.com My ComLuv Profile

  10. Jawaad Ahmad Khan Reply Dec. 20, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    I definitely want to start working on some of these action items.

    School club & volunteering are very viable options.
    Jawaad Ahmad Khan´s last blog post: V1 – “Brothers” My ComLuv Profile

  11. Shonika Proctor Reply Dec. 20, 2009 at 10:01 pm

    Entrepreneurship….LIVE IT! You heard it here first :)

    My experience in working with teens vs. having worked with adults is that teens see entrepreneurship as sort of an extension of their lifestyle. They get into it where adults usually want to try to put everything into steps and figure out how to do this that or the other. When you don’t try to dissect everything to much and focus on what you want to do and what you like to do I think it comes much easier for you. When you see your business mindset crossing over into your academic life, social life and community life, you will know that you are living the entrepreneur lifestyle :)

    @teenbizcoach
    Shonika Proctor´s last blog post: 7 Gift Ideas for Teen Entrepreneurs (Under $100) My ComLuv Profile

    • Ben Lang Reply Dec. 21, 2009 at 5:26 pm

      I am living it! And its because of you ;)
      Wow, that’s a great explanation I relate to that so much, every day in school, out with friends, at community events, entrepreneurship crosses my mind whether it be an idea I had, a business deal etc. I’m glad to know that means I’m really living the entrepreneur lifestyle. Thanks Shonika!

  12. Lea Reply Dec. 21, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    Having been in that position I completely agree with the wise man’s words. I think it all comes down to the character of the individual facing the situation. Strong folks who embrace the reality of their situation and bear down, while weak people will throw their hands in the air, determine it was never meant to be, and just give up.

  13. Cory Levy Reply Dec. 23, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    Great post, Ben! Here’s another volunteer site to check out: http://www.dosomething.org.

    -Cory

    http://www.corylevy.com

  14. Jack Reply Dec. 29, 2009 at 8:07 pm

    I would add “networking” to developing those entrepreneur skills. Networking makes you go into a room with strangers (an uncomfortable for most people) and talk about yourself and ask about them. The more you know about what’s out there and what people are working are, the more “creative” you can get.
    Jack´s last blog post: Entrepreneur’s Marriage My ComLuv Profile

  15. Ruben | OurBlogLog Reply Jan. 05, 2010 at 1:11 pm

    Building a website is definitely a great idea as a new entrepreneur, It builds confidence and the ambition is there from day one.

  16. Connie Reply Jan. 06, 2010 at 11:11 am

    I think successful entrepreneurs also fully aware of the importance of evolving changes, they are ahead of their competitors and thrives on changes. ”The YES Movie” produced by Louis Lautman
    http://www.TheYesmovie.com

  17. Connie Reply Jan. 14, 2010 at 1:27 pm

    Hi Ben, actually the movie produced by Young Entrepreneur Society, it is a social networking group aim at helping business newbie……

  18. ProductivePinoy Reply Feb. 15, 2010 at 11:59 am

    Hi Ben, Thanks for this. My son who is 11 years old is planning to start a small business. He takes entrepreneurship seriously. I’d tell him to visit your site.
    ProductivePinoy´s last blog post: THE EASIEST WAY TO MAKE MONEY ON-LINE My ComLuv Profile

  19. Yhannie Reply Feb. 23, 2010 at 1:25 am

    I agree on creativity and leadership. Let me add courtesy and reliability.

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