“Be an Entrepreneur”

By: Muhammad Ali, Manager Branches One-Ten MPCS

“Please go through this article Our Young & Energetic Graduates of KIU”

“Be an Entrepreneur”

(Grab the opportunity with both hands and run with it)

An entrepreneur is an individual who creates a new business, bearing most of the risks and enjoying most of the rewards. The entrepreneur is commonly seen as an innovator, a source of new ideas, goods, services, and business/or procedures.

Entrepreneurs play a key role in any economy, using the skills and initiative necessary to anticipate needs and bring good new ideas to market. Entrepreneurs who prove to be successful in taking on the risks of a startup are rewarded with profits, fame, and continued growth opportunities.

Here are some of the most important lessons for an entrepreneur:

1. Don’t be unwilling of your age.

Never let your youth stop you from getting out there and starting a business. You may feel like people won’t take you seriously, but as a young person, you have unique and valuable skills.

Most people who aspire to be entrepreneurs have big dreams. They want to found a company that changes the world. While noble, this dream tends to have some side effects: Namely, a fear that you’re constantly running out of time or missed the proverbial train to success.

For example, you can look at the world with fresh eyes and know instinctively what’s cool.

2. Do something you love.

You’ll never have a typical 9-to-5 schedule as an entrepreneur. Since so much of your life will be taken up with work, I can’t stress enough how important it is that you choose something you’re truly passionate about. Ask yourself: What talents do I have? Is there a particular industry I’m obsessed with? Or a particular cause I’m committed to?

Don’t start a business just because you think it will turn a profit. If you’re not in love with the idea, you won’t move mountains to make it happen.

3. Focus on your immediate surroundings.

This is often the best way to find gaps in the market that you can exploit. Which services do you and your friend’s use that could be dramatically improved? Is there a new business that would boost your neighborhood or your city?

Once you’ve firmly established yourself locally, you can expand into bigger markets.

4. See challenges as opportunities.

Conquering a tough challenge tests your mettle and forces you to innovate — and you might even change the world, and yourself, in the process. If you fall short, don’t see your failure as a dead end, but rather as a chance to try something new, and possibly even grander.

5. Behavior of Real Leaders

Being an entrepreneur means being a leader. Being a leader means you have a group of people who are both following you and supporting you. That means that when you feel scathing mad at the world from your recent frustration, the first people you burn are the ones who are holding you up.

6. Ignore the naysayers.

But while it’s important not to let negativity get you down, it’s also important to recognize good advice when your hear it.

The best people to talk to are those with a long history in your field — or your parents. You might not want to admit it, but in my experience they’re right a lot of the time!

7. Lean on your values.

Knowing your values can help you shape your business.

8. Play to your strengths.

Focus your energy on the areas of the enterprise that best suit your abilities.

9. Think big.

No matter what you do, keep growing. After our first record store was a success, we looked for ways to open more. While it can be tempting to blow all your initial profit having a good time, if you want your business to last you need to plough that money back into growth opportunities.

10. Set goals.

As you establish your business during that first hectic year, you’ll have enough on your hands simply trying to keep your head above water. But as time passes, keep setting new goals for yourself. Set small targets each day, then each week and each month. Write them down and tick them off. You will be amazed at how satisfying this is.

11. Take notes.

Keep detailed notes of every conversation and meeting you have writing things down keeps us focused and productive.

Being an entrepreneur is an amazing journey of self-discovery; you’ll likely learn as much about yourself as you do about your industry. Start your own company, and you can choose your own future.

Note: Copied from, 2017 Richard Branson
(Distributed by The New York Times Syndicate)