Why We Need More Entrepreneurs And How You Can Become One

Jon Michail is Founder & Group CEO of Image Group International & best-selling author of Life Branding. Follow him on LinkedIn & Twitter.

Standing at the cusp of the fourth industrial revolution, it feels surreal to see how far we have come. The world as we know it seems to evolve at a higher rate than ever before. Global economies are witnessing a boom in startups, and there are several reasons for this.

For starters, the pandemic — and resulting layoffs — spurred an increase in startups. Low costs and a growing gig economy have also made it easy for individuals to resign their jobs and go in search of a higher purpose. The current workforce does not want to dedicate their lives to a 9-to-5 routine in an organization they do not feel passionate about. More and more people want to control their time and have an impact on the world in their own way.

This is good news for everyone as innovation can help an economy recover from the hit it takes during a time of crisis. When we think about the pandemic or any other crises that the world may be going through, we often feel fear. But fear is mostly a limiting belief; it stops you from creating and can lead to stress and anxiety about the future. When operating in fear, actions become about survival. That is why entrepreneurship is almost like an act of citizenship where you overcome your fear and in becoming more resilient, help the economy to do the same.

If you are looking to begin your entrepreneurial journey, now is a great time to think about how you can create an impact. Here are some actionable steps you can take today to further your entrepreneurial journey:

1. Plan your journey. Have an idea? Great! If not, think about what field or niche you want to impact and what problem you are adept at solving. Get specific. Think about the logistics, supply and demand and research before you begin. Visualize what your role and future will look like and manifest that by embodying the values it takes to get there every day.

2. Develop your skills. Learning is more accessible than ever before, yet hard to find time for. But one must do things to learn. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Take online courses, take on challenges and increase your everyday problem solving by creative thinking and critical analysis. Develop these skills to consolidate and grow in times of crisis; one must learn to adapt and think critically to see ahead. Go back to the first step of maintaining a vision and don’t lose sight of what you’re trying to achieve when things get challenging. Challenge your thoughts and others’ alike. A curious mind often gets to the core of things.

3. Reach out. Fear is one of the reasons most people will never consider becoming entrepreneurs. It comes with juggling too many things, and most people do not feel confident in their skills (including life skills) to do it themselves. So, well done on crossing that barrier and taking the first step, but recognize that you don’t have to go it alone. Don’t be afraid to reach out to fellow entrepreneurs, your network, mentors and the people you love and trust — they can all help guide you along your journey.

The most important thing to remember is to have fun. This journey is for you to let go of the fears and be in the mindset of creation. We are all self-creators and have the power to do things and self-actualize our futures. So the most important thing is to create a space where you feel safe and free to develop. Your journey toward entrepreneurship goes beyond power and wealth; it is driven by your authentic purpose, finding it and living it.

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