Building An Entrepreneurial Culture
When we think about the challenges of downsizing big business, as well as major reductions in the
size of government, the wise person asks where the jobs of the future are going to be. Of course,
there are many answers to that question. But one that is often overlooked by educators is the
option to create your own business, to be responsible for your own income.
It is understandably hard for a teacher to look at youth and see business leaders of the future.
And it is equally hard for youth to imagine themselves as entrepreneurs, especially when they have
no experience in doing so.
Integration in academic and vocational courses
In entrepreneurship courses the focus is on students finding opportunities and ideas that might be
new and different . . . or at least that serve needs that have not been met. Ideas can be applied to
any area of of a student's special interests or technology being studied. It doesn't require a
business management course to explore the entrepreneurial opportunities that can be found.
For example, in a language course you might learn about business terminology and practice
making a sale in another country. That could lead to a discussion of what it takes to sell
American products in a specific country. Next students could practice writing business letters to
targeted types of individuals or companies in that country.
In a math class the students might be asked to work out a cash flow plan for a small business and
identify the costs of hiring employees. In a history class the development of new businesses might
be part of the study of an era . . . how did Henry Ford impact on the economy of America? In
vocational courses teachers are encouraged to teach about "all aspects of the industry" which
includes finance, management and marketing.
Where can most students find experience?
Entrepreneurship education is made up of all kinds of experiences that give students a vision of
how to access opportunities of many different types. The key word here is "experience."
Research shows that 2/3 of American entrepreneurs come from homes where someone has owned
a business. This is where they get their experience. But where do the rest of our students learn
that it is possible to create a business of your own?
Business courses generally address the competencies of a worker in a business setting.
Sometimes the courses assume you are developing skills to be some type of manager or advance
up the career ladder in a large business. Rarely have business courses assumed the students will
be the creator and owner.
Business management courses are good background for those who do see themselves as a future
business owner. In most business courses you learn about the role of the manager/owner, about
financial processes, and the importance of marketing. All of these competencies are important if
you are actually going to develop a plan for your business idea. And they are essential in
analyzing the viability of your ultimate business idea.
But at the same time, all types of educational courses can contribute to the experience of the
student who might eventually become an entrepreneur. Education at all levels can include
experiences that help students see opportunities and possibilities. It can be a part of math,
communications, science, history, language, economics, and any type of vocational trade. It can
become a part of the educational culture in the same way it is part of the culture of entrepreneurial
families in America.
Note: This article was published in EntrepreNews & Views and may be copied for local school use.
Please reference it as follows: by Cathy Ashmore, The Consortium for Entrepreneurship
Education, Columbus, OH.
