Entrepreneurship is more than starting a business, it’s a way of thinking and acting. It’s about identifying opportunities, finding ways to solve problems, and taking calculated risks. It is the process of creating solutions, ideation, design, and iteration. It’s about creating, delivering, and capturing value.
Entrepreneurship is also a very personal journey of self-exploration and growth.
Each journey is unique but one of the things that all entrepreneurs have in common…is that they are always in motion.
Entrepreneurs who have an idea, ThinkForward.
Entrepreneurs that experience failure, FailForward.
Entrepreneurs unsure of what the future holds, MoveForward.
During their adventure in the entrepreneurial process they ThinkForward, FailForward, and MoveForward.
ThinkForward: Look to the future
Entrepreneurs are able to open the doors that are closed to most and look into the future. The key that opens this door? Curiosity. With the single word, WHY, they question norms and seek underlying causes for problems they observe.
Once the door is unlocked, they VentureForward into the future by asking, What if… What if someone landed on the moon? What if we lived in a just and equitable world? And just like that, entrepreneurs have time traveled to the future where their ideas are no longer imaginary but working solutions that create value for others.
Entrepreneurs constantly ThinkForward by seeing the potential for future opportunities and asking questions that lead to innovations.
Try this fun activity to grow your mindset and ThinkForward: Reverse Brainstorming
FailForward: F.A.I.L. and N.A.I.L.
Every adVENTURE begins with a single step and this first step is what Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam referred to as a F.A.I.L., which stands for First Attempt In Learning. It captures the idea that failure, or any outcome that doesn’t meet your expectations, is a valuable part of the learning and design process. You take that moment, embrace it, FailForward, and try again.
Every time you try again, you’re attempting to N.A.I.L. it (which stands for Next Attempt In Learning). Each step after a setback, failure, or unexpected outcome is a Next Attempt In Learning. To FailForward, requires entrepreneurs to be persistent in the pursuit of their ideas and apply grit during the most difficult moments.
Try this activity to FailForward: Marshmallow Tower Challenge
MoveForward: You Got This!
Summing it up...
Starting a business (and being an educator) requires more than skills and material resources, it’s a process that requires thinking and acting to solve unexpected problems and change as needed. Successful entrepreneurs and educators ThinkForward, FailForward, and MoveForward.
