Megan Burda – York/Polk Extension Educator
Entrepreneur: Creatively Solving Problems
Being an entrepreneur is more than just having the ability to start a business. Entrepreneurs have a variety of skills and characteristics that make them successful. These include the ability to manage money, work with people, keep good records, listen to their customers’ needs, constantly learn about their surroundings, think and be innovative, and explain to others what they do. But, one does not have to start their own business in order to learn these skills. In fact, current businesses are also looking for people with this entrepreneurial mindset: someone who can think creatively to solve problems.
No matter the project, many youth can already be learning these important skills. If they are involved in a school group/club, they must learn how to be a good team player. That might mean being the secretary during meetings or helping the team run an event. Or, maybe they help their family raise livestock. With this project, they must learn about the industry; manage the money to feed, groom, and take care of that animal; always understand what their “customer†wants in good quality food; and work with others who may be helping them raise that animal. Perhaps they are interesting in sewing, baking, engineering, and woodworking projects. The same holds true: the young person has the opportunity for mastery in these project areas. Questions they might ask themselves include: What are people looking for when it comes to a quality product? How would another person use that product? Or, maybe it is something else the youth is working on. Perhaps the youth is a great musician. In this example, they must learn the definition of quality music and how they can best practice their craft. Maybe mastering that instrument can lead to solving some other problems that exist in their community like playing music at a local benefit or community event. Who knows….the possibilities can be endless!
How can you help youth gain more of these entrepreneurial skills? Help them find projects, clubs, or groups that they are most interested in. Encourage them to think outside of the box when creating things in those project areas. Help them keep good records when doing livestock projects. Help them start a record book or portfolio for any of their projects so they can show what they have done over time.
Utilizing these skills can also fall under the category of “social entrepreneurship†where they put forth the effort to make a difference in their community. They use entrepreneurial skills in order to create change. Maybe it’s raising money for a cause or collecting items to then donate to those in need. Help youth explore this side of entrepreneurship by carrying out a service project during the year, such as a clothing/coat drive, a bake sale or lemonade stand to raise money for a club or group to then donate to another cause, raising money to beautify local parks, or helping the elderly rake leaves or shovel snow during fall and winter. The young person can manage this “business†and learn what it takes to manage items/money, work with people in their community, keep good records, and pay attention to their surroundings so they know what their community needs most, and, ultimately, think creatively to solve problems.
This article comes from a series of resources developed by Nebraska Extension, 4-H Youth Development Professionals. Learn more about 4-H at 4h.unl.edu, follow us on Facebook at (https://www.facebook.com/Nebraska4H/) or on Twitter at (https://twitter.com/Nebraska4H?lang=en).
Source: Jody Wendt (jwendt4@unl.edu), Extension Assistant in Platte County.
