Keep up to date with us
Whether you’re a previous Achievement Award winner, a coordinator or just someone interested in what we do, sign up to receive our latest news!
Ben’s tips on how to be an entrepreneur and innovator in your life!
We love hearing stories of young people transforming their lives for the better! Ben Owusu, who came third in the regional Speak Out Challenge 2021, shares tips and advice on becoming an Entrepreneur and Innovator and how this mindset and skills can help transform your own life for the better!
When thinking about the most successful people in the world, entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos and even our own Sir Jack come to mind, but what if you don’t need a multimillion-dollar company to be an entrepreneur? What if you could be the entrepreneur of your own life? The definition of the word innovate is “making changes by adding new ideas or methods”, and the definition of an entrepreneur is “a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit”. But these definitions aren’t just limited to business. By applying them to our lives, we can become happier and more successful people.
I’m Ben, and as a 17-year-old student, I’ve always been inspired by success stories and underdogs – who doesn’t love a classic rags-to-riches tale to feel inspired? However, I often felt lost and didn’t know how to turn those dreams into reality. My journey to taking control of my life started when I was given the opportunity to take part in the Speak Out Challenge in 2021. Like a true entrepreneur, I faced fear and anxiety, but I knew the skills and opportunities I could reach would be well worth it. I learned key public speaking and communication skills, making me more confident. With this newfound confidence came the ability to think like an entrepreneur by constantly looking for new ways to develop myself. Since then, I’ve joined and graduated from the Jack Petchey Achiever Network and completed work experience with the Foundation. Through my experience with the Foundation, I’ve learned that change starts from within and that by changing and improving yourself, you can find new ways to change and improve the world around you.
Entrepreneurship and innovation aren’t just about starting a business or creating a new product but about taking control of your life and pursuing your passions. As young people, we often feel like our lives are determined by our grades, the people around us, and even social media. However, just like entrepreneurs, we can shape our destiny by being open to new ideas, taking risks, and embracing change. What matters is taking control of your life and deciding where you want to go. As young people, the future is ours, so let’s make it into one we want to live in.
The first step to becoming an entrepreneur in your own life is to be willing to learn from failure and to take risks. Successful entrepreneurs aren’t afraid to take risks and try new things, even if it means failing. They don’t let failure stop them from pursuing their goals. Instead, they learn from their mistakes and use them as stepping stones to success. For us, that means we should not be afraid to fail. We should embrace our failures as opportunities to learn, grow, and use them to become better versions of ourselves. The best entrepreneurs use their problem-solving skills to overcome challenges and never give up. This could mean taking on that new opportunity even if it seems scary or starting that project even if it looks complicated.
Another critical attribute of successful entrepreneurs is their ability to be proactive rather than reactive. Instead of waiting for opportunities to come to them, they go out and create their opportunities. Similarly, as young people, we shouldn’t wait for others to tell us what to do or where to go. We should take the initiative to explore our interests, try new things, and create our opportunities. A common thread between many entrepreneurs is that they kept moving forward and didn’t take no for an answer, so we should learn from this mind-set and learn to be fearless with our passions. I learned from my time with the Foundation, is that change starts at the edge of your comfort zone, and this couldn’t be more true. So sign up for that programme you’ve always wanted to do, volunteer for that because you’re passionate about it, and if you feel anxious, remember – if you think you can, you can!
In conclusion, entrepreneurship and innovation are not just relevant to business but also our personal lives. By adopting the mind-set of an entrepreneur, we can take control over our lives, pursue our passions, and create our opportunities. So, let’s embrace our inner entrepreneur and innovate our way to a brighter future!