Entrepreneur Journal Entry #13 | 7/15/21 | Mecina Juhasz

 Good morning, 

It isn’t easy to sum up the life lessons one has learned over their lifetime or even the last few months. I have spent a lot of time wondering how these lessons that have been taught in class apply to me and my life. I have had a more in-depth look as to what constitutes an entrepreneur and what risks and sacrifices need to be made. 

Is what constitutes of an entrepreneur the amount of knowledge he or she possesses? What about having wealthy connections? Or the skills and abilities they are gifted with? No. None of these things are what creates a great innovator. The core of being a great entrepreneur is the mindset and character of the individual. At the end of the day, it is going to be the ability to get up after you’ve been defeated for the hundredth time. It’s going to be the connections you make on the journey and the mentors who’ll teach you. It will be choosing your priorities wisely and allowing short term setbacks for long term success. This is what it means to be a great entrepreneur.

Something I’ve realized through this Intro to Entrepreneurship class is that entrepreneurship is more than just starting a risky business. It is a lifestyle. Wikipedia defines entrepreneurship as “the creation or extraction of value. With this definition, entrepreneurship is viewed as change, generally entailing risk beyond what is normally encountered in starting a business, which may include other values than simply economic ones.”

Entrepreneurs work toward things they’re passionate about, and are willing to put in hours of physical and mental labor for results that may be discouraging. They persevere and have faith. Perhaps it is just my perspective but I think that people who choose to be an entrepreneur have a greater level of self-awareness and a desire to live life conscientiously. They have a desire to impact the world in some way or to have more control over their life. 

I don’t think entrepreneurship is for everyone, but I do think that anyone can be an entrepreneur. A great entrepreneur sees the value of getting up early, living a healthy lifestyle, making quality connections and working towards something greater than themselves. They choose to make the most of their situation by assessing their strengths and using their weaknesses to their advantages. The most important thing I think that every entrepreneur needs is a burning desire to make themselves or the world a better place.