"Out here the nights are long, the days are lonely I think of you and I'm working on a dream I'm working on a dream" -Bruce Springsteen - Working On A Dream
Dreams are powerful. Not the ones you may have forgotten about in last night’s sleep---you may have forgotten most or all of those the next morning. We are talking BIG DREAMS, such as the vision of what you want to achieve in your life and with your career.
We are fortunate to live in a world of opportunity and choice. And as students, you are at one of the best points in your life to take a risk with little to lose. That is why so many students are choosing to start a business while they are in school or right after they graduate, versus taking a traditional 'big company management track ' job, And if they don't start a new business, they are joining a start-up. According to the Kaufman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity (KIEA), the entrepreneurial rate in the U.S. is already well above the dot.com bubble of 15 years ago.
Now, more than ever, there’s just one major hurdle on the path to creating your own business: deciding to take action.
I believe the days of the “job means work” mentality are thankfully waning, with more people looking to obtain satisfaction by making the world a better place, rather than just tolerating brain-numbing work to fund enjoyment elsewhere. The image of an entrepreneur is at an all-time high, so why would you continue to work in a job that you hate, or provides no fulfilment? Step into the new entrepreneur era where the definition of “work” is something you love. It’s not too late to start.
And you can start right now! While at school you can pursue your passion and your dreams of commercializing an idea. We have plenty of famous examples of student entrepreneurs. Did you know that brands such as FedEx, Microsoft, WordPress, Facebook, Google and many others were started by students in their dorms?
A great place to start is by joining us at the upcoming 2015 Science Technology Showcase on Wednesday, October 7th from 5pm - 7pm in the Connolly Ballroom of Alumni Hall. This is a great opportunity to network with other young entrepreneurs and community leaders who have chosen to pursue their dreams of turning their ideas into reality.
Take the adventure, especially while you can afford the risk more than at any other point in your life. Learn as much as you can about being an entrepreneur. Even if it's not the path for you, the skills you will learn, and the experiences you have, will broaden your mind. And in that way you will still be working on your dream, wherever it takes you.
Good journeys!