By Exec Edge Editorial Staff
At a glance
- Having an entrepreneurial mindset starts with finding solutions rather than focusing on problems.
- Use entrepreneurship as a way to enhance your knowledge and be prepared for new opportunities. Your experience with your side business can complement formal education should you decide to go back to school.
- Learn more about developing an entrepreneurial mindset and related skills with a business degree at University of Phoenix!
Let me ask you a question. Are you among the nearly half of American workers with a side hustle?
If so, your reasons for pursuing a side hustle may be varied and your own, but the benefits of those new skills you’re acquiring are myriad. And you can leverage them to your advantage. Maybe they help get you noticed at work, or maybe they’re the first step toward a career change. Or they might just help you be better at your job. Whatever the case, new skills are a good idea.
Even if you’re not a part-time entrepreneur, you can cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, and steer your career in an entirely new direction. Here’s how.
What Is an Entrepreneurial Mindset?
“It means looking for solutions, not problems.”
That’s how the writers on Shopify’s blog describe an entrepreneurial mindset, and they should know. After all, Shopify is a pretty big deal when it comes to helping people fulfill their dreams as business owners. The company has almost 11% of the e-commerce store market cornered.
According to Shopify’s blog, an entrepreneurial mindset is also “an attitude that prioritizes long-term planning, enabling you to push through any obstacles and challenges that come with starting a business.”
Ultimately, this mindset boils down to “having an open mind, using critical thinking and being resilient when times get tough.”
So, why should you learn to think like an entrepreneur? Because mastering this mindset can help you acquire skills to succeed in the workplace of the future.
“More employers are starting to embrace skills-based hiring practices,” says McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm. This means your experience and the skills you acquire are going to matter much more. McKinsey also cites an interesting statistic from the World Economic Forum, which predicts that “50% of all employees will need to re-skill by 2025 to respond to advances in technology.”
If that’s true, it’s up to you to gain the necessary skill set — and mindset — to progress in your chosen career field. Developing an entrepreneurial mindset is a great way to fast-track that.
Intrapreneurship: Same Idea, Different Name
Imagine using your entrepreneurial mindset to tackle some of the biggest problems facing your current company. That, in essence, is intrapreneurship.
Intrapreneurs are often called upon to leverage their creativity through ideas or projects at their company. Organizations large and small rely on new concepts from their employees and creative teams to get an edge on the competition.
Let’s consider a well-known online retailer. The idea of offering a membership program came as a result of intrapreneurship. An internal team led by a vice president formed the foundational concept — and an engineer’s “digital suggestion box” recommendation provided the annual membership idea.
Today, 33% of Americans subscribe to this membership — and the company makes about $19 billion off the subscriptions alone, according to Sideways6, an idea management platform.
Don’t be afraid to share ways to make your employer better at what they do. Look for ways to boost your resume during — and after — working hours. Not sure how? Read on.
Embrace Upskilling
Upskilling is essentially investing in education or training to enhance your skill set. (Think degree programs, certifications, certificates, and professional development courses.) This is a popular concept these days, especially in the wake of an uncertain economic climate.
At University of Phoenix, upskilling opportunities are readily available through various business and entrepreneurship programs, allowing students to enhance their skill sets while maintaining their current careers.
Around 2007, when web writing was increasingly popular, platforms like WordPress and SquareSpace quickly became the go-to outlets to launch individual websites.
Everything comes with a learning curve, though. Web design became very much “on-the-job” training. Still, in the midst of the Great Recession, many found financial salvation in the form of a digital side hustle of their own making. No matter the state of the economy, or where you are in your career, a seed of entrepreneurship can blossom into an upskilling effort that leads to a major career change.
Flexible Learning for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Are you wondering, “Is University of Phoenix online only?” The answer is no. While the university is well known for its online programs, it also offers in-person classes at select locations. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for aspiring entrepreneurs and working professionals looking to upskill.
University of Phoenix’s varied learning options allow students to choose the format that best fits their busy schedules, making it easier to balance educational pursuits with entrepreneurial endeavors or existing career commitments.
Moving Forward
We all have unique skills and personalities that we bring to the table. If you can’t find a certain opportunity you want in the marketplace, create it. Find something people need in your community and offer it.
You can ultimately use these experiences to change your career trajectory. What wasn’t possible for you yesterday or today may be attainable if you put in the time to acquire different skills. It may just be time to make upskilling part of your vocabulary and use an entrepreneurial mindset to fuel your career growth.
If you’re interested in developing your entrepreneurial skills further, consider exploring the business programs offered by University of Phoenix. Its flexible online courses can help you balance your entrepreneurial pursuits with your educational goals. University of Phoenix’s commitment to practical, career-focused education makes it an excellent choice for aspiring entrepreneurs and career professionals alike.
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