I finally began reading Donna Fenn’s Upstarts! How GenY Entrepreneurs are Rocking the World of Business and 8 Ways You Can Profit from Their Success. (Thanks, Donna, for the signed review copy!) Although I’m still only in the introduction, Upstarts! is speaking to me on a very personal level.
Donna describes Upstarts as “extremely collaborative and team-oriented individuals who [are] technologically precocious, agile, and flexible, quick to recognize emerging trends, hell-bent on creating innovative and balanced workplaces, determined to change the world.” I just passed the one-year anniversary of Come Recommended‘s inception, and I can definitely say she gives a pretty accurate description of me.
I spoke to the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland last week–a speech that was supposed to be about additional ways to gain relevant experience other than traditional internships–and many of the Phi Chi Theta brothers had questions about starting a business. Where did you get the capital? How do I access the resources I need? I didn’t expect the conversation to go in that direction, although I should have, but I’m always encouraging students and recent graduates to consider entrepreneurship as a career option.
I mean, why not? I told the students three things they needed to show during an interview in order to successfully land a job–passion, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Aren’t those three characteristics just as important when starting your own venture? I have an intense passion for helping young professionals achieve their dreams when it comes to their careers–and connecting employers with those candidates who have career aspirations. Not only am I passionate, but I’m also very enthusiastic about what I do, often sweeping up people around me in my vision and mission. And if I wasn’t willing to learn…well, I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have.
What about you? Are you an Upstart?
