Last week, on November 19th, the United States celebrated National Entrepreneurship Day. President Obama started to recognize entrepreneurship on the third Tuesday in November. Since its inception, National Entrepreneurs’ Day has been a time to acknowledge entrepreneurs’ vital role in driving economic and social progress. It’s a day dedicated to celebrating the risk-takers, innovators, and problem-solvers who fuel growth and bring new ideas to life.
You may ask, what is an entrepreneur? An entrepreneur creates and runs a business, taking on both the risks and rewards of their venture. Entrepreneurs come in many forms, and their paths to success vary widely. Some buy existing businesses, others invent new products or processes, and many start from scratch with an original idea.
My business, A Stars & Stripes Flag Corporation, is a small business. Based upon the standard definition, I identify as a small business entrepreneur as I own and operate the company, hire local employees, and manage the day-to-day operations. While my business isn’t a global corporation, I’m proud of its impact and role in the community.
If you have a desire to become an entrepenuer there, I have a few suggestions for you. The first is to operate under the assumption that “no ideas is a bad idea,” as it is the best way to formulate an idea for a new business or change how your current business operates. You never know what you might develop if you let your mind wander. There are stages to developing your business plan and becoming an entrepreneur. Some vital stages are ideation, planning, execution, scaling, and, in some cases, hypergrowth. These phases are typical, whether starting a business from the ground up, innovating within an existing market, or expanding an established idea. You can read more about these stages in an article I contributed on StoreBoard.
The dedication, innovation, and hard work required to turn an idea into a thriving business should be celebrated. National Entrepreneurship Day is a day to honor all those who contribute meaningfully to their communities and economies by being an Entrepreneur.