CROCO4U Team, May 1, 2023
Entrepreneurship has gained increased popularity and reverence in recent decades, though self-made individuals have always been held in high esteem in American culture. The success of tech giants Alphabet (formerly Google) and Meta (formerly Facebook), both making their founders incredibly rich, in the 21st century has further fueled the romanticization of entrepreneurship among people. We talk about job creation, decrease in unemployment, rise in the standard of living, increase of GDP and innovation. It is a key driver of economic growth and job creation in the European Union (EU). According to Eurostat, in 2019, there were approximately 25.3 million enterprises in the EU, with the majority being small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Still a large number of people find themselves asking:
What is an Entrepreneur and how can I become one?
Entrepreneurship is such a complex activity that some even call it a lifestyle. When it comes to its definition in the majority of versions we can find it refers to a set of activities. There are, however, small differences which present the ambiguity of entrepreneurship, and validate the confusion around its meaning. For instance, only taking definitions published by the European Union bodies and agencies we can notice deviations:
What is the most evident difference between the two is that one considers entrepreneurship an ACTIVITY, while the other refers to it as an ABILITY. This debate is present when looking through more and more definitions. The YEEP-Youth Entrepreneurship Education Programme, combined the experience of the partnership and concluded that in their perspective entrepreneurship is an ability that can be developed and trained throughout life. That is what the project Developing cross-sectoral cooperation for youth employability in the Western Balkans is continuously working for.
Becoming a successful entrepreneur requires more than just having a good idea or a unique product. It also requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and patience. Here are some key steps to take in order to become a successful entrepreneur:
Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just getting started, the journey of entrepreneurship requires discipline, hard work, and persistence. The good news is that there are many resources available for aspiring entrepreneurs!