Entrepreneur-Think

An entrepreneurial mindset gives individuals a different perception of the world and allows them to stand apart from others. Cultivating this mindset can mean the difference between being an employee and a CEO.

An entrepreneurial student group at Ryerson University in Toronto (visit StartMeUpRyerson.com) recently offered that reminder, along with some tips to help students find their inner entrepreneur.

But the advice need not remain on campus. It is just as applicable to those newly graduated and embarking upon on their careers as entrepreneurs in insurance or whatever field they choose. So from Ryerson students to young insurance professionals:

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

There’s nothing more important for an entrepreneur than the ability to take a calculated risk. This means stepping outside your comfort zone.

Learn to fail.

Everyone wants to succeed, but you rarely learn by being successful. Be patient and learn from your mistakes, because even the most successful people had to start somewhere and for many of them, it started with failure.

Spot opportunities.

Opportunities to connect with entrepreneurs may not always find you, so you have to look for them. With the wealth of resources you have at your fingertips, take advantage and seek out the best places for success.

Pitch everything you do.

Pitch, pitch, pitch! Learn to sell yourself and what you do. Actions don’t speak for themselves to everyone. You’ve got to learn how to keep people interested and communicate your ideas and concepts to others. Work on setting yourself apart from the others to make your product or service the highlight of the lot.

Weave a MAT.

Some sort of structure is necessary to achieve any type of success. Weave a MAT (milestones, assumptions, tasks) to help you hit your targets. This is a great way to plan out the year and it will give you more time to enjoy your free time.

It’s back to school season, time to learn some new skills, perhaps sign up for that course you have been putting off, or join a networking group that will put you in touch with other entrepreneurs.