Preparing to succeed

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Education isn’t the only path to success for young people — entrepreneurship is an equally viable alternative. If you have the passion and disposition for it, then it’s time to get started and make your dream come true.

Q: I’m a student studying mass communications at a university in Zambia, and I’m also a budding entrepreneur. However, I’m finding it difficult to do business in my country. Our economy is struggling, and I find that most people here don’t take entrepreneurship seriously.

They focus on education, which they believe is the only way for someone to succeed in life. How do I make it as an entrepreneur in this situation? What should I keep in mind as I join the business world? — Tasha Chitika, ZambiaIt’s disappointing that entrepreneurship isn’t taken seriously in Zambia. The unfortunate truth is that too many countries still have a negative view of entrepreneurship, and too many people consider traditional education to be the only path to success for young people.

But modern entrepreneurship — in particular, the creation of businesses driven by an equal concern for people, profit and the planet — is an inclusive and sustainable path for economic stability.

What’s more, new businesses support productive and empowered employees.

And, as I have pointed out before, earning a degree these days doesn’t always lead to a stable career, nor does it guarantee happiness or financial security.

As you probably know, I left school when I was 16 years old to start my first business. Running Student magazine certainly wasn’t easy, but after a lot of hard work, many of the people who thought I was foolish for leaving school were proved wrong. Since then, I’ve never looked back.

I’ve learned that the best way to challenge the status quo is to get out there and do everything you can to turn your dream into a reality.

Tasha, let me be clear: I am by no means advocating that you leave university — I actually believe that marrying higher education and real-life experience is a good way forward for you. Launching your own business will require you to be a jack of all trades. And working across so many areas will enable you to learn quickly and broaden your skill set — something that will undoubtedly make you a better student.

It’s important to try your hand at everything when you’re starting out so you can identify which areas you’re best at and enjoy doing the most.

Of course, there’s no secret formula for entrepreneurial success, but I tell everyone who is starting out in business that they must put purpose and passion at the heart of their plans. We spend about 80% of our waking lives at work, so it’s important that we do what we love and love what we do.

But it’s also important that you figure out a way to turn what you love doing into something that benefits others. This will align your business better with the needs of your customers, as well as give you a competitive edge.

Purposeful businesses also have, in general, significantly higher rates of employee engagement, retention and productivity. And while you might not be in a position to employ people just yet, it’s important to think about structuring your business with purpose at its core, as this will improve your future prospects.

Once you’ve created a business that offers a product or service that truly resonates with customers, you’ll need to hire people to help grow the enterprise. Seek out people who understand your passion, want to add to your ideas and can envision ways to make improvements.

Focus in particular on people who have strong views on how to scale up your business. But make sure that they have the skills and presence of mind to push the company forward in the short term and the ability to manage crucial day-to-day tasks.

Most importantly, hire people who you’ll feel comfortable delegating to. That will give you more time to get out there and discover new ways of thinking and new places to take your business.

So Tasha, rather than worrying about what other people think, it’s time to get started. It’s time for you to learn, prepare and plan to make your entrepreneurial dreams come true.

Just remember to be passionate and purposeful, and surround yourself with great people. Good luck! — Distributed by The New York Times Syndicate

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