Can entrepreneurship be taught?

[limwork]

Everyone seems to have different answers to this question. To some extent, the basics of the business world can be taught. It is useful to equip oneself with the knowledge of marketing, basic accounting, business laws, taxation, business plan writing and business management.

However, certain qualities of a successful entrepreneur such as passion and the willingness to take on risk are almost impossible to teach.

I believe that the best way for a person to learn entrepreneurship is by being an entrepreneur. Some things in life you can only learn by experience and entrepreneurship is a constant state of discovery.

What's your take?

[lupe123]

For sometime I thought that entrepreneurs were born. So I used to just relax when doing my business and would let opportunities just pass through my fingers.
That all changed one day when I found my kids without heat in the house as I had not paid for it. I was too busy looking for deals I forgot to be paid. Now I can say that entrepreneurship is learnt as I learned the hard way.

[tazman9r]

Being an entrepreneur is more than learning a skill, a concept, or being disciplined enough to pay your bills (or, in my case for many years, choosing which bills need to be paid).

Being an entrepreneur is having two distinct things. First, you gotta have an idea. It can be a fresh and new idea about a completely original concept, or it can be a modification or improvement of an existing theme (be careful of copy write infringement), or just the realization that multiple streams of passive income generate far more wealth than direct pay for either time on the job or a one time sell. I like to add monthly residual to the "multiple streams of passive income" concept. But that knowledge does little for you if you don't have an idea.

Second, you gotta have the self starting drive to take that idea and run with it, being willing to learn what you need to learn (in my case, how to build a website), and do what you need to do to make your idea a reality. People go broke attempting to find success with an idea. But if you are patient, smart, and take the time to learn how to recognize and use opportunity to your advantage, you'll find success.

[SimonTurner]

All very true.

I think this article sums it up pretty well:

Spirit of the Entrepreneur - Entrepreneur.com

In my experience, being creative and having ideas is certainly a part of it. What would you say about individuals who simply sell what others are selling, and generate passive income that way, are they still classed as "Entrepreneur's"? A lot of people who do well online dont actually do anything unique, they just do them better than others.

[SophieM]

I don't think you can teach any one off the street to be an entrepreneur. I think you have to have a good base (as my mum would say you can't make gingerbread without ginger), someone who is determined, someone with creativity and brains, they have to know what they want to do. If you have that then I believe that you can teach them entrepreneurship and basic business skills, set them up with contacts etc and build on THEM.

I think things like the new National Enterprise Academy (I think) will only succeed if they take the right kind of people. I would love to know more about it, and would definitely do it part time but I fear many people will go in expecting to be transformed instantly.


Just my thoughts,
Sophie

[freedom.project]

It really depends on personality. Sure you need to have the a great idea, the skills to make that idea reality, etc. But without the right personalty you won't get anywhere. What if your to afraid to act on your idea and achieve what you want? What if you don't have the motivation to plan, organize, develop you idea? I hope you see where I'm going with this. A good entrepreneur knows the business side of it, but more importantly has the character traits that will take him to the top.

[CIsaac]

I think that you can teach the basic concepts of entrepreneurship in high school and college because this is what schools are seriously lacking. They don't teach entrepreneurship the practical way; instead it's taught in the thereotical sense.

However, the core values of entrepreneurship I think are learned from experience. This is why I also think that professors are not automatically qualified to teach entrepreneurship just because academia is their trade; I think that they should either have some entrepreneurial background or at least hire an adjunct professor with this background to assist them.

______________________
IBS - Isaac Business Services
Blog: BUSINESS BLOGGER

[CDRamming]

I think entrepreneurship can be taught but it must be paired with real world experience. I am an entrepreneurship major at University of Dayton, which is ranked 5th in the nation. Our program utilizes business basics first (econ, accounting, mis, marketing, etc) then later specializes on these for small business. Sophomore year the students are all placed into teams of 5 and are given $3000 to start a micro-business. They must present business plans, market research and all of the other basics prior to receiving their capital. Once approved by the instructor they are granted the money and start the company. They run the company throughout the year and have sales reports and other things due each week. At the end of the semester if profitable half of the profit goes back into the endowment and half to a charity of the teams choice. If you operate at a loss its fine and nothing is owed back. This allows students apply use their knowledge from courses to a real company that entails no financial risk to them. There is also a yearly business plan contest as well as a large student run enterprise. All of these things combined with courses specialized for entrepreneurship, not just a mix of normal classes really reinforces the spirit and knowledge of the students.

[nocci01]

Learning is an ongoing aspect for any entrepreneur...however...you can learn about entrepreneurship and owning a business all you want...but if you don't take action, have the discipline...the drive...ambition...tenacity...perserverance...lear ning about it won't get you anywhere.

I don't remember where I heard this but it was something like...it needs to be caught, not taught! Anyone can be taught just about anything...same class...same teacher/professor...same topic...etc...different students. It just all depends. The variable is the student.

[SalesGod]

Yes it can be taught, it is offered as a minor at the University of Cincinnati.