- Estimated duration: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Modules
Module 1
Introduction to Entrepreneurial Mindset
In this module, you will be introduced to the concept of an entrepreneurial mindset. While completing the following sections, think about how to answer the following questions:
- How do you define an entrepreneurial mindset?
- What are some key characteristics of someone who has an entrepreneurial mindset?
- Do you already have an entrepreneurial mindset or is this something you would like to obtain?
- What are some actions you can take to strengthen or develop your entrepreneurial mindset?
Section 1: Readings
Section 2: Videos & Podcast
Section 3: Workshop
Supplementary Materials (Optional)
Section 1: Readings
Read the following materials regarding an entrepreneurial mindset. These articles are from the perspective of experienced entrepreneurs. They share their views on the importance of having an entrepreneurial mindset, as well as common characteristics of those who have this mindset.
Blog Post: Entrepreneurial Mindset: 20 Ways to Think Like an Entrepreneur – Thomas J Law
This blog post introduces the idea of an entrepreneurial mindset as well as defines some key characteristics of those who have the mindset. The post also contains many inspirational quotes from various successful entrepreneurs.
https://www.oberlo.com/blog/entrepreneurial-mindset
Article: The Importance of an Entrepreneurial Mindset in Business – James Fleming
James Fleming, an award-winning entrepreneur, shares his top characteristics of those who have an entrepreneurial mindset and how it can lead to success in business in the real world.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-entrepreneurial-mindset-business-james-fleming/
Article: Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset – Anne Weiler
Anne Weiler, CEO and Co-founder of Wellpepper, shares some actionable tips on how to maintain a creative mindset.
https://www.inc.com/springboard/cultivating-an-entrepreneurial-mindset.html
Section 2: Videos & Podcast
Watch the following videos and listen to the podcast to learn more about developing an entrepreneurial mindset through identifying skills, traits, and tips from experienced entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs in the following materials share their wisdom based on their own entrepreneurial journeys.
‘What is an Entrepreneurial Mindset?’
This video introduces the concept of entrepreneurship as a mindset that anyone can develop.
‘The Secret of How to Think Like an Entrepreneur’ – Amy Wilkinson – TEDxPaloAltoSalon
Amy Wilkinson is the founder and CEO of Ingenuity, a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of The Creator’s Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs. In this video, she shares some skills on how to think like an entrepreneur based on information she gathered through interviewing over 200 successful entrepreneurs.
‘The Employee vs. Entrepreneurial Mindset: Which One Do You Have?’ – Philip VanDusen
Philip VanDusen is the founder of Verhaal Brand Design and has played the role of both an employee and an entrepreneur in his life. In this video, he talks about some of the key differences in traits of those who have an employee vs entrepreneurial mindset. This video can help you figure out which mindset better aligns with you and identify where you may need improvement to develop your entrepreneurial mindset.
‘What makes an entrepreneur?’ – Sahar Hashemi – TEDxYouth@Bath
Sahar Hashemi OBE is the co-founder of Coffee Republic and Skinny Candy. She also co-chaired a UK governmental entrepreneurial task force for growing small and medium enterprises (SME). In this video she shares her inspiring entrepreneurial journey of going from being a lawyer with no business experience to a successful entrepreneur.
Podcast: ‘Developing a Founder’s Mindset’ – Alfred Lin
Alfred Lin is a partner at Sequoia Capital. In his podcast, he shares advice for aspiring entrepreneurs through lessons he has learned throughout his entrepreneurial journey.
Link: https://player.fm/series/entrepreneurial-thought-leaders-2507147/alfred-lin-sequoia-capital-developing-a-founders-mindset
Section 3: Workshop
This workshop will help you get to know yourself better and determine where you stand in your journey towards developing an entrepreneurial mindset. The goal is to identify key characteristics about yourself and where you can improve.
Part 1: Reflection (5 minutes): Reflect on yourself and write down as many qualities about yourself that you can think of. Identify qualities using one-word or short phrases that describe your personality traits. Some examples include self-driven, detail-oriented, or resourceful.
Part 2: Identification (5 minutes): Once you have completed your list of characteristics about yourself, review the list and highlight some qualities that you think you could improve in yourself. Transfer these qualities to a separate list and add any new qualities you may not have but wish to obtain for yourself. New qualities could include some of the traits you have been introduced to already in this module. This new list will be used as your goal sheet for qualities you would like to develop throughout this course.
Part 3: Planning (10 minutes): Review the new list of qualities and pick your top 3 qualities that you would like to work on. Write out a short description of how you plan to improve these qualities and how they will help you develop or maintain your entrepreneurial mindset. You can use the web to gain some ideas or inspiration. Some of these traits may be able to be developed in this course.
Save this exercise to reflect on as you complete the course.
Supplementary Materials (Optional)
These materials are not compulsory for the course. This is a library of additional resources for those who want to go beyond the course and learn more about topics related to this module.
Readings
-Article: ’10 Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs’ https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/characteristics-of-successful-entrepreneurs
-Article: ‘Entrepreneurial Mindset: 5 Characteristics to Cultivate’ https://aofund.org/resource/entrepreneurial-mindset-5-characteristics-to-cultivate/
-Article: ‘What Does it Take to be an Entrepreneur?’ https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/what-does-it-take-to-be-an-entrepreneur
Videos