Do I Need an Entrepreneurship Degree to be a Good Entrepreneur?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Here’s a shocker. You don’t need an entrepreneurship degree to be an awesome entrepreneur. In fact, I would say that you need the opposite in most cases. Let’s look at this concept in reference to the survival of the team atmosphere and why someone who calls themselves an “entrepreneur” should use it wisely.

 

The origin of the word “team” stems from the commonly used acronym “Together Everyone Accomplishes More.” I’m sure you have heard the word thrown around in your corporate office or at your Christmas party where the CEO or Owner preaches unity, team building, and creating an office full of team builders.  This commonly used phrase has lost its credibility over the years. Sadly, entrepreneurs have attributed to the decline in the “team” concept. However, it is not ALL bad, and there are plenty of ways to look at entrepreneurship and “team” in the same context and have it really make sense.

 

What happened to this team concept? Has the “I need a degree in entrepreneurship to be successful” façade eroded the need for a “team” mentality when launching a start-up business, or growing your email list from 1,000 to 10,000?

 

I leave that up for debate.

 

We live in a world where instant gratification reins supreme. Often times we concern ourselves with “how much money can we make” and “how quickly can we make it” with little to no consideration in how we get there to do it. In many cases we also don’t worry about those who are left in our path as we work towards success.

 

I’m an entrepreneur myself. I have built Berman Media PD to a 6 figure company going on its third year in a row. However, I for sure don’t have a degree in entrepreneurship, and I most definitely haven’t gotten here from things I learned in a textbook or from magical candy that makes me smart.

 

I wish, though!

 

Let’s be honest, getting a degree in anything, whether it’s in entrepreneurship, business, marketing or the like, doesn’t make you magically successful overnight. Being part of a TEAM of people with similar goals, dreams, strategies etc. is where your focus should be.

 

There is not a single part of my business that I have created or implemented that hasn’t been reviewed by others. This why I want to stress this concept of TEAM to anyone reading this If they are pursuing a career in entrepreneurship.

 

No matter how much you think you can do it all, you can’t. I promise. It is simply not possible. As an entrepreneur I understand the desire to take the bull by the horns, especially in the beginning because you are gung ho. I also understand the feeling of “no one else will work as hard as I do.” I quickly did realize, however, just how critical it was to have a group of team players and others who shared a passion for success.

 

Let’s break the concept of team down, and I will give you three main reasons to look at that will help you understand the nature of this concept.

 

TEAM, “Together everyone achieves more.” Is there an “I” in startup? No. Ok, good, we all agree on that. So then why would we act like that when building a company?

 

Think strategy for a second. How much more can you get out of a brainstorming session with two or more people than if you sat by yourself trying to make a list of ideas? I would almost guarantee that your list would be darn near double in your two-person group. Add a few more like minded people into that meeting, and that list of strategic ideas skyrockets.

 

Reason 1:

 

Constructive Criticism

I can’t even begin to describe the importance of having healthy and useful constructive criticism when it comes to growing your business.

 

Growing a business has tons of moving parts. It is inevitable and, frankly, almost healthy for an entrepreneur to overlook things when they are head down, eyes forward. This is where your team members come into play. Having teammates that can point out mistakes without hesitating may be just the thing you need to take your business to the promise land. It is important in this moment to think that although you may be the entrepreneur and leader of the venture that you are undertaking, it is by no means a free pass to thinking you are perfect.

 

Reason 2:

 

There is more than 1 way to tackle a problem

Multiple perspectives in the world of business is a hot concept.

 

There is something to be said for an entrepreneur who can successfully look at his team and understand that one of them may have a better solution to an issue then he/she does. We must realize that as entrepreneurs we are part of a world where mistakes happen and we are in many cases carving a path where there hasn’t been one before. This opens the door to new issues, unforeseen circumstances, and other stumbles on the way to success. It is again in that moment that utilizing your team members and their brains can be an awesome way to find a superior solution.

Reason 3

Network Your Face Off

Two brains are better then one! Duh! But really…..

 

Every person that you have on your team is almost like getting a free list of advertising and connections for your new business. It’s like having a little special V.I.P. notebook in your pocket of people to go to for help….but it’s free!

 

Think of the saying you hear people throw around all the time. “They must know someone,” or “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Both popular statements in the business world, and they aren’t wrong. However, there is a sure fire way to make sure you are one of the people others are saying those things about by making sure you pick the right players for your team.

 

Never be caught with having a small network. Think about how much more you can get out of having a handful of people running around growing the network for your business versus just you having to do EVERYTHING.

 

 

Throw that entrepreneurship degree you swore you had to have out the window

 

The days of having to do it all are long gone, my friends. There is and will always be those in the business world who feel like they have to do it alone. They may succeed, and of course we hope they do, but if they believed in the power of TEAM I can promise you that their chances for success would be better and their timeline to achieving it is much faster.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]