We made it – it’s a new year. A new year lends itself to a new start and 2021 is no different in it’s feeling as a marker for change.
While we don’t all make resolutions in the traditional sense, most of us look forward to the new year with some type of vision for our journey throughout the year.
With this journey in mind, we at the Center of Entrepreneurship would like to walk you through six behaviors that embody the entrepreneurial spirit that could serve you well during whatever you want to tackle this year.
These behaviors include innovating with technology, experimentation, managing risk, identifying opportunity, building relationships and perseverance.
INNOVATING WITH TECHNOLOGY
Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and take a course where you can gain hands-on experience using a technology that may be new or unfamiliar to you. New insights you gain can open a magnitude of doors in the future.
EXPERIMENTATION
Taking risks and experimenting aren’t just for startups or founders, these are things all of us can do in our everyday lives. It is easy to get stuck in a rut unless we take some risks or think creatively. Ask yourself, why not try that interesting sounding extracurricular, or branch out and join that club you’ve been eyeing. Getting out of your comfort zone will help you not take everyday things for granted.
MANAGING RISK
Identifying what could go wrong in any situation is always a good idea. If you know you get really anxious before a big exam, maybe try a new relaxation exercise, or if you know you have a lot to do mid-semester, look into time management strategies ahead of time to get you through. These positive behaviors you develop in school will carry with you long after.
IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITY
A great way for you to test or even find yourself is through identifying and seizing opportunities available to you. Challenge yourself while giving back by finding a volunteer opportunity, or maybe take a leap and look into a study abroad program that seems right for you. These new experiences could help shape your outlook moving into the future.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
We all have professors that we just seem to click with, lean into that. Those same profs could help you down the road as a mentor, work reference, or even (dare I say it) a friend.
PERSEVERANCE
It is a real understatement to say last year was difficult and trying in more ways than one. While 2020 did not quite turn out the way we all hoped, it taught us many lessons and we all learned to persevere. Let’s keep that going this year and make sure we overcome any obstacles 2021 might throw at us, whether it is juggling online learning with busy personal lives, or tackling technology issues while delivering a presentation.
The Center instills these behaviors in it’s students through classes and programs open to all schools and colleges that are designed to teach the skills needed to successfully translate high-potential projects and ideas into the world. In learning these skills, individuals become better prepared to identify and act on opportunities to solve problems in any organization, entrepreneurial endeavor, or even goals for the new year.
We hope these behaviors help guide you in all of your endeavors in 2021 and all of us at the CFE wish you a happy and successful New Year.