Some people have a knack for business. They know how to navigate their way on social media to promote themselves, and who to network with and at which events. But, for someone who is not naturally gifted in this way, there are many ways to learn how to be an entrepreneur.
What Is Entrepreneurship?
In simple terms, entrepreneurship refers to creating your own business, whether selling t-shirts, jewelry, or starting a consulting firm or marketing agency. All of these are good examples of entrepreneurship.
Types of Entrepreneurship
There are a few different types of entrepreneurship. Below are the four most common.
Small Business
Small business entrepreneurship is for those content with smaller profits. Some small entrepreneurs also seek a good standing within the local community by selling products they have made themselves or by selling those made by other local firms.
Examples of small businesses include some firms in the sectors of construction, plumbing, and HVAC, as well as grocery stores, clothing stores, salons, and record shops.
Start-ups
Start-up firms are different from small businesses. Like small businesses, they start small, but the goal is to grow larger. People who start these businesses look for ways of meeting a need, solving a problem, or improving a process.
A good example is tech companies. If a business needs a better onboarding system, a tech start-up may create an app that is easier to use and more cost effective than the existing solutions. Most start-ups are funded by venture capitals.
Social Entrepreneurship
Many entrepreneurs strive to make a lot of money, but social entrepreneurs are somewhat the opposite. They focus on trying to make the world a better place by selling products or services that focus on social issues.
Many of these businesses are non-profits. Some good examples of socially-minded firms are companies that sell bracelets or shirts and donate the profits towards a charity. For example, someone can sell bracelets that represent the ocean to raise awareness.
Large Companies
When you think of large companies, you may think of Amazon, Apple, or Microsoft. These are great examples of large company entrepreneurship. Large companies create and sell multiple products or services that are in demand. Large companies have many executives that help grow the business.
Learning Entrepreneurship
There are many ways to learn entrepreneurship. It is a very broad field—individuals can take a variety of classes in different areas to gain a better understanding of what they may want to do. Some skills—many, in fact—can be learned; others are part of a person’s personality such as drive, ambition, social skills, and so on.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is something learned throughout a lifetime. That being said, there are many courses available to learn particular aspects of entrepreneurship.
They may take a few weeks to complete. Entrepreneurs are life-long learners who aim to grow their company and learn new skills every day.
How to Learn Entrepreneurship: Step-by-Step
If you are interested in becoming a successful entrepreneur, here is a step-by-step guide.
- Learn skills. First things first. To be a successful entrepreneur, you will need to learn the skills that you are interested in. If you want to open a finance consulting firm, begin by assessing what your skills are and what you need to learn. There are many free online courses available that will teach you any skill.
- Do your research. Constantly research the topic you are targeting. For example, if you want to create a t-shirt company, do your research: know who your competitors are, what they are doing, what the market looks like, and so on.
- Network. One of the most important parts of entrepreneurship is networking with professionals who may need your product. Show them why your product is good for them and see what happens. It is very likely that you will also need a mentor. Find someone who will help you reach your goals by giving you advice and pointers in areas where you need improvement.
- Develop a business plan. If you feel you are ready to start your company, create a business plan, outlining your goals, your target market, and other elements of the enterprise. Once this blueprint for the business is complete and you have earned the necessary capital, start building your business.
The Best Entrepreneurship Courses and Training
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Caption: There are many courses available for those who want to learn entrepreneurship.
There are many entrepreneurship classes and training courses available for individuals who want to learn more about running a successful business. Consider the online and in-person courses listed below.
Best Online and In-Person Entrepreneurship Courses
Here are some of the best online entrepreneurship and in-person courses available. Keep in mind that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some in-person classes may have been moved online temporarily.
Coursera
Price: Free
Courses:
- English for Business and Entrepreneurship
- Brand Management: Aligning Business, Brand and Behaviour
- Design Thinking for Innovation
- Introduction to Social Media Marketing
Coursera partners with many different course websites and universities to bring the best courses available for free. In these entrepreneurship courses, students learn multiple different aspects of running a business.
As being an entrepreneur involves many different skill sets, these are some great courses for you to learn. They include basic social media marketing, learning to think innovatively to run your business and make decisions, brand management, and how to write a business plan.
Udemy
Price: Varies
Courses:
- Intro to Entrepreneurship: Get Started as an Entrepreneur
- The Complete Business Plan Course
- How to Come Up With Killer Business Ideas: Complete Workshop
- The Essential Guide to Entrepreneurship by Guy Kawaski
Udemy offers various entrepreneurship courses. Learn how to pitch ideas, the dos and don’ts of business, innovation, creating a business plan, problem-solving, business dynamics, and much more.
Future Learn
Price: Varies
Courses:
- Technology Entrepreneurship: How to Start a New Venture
- Demystifying Entrepreneurship: How to Think Like an Entrepreneur
- Business Growth: Tackling the Scale-Up Challenge
- Contract Management: Building Relationships in Business
Future Learn offers various courses in different aspects of entrepreneurship. These courses are well-rounded so that students can learn all they need to succeed. Students learn how to build relationships with new clients, how to grow a start-up, the different types of entrepreneurship, and how to start a new venture.
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edX
Price: Varies
Courses:
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- You Can Innovate: User Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurial Mindset and Leadership
edX offers various courses in entrepreneurship to teach students how to innovate and think like a leader. Students learn about leadership, engaging stakeholders, business strategies, adding trends, and innovation.
Best Entrepreneurship Books
If you learn better through books, there are many many out there that will teach you the ins and outs of entrepreneurship and how to be successful. Many entrepreneurs read books that teach them new skills and keep their minds fresh and energized. In a Time Magazine interview, Bill Gates says: “Every book teaches me something new or helps me see things differently.”
Zero to One: Notes on Startups or How to Build the Future – Peter Thiel and Blake Masters
This book by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters focuses on building a future. It discusses the skills needed to be an entrepreneur and how to innovate to be successful. It mainly focuses on learning to think for yourself.
Dream Beyond Borders: Priceless Lessons for Every Entrepreneur – Reza Sarshogi and Calvin Bowry
This book tells a story through which the reader learns many business-related lessons. You will read about Reza Sarshogi and the many hardships in his journey to build a successful business. This is a great read for those who want solid business advice.
How I Built This: The Unexpected Paths to Success from the World’s Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs – Guy Raz
In this book, Guy Raz talks about the world’s most inspiring entrepreneurs and how they became successful. This title is for anyone interested in starting a new venture and curious about the unexpected ways others have started their own businesses.
Best Online Entrepreneurship Resources
There are many resources for new entrepreneurs to take advantage of if they need some extra help. Below is a list of the best ones.
YouTube
YouTube is a great resource for anyone, especially if you are an aspiring entrepreneur. There are thousands of videos online teeming with lessons and advice on becoming an entrepreneur. Many of these videos are by real entrepreneurs themselves who want to help other people.
JumpStart
JumpStart is an excellent resource for entrepreneurs. If you are starting your own business, JumpStart can help you out. It has useful resources to help businesses overcome common obstacles. The great thing about JumpStart is that it functions as a venture capital investor, providing funding to businesses that merit it.
Small Business Administration
Small Business Administration is a government website with excellent resources for small business owners. You’ll learn about creating a business plan, launching and managing a business, and growing your enterprises as well as your profit. SBA is a great, government-sponsored resource for entrepreneurs in need of step-by-step assistance.
Should You Study Entrepreneurship?
There are many great reasons to study entrepreneurship. If you are looking to create your own business and want to learn new skills, then you should definitely consider investing time in studying the subject. The great thing about being an entrepreneur is that there is no limit to the amount of money you can potentially make. You are your own boss and you can make a lot of money doing what you love.
To be a successful entrepreneur you need a wide range of skills. Some of the main ones are being innovative, time management, ambition, networking, great communication skills, and financial management. These skills make a great entrepreneur. If you lack any of them, you can definitely learn them.
We hope this article will help you decide which entrepreneurship course to take to develop your career. If you are already an entrepreneur and want to learn more skills, there are many more courses to help you broaden your skillset. So, if you are looking to become the next Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos, start by taking these courses and learn to grow your business.
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