Some things in life (and work) can’t be absorbed in school or taught in the office. They cultivate over time and become part of our existence. In the business world, this is what we call the development of the entrepreneurial spirit.
It ripens in individuals who have a true passion for creating something from scratch and they are willing to do anything to achieve those goals. You don’t need to own a million-dollar business to exhibit qualities of having an entrepreneurial spirit. It’s that special ‘je ne sais quoi’ that you exhibit everyday and how you tackle your life and career.
What is an entrepreneurial spirit?
As Forbes adequately puts it, “Entrepreneurial spirit is a mindset. It's an attitude and approach to thinking that actively seeks out change, rather than waiting to adapt to change. It's a mindset that embraces critical questioning, innovation, service and continuous improvement.”
A word so common on our tongues, but do we know what it actually means? If we had to delve deep into the roots of what exactly is entrepreneurial spirit, a starting point would be the definition of an entrepreneur, it’s French for “risk-taker”. Today the term connotes leadership, initiative and innovation in business. One’s “spirit” is built on self-motivation, inner drive and the dire need to pursue a passion. By nature, entrepreneurs are creative, original and are daredevils. It takes discipline and strong communication skills as well as characteristics such as optimism, belief in one’s self and courage.
