Maria Lisa Polegatto - January 2024
Entrepreneurial Spirit, Mindset and Moonshots For Innovation
In this changing world we need to have courage to take risks for changes to occur (Alexandros, 2017). We need to shoot for the moon by: 1) identifying a huge issue to resolve; 2) finding a revolutionary approach to solve the issue; and 3) use technology for the solution to work (Capaldi, 2017)
Change can be made by entrepreneurs such as social entrepreneurs who identify a social issue and apply themselves to attain social change (Zhao, 2012). This group is inviting expanses of “talent, money, and attention” globally (Martin & Osberg, 2007). Social entrepreneurship portends the necessity “to drive social change” to invoke transformational benefits for society (Martin & Osberg, 2007).
While there is a big umbrella under which people identify, the definition of social entrepreneurship includes the existence of the following three mechanisms: (1) identifying a balanced but “inherently unjust equilibrium” that produces the “exclusion, marginalization, or suffering” of a portion of humanity lacking the financial ability or political power to attain transformative benefits on its own; (2) identifying an opening to develop a socially benefiting proposal, bearing “inspiration, creativity, direct action, courage, and fortitude”; and (3) imitating a new, balanced equilibrium that deals with stuck potential or lessens the anguish of the “targeted group”, and through “imitation” to create a balanced ecosystem confirming an improved “future for the targeted group” and society (Martin & Osberg, 2007).
The missing ingredient in society and particularly in our youth is “entrepreneurial mindset” which is not taught in most formal education (Zhao, 2012). Entrepreneurial mindset is not the same as entrepreneurial education and many successful entrepreneurs succeed in spite of their schooling (Zhao, 2012). While we school people with the intention to fill jobs, we need to allow people to grow their creativity and self confidence to turn ideas into action making entrepreneurial mindset new skills in survival mode that include communicating effectively, curiosity, and critically thinking in everyone (Zhao, 2012).
It is humanity’s role to be both enterprising and creative (Zhao, 2012). “Creativity, curiosity, imagination, risk taking, and collaboration are the foundations of being an entrepreneur with the fundamental desire to creatively find solutions to issues (Zhao, 2012). While improving the status qua we also are social beings that communicate and collaborate to create, innovate, imagine, and dream solutions (Zhao, 2012).
An issue with entrepreneurial mindset is the competition with educational test scores which are of greater relevance in educational settings (Zhao, 2012). Boosting of test scores has created a “Creativity Crisis” pushing out creative arts, language, programs, options leading more students to drop out of school (Zhao, 2012). Although the same curriculum can produce results, it can harm the student by stifling their inner child that is full of curiosity, creativity, risk taking, entrepreneurial spirit globally (Zhao, 2012).
We need instead to inspire people, including youth, to use their mindset skills to discover their passions for changes in the world by taking huge moonshots and innovating with their inner spirit, creativity and inspiration.
Further Resources
| |
References
Bryan Alexandros, Bryan. (2017, September 27). Moonshot thinking. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA4jcS6Y34w
Capaldi, Edward. (2017b, September 13). What is Moonshot thinking. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEr4j8kgwOk
Martin, R. L., & Osberg, S. (2007). Social entrepreneurship: the case for definition. In
Stanford social innovation review (Vol. 5, Issue 2, pp. 28-). Stanford Social
Innovation Review, Stanford University.
Zhao, Y. (2012). World class learners : educating creative and entrepreneurial students.
Corwin Press, a Joint Publication with the National Association of elementary
School Principals.
Capaldi, Edward. (2017b, September 13). What is Moonshot thinking. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEr4j8kgwOk
Martin, R. L., & Osberg, S. (2007). Social entrepreneurship: the case for definition. In
Stanford social innovation review (Vol. 5, Issue 2, pp. 28-). Stanford Social
Innovation Review, Stanford University.
Zhao, Y. (2012). World class learners : educating creative and entrepreneurial students.
Corwin Press, a Joint Publication with the National Association of elementary
School Principals.
#entrepreneur #sustainability #education #academictwitter #innovation