“Fail fast; learn faster.”
This mantra has echoed through startup culture for over a decade, yet how many of us truly embrace it? In my corporate career—marked by triumphs and setbacks—I've confronted my errors head-on, extracting lessons swiftly to avoid stagnation. Still, I've witnessed colleagues trapped in professional ruts, following familiar rhythms without challenge.
A few years ago, as my company neared its 25th anniversary and my children moved away to college, I asked myself: Can we instill this entrepreneurial mindset in higher education to produce adaptable, high-impact professionals?
To explore this, I reconnected with my alma mater, the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). What began as a dialogue evolved into UMSL Accelerate—a groundbreaking initiative where students gain real-world entrepreneurial insights from seasoned experts to propel their careers.
Disrupting the Status Quo in Higher Education
Media headlines paint a grim picture: higher education is strained. Student debt soars, and degrees alone are losing ground as employers prioritize proven skills and experience. The World Economic Forum predicted that by 2020, problem-solving, creativity, and negotiation would top demanded skills—a forecast now reality.
Higher education craves disruption.
When pitching UMSL Accelerate to the Dean, I insisted on action over theory: prioritizing soft skills mastery through practical application. Counter to tradition, it resonated—leadership aligned, and we launched.
Our aim isn't solely entrepreneurs; most won't start businesses. Yet the entrepreneurial mindset forges exceptional employees too. Students emerge equipped with battle-tested wisdom for any ambition.
Awakening Your Inner Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship isn't about self-employment—it's leveraging creativity, experience, and emotional intelligence to innovate, adapt, and lead.
For some, it's launching ventures; for others, it's switching firms, earning promotions, or pivoting careers boldly. Ready for your leap? Follow these three battle-tested strategies from my journey:
- Be Deliberate.
Entrepreneurs spot problems and innovate solutions while mitigating risks—scarce resources demand it. Similarly, eye your move (job quit or stretch role?) and tie vision to milestones.
Ask: Can I dedicate 10 hours weekly? Budget $100 monthly for skills, research? This builds discipline, accountability, and momentum against inertia.
- Crawl, Then Walk.
Resist sprinting unprepared. Build foundations: study entrepreneurial thinking, gain experience, navigate challenges, hone instincts, and network relentlessly. Engaging your professional community is invaluable for bold goals.
- Execute When Ready.
With network, skills, and research aligned, charge ahead.
This powered UMSL Accelerate: I crawled via leadership talks, walked as part-time consultant, then sprinted full-time, recruiting experts to scale.
Entrepreneurship is a mindset, not a job title. My shift from entrepreneur to educator proves it—accelerating students' paths. Apply these today for your career breakthrough.
Related: 4 Steps to Successful Career Mapping
