The question is straight-forward: can entrepreneurship be taught? Unfortunately the answer is neither black nor white. The problem being entrepreneurship is an area that area that requires some expertise, some experience, and sometimes pure luck. Some argue that entrepreneurs have inherit traits that make them more capable of starting a business, producing a good, or executing a service. On the other hand, Entrepreneur magazine says entrepreneurship can most certainly be taught. In fact, they rank the Top 100 Entrepreneurial Colleges each year demonstrating the academic resources dedicated to teaching entrepreneurship. Can both sides be right?
Obviously entrepreneurship is, and will continue to be, taught. In fact, Jerome Katz from St. Louis University has studied the trend and says that
I’ll say this over in notes as well, but….
I can be taught to be a surgeon, that doesn’t make me a good surgeon. It takes more than education to be a successful entrepreneur.
I’d have to disagree with you on your opinion about teaching individuals to become successful entrepreneurs. I think you can.
I’m involved in a program called Bizdom U in Detroit. Bizdom U was founded by Dan Gilbert, Chairman and majority owner of Quicken Loans, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s mission is to create entrepreneurs who will eventually start their businesses in the City of Detroit. The plan is to create wealth in the city. As part of our curriculum, we are building businesses and running them. We read books like “Good To Great” and “In Search of Excellence.” Every Friday, we have guest speakers–successful entrepreneurs like Magic Johnson, Dave Bing, and Josh Linkner– who talk to us about their experiences in business. We gain so much information from these speakers that could never be learned in a traditional classroom setting. All of my classmates and I have mentors who lead their own enterprises. We also travel with Dan G. on his business trips and sit in on the numerous meetings he attends. We participate in real-life business issues. For example, we are developing a marketing campaign for a new product that ePrize–the worlds most efficient company in interactive online promotions–is launching.
During the two years at Bizdom, entrepreneurs are required to build their own business plans. Upon graduation, we will pitch that plan to Dan G. If he deems it a viable business, he will fund 100% of our business on the condition that it is based in the City of Detroit.
So I think you can teach people to become entrepreneurs. I believe that with my hands-on experience, the networking with successful entrepreneurs, and the on-going support of Dan G will give me a great advantage over most.
Interesting insight, Jordan. I, for the most part agree. But, as others on 9rules have said: you can teach people something but not necessarily the drive, energy and other unique traits that make many people successful.
I think the Bizdom U project is an awesome idea. Reminds me of Y! Combinator and TechStars. Very cool. :)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/6735325.stm
Doesn’t it make you feel good when BBC is asking the same questions you are?
Yes, yes it does.