Worknow_Aotearoa_NZ

It’s great to see that our Gen Y entrepreneurial spirit is being noticed in industry and investment circles. Another positive to hear talk of increased funding for young entrepreneurs.

I support the belief that failure offers a wealth of positive learning outcomes. I believe in collaboration, building shared intelligence and I recognise that we will always have much to learn.

Indeed, I welcome support for environments that nurture entrepreneurship, that offer networking and growth opportunities and increase resourcing options for young entrepreneurs.

“The industry knows where the opportunities are, and these young guys have the capability and capacity. We need to go to a forum where we can bring these elements together and allow the market to decide where the solutions are and where the investments happen…If government doesn’t do it, if the software industry doesn’t do it, if the investment industry doesn’t do it, it’s going to happen generationally…within the next 20 years as these kids grow from college to business, they are naturally going to get entrepreneurial understanding and experience. We can either do nothing and wait for that to happen or we can interject and start to facilitate a sort of collaboration, ” Source CIO

20 years vs 2012

Fortunately,  NZ will not have to wait 2 years let alone 20 to begin seeing the value contributed by it’s next generation of entrepreneurs.

I am a member of a brilliant web start up community called the Distiller. We thrive on collaboration and continually seek ways to connect with industry.

We would welcome government, business, community and industry investors to “interject” but  – so you know – the collaboration you speak of facilitating, the forums for connecting that you suggest, we are working on this already, perhaps even ahead of you on this one. Investment welcome:-) watch this space….

Our Freedom of Expression

Technology has made sharing opinions, information and knowledge easier. We no longer need a degree in Journalism or a PhD to publish findings. Having a voice no longer requires the interest of a publisher or editor yet clearly our growing freedom of expression is threatening to some people.

The rise of social networking sites is indeed a disturbing trend that may be continuing to fuel the narcissism of a generation [Gen Y] becoming more desperate than ever to maintain their fragile self-esteem. Source

I wonder what this Dr would say about the need to adapt? Because despite all the evidence gathered in support of their stated point of view there is much more to prove that Social media is not just a “trend”, it is a new way of connecting and communicating.

For more information please visit the source @ http://www.personalizemedia.com/garys-social-media-count/

Worknow, Find Connect & Work Together

There is so much more than ego in play here. Social networking tools can harnesss the collective potential of people and our new venture team is proof that they can be applied to entrepreneurship and new business creation. It’s our intent to help others like us – young aspiring and active entrepreneurs, business catalysts and change makers – use these tools to;

• Showcase their talents, skills and values
• Connect with people of common purpose and vision
• Find work experience and business opportunities
• Build teams with which to drive the creation of new business

Developing Entrepreneurs vs Employees

Entrepreneurship is not yet considered a viable alternative to the professions because, as Sam Morgan noted November 2008,  New Zealander’s tend to view entrepreneurship as a niche, high risk, slightly crazy alternative  to employment.

This sentiment permeates New Zealand’s culture as was confirmed when I spoke to students attending the Otago University Career fair about news of a trend in New Zealand towards private contracting instead of employment.

When asked whether they would consider private contracting as an alternative to employment some did not consider it a viable option while those that did support the alternative noted that it’s often seen as too risky.

Our education system undermines the development of a more entrepreneurial culture by encouraging our smartest people towards  “safe, secure professions” such as lawyers, accountants, and doctors.

“We seem to have focused wrongly on building CVs rather than building businesses” Sam Morgan

As a result we have a wealth of talented people preparing themselves to be “employees” rather than cultivating talents which could drive economic growth through the creation of new business and new jobs.

Aotearoa NZ, Past Achievements.

We  would do well to remember more often that our small pacific nation has lead some of the best innovations  and achievements of the last century.

Rutherford split the atom, Hamilton built the first jet engine.  We were the first to allow women the right to vote and our spirit of adventure inspired Sir Ed to summit the tallest peak on earth.

More recently, Sam Morgan and Trademe introduced us to a new world of buying and selling online and Stephen Tindall and the Warehouse forced us to reconsider our need for plastic bags. History proves, we are an innovative nation.

Present, Our Entrepreneurial Nation

Entrepreneurship is one of our economic strengths. In 2008 Auckland was voted the most entrepreneurial city of the OECD. The same research in 2006 identified Maori as the third most entrepreneurial people in the OECD yet we still promote the fallacy that entrepreneurship is too “high risk” without qualifying or highlighting any of the benefits of risk vs reward.

Future of Entrepreneurship

Gen Y demographic research shows that more than any previous generation Gen Y has a more flexible and entrepreneurial approach to work.  The traditional dependency on employers has begun to weaken as more and more young people recognise the potential we have to connect with others in order to create our own forms of work.

While our entrepreneurial and flexible approach to work demands of us greater self-reliance in return we reap the ability to shape our own future rather than “comply” or “conform” to the expectations of a workforce that often fails to utilise our talent or understand our work ethic.

Inspire Encourage & Support Change

Rather than bemoaning the generational differences we suggest it is time to inspire and encourage a more entrepreneurial culture to support the development and growth of talented “business owners & teams” rather than just “employees” .

1. Educate and promote the economic, lifestyle and personal benefits of a more entrepreneurial culture
2. Encourage and support entrepreneurship as a viable alternative to the traditional “professions”
3. Celebrate the  success’ of our talent people

Worknow, Aotearoa NZ

• We encourage and support a more flexible and entrepreneurial work ethic.
• We work to connect all that share this philosophy so that together we can build a more entrepreneurial culture for Aotearoa NZ.