Are you weary of the hamster wheel that is your 9-to-5? Are you torn between the siren call of unbridled freedom and the soothing lullaby of steady paychecks?

If you're currently stuck in a career crossroads, you might be pondering the eternal question: Should I rock the boat and start my own business, or play it safe and stick with the status quo? Well, fear not my indecisive friend, let's dive into the murky waters of entrepreneurship versus intrapreneurship and see what lurks beneath the surface.

Starting a business: The entrepreneur's journey

Ah, the life of an entrepreneur. Starting a business is like taking a trip to the amusement park — it's a rollercoaster ride full of twists and turns. Sure, you get to choose your own adventure and chase your dreams, but be prepared to hold on tight and scream your lungs out.

Building a successful business requires blood, sweat and tears — and sometimes a little bit of vomit. But if you're brave enough to take on the challenge, you could be the next big thing in the business world.

Entrepreneurs have the luxury of calling the shots and pursuing their wildest dreams. They can bring their craziest ideas to life and make it big. And let's not forget the sweet smell of success (and money) that comes with it.

But let's be real, the journey to the top is like navigating a minefield blindfolded. According to a study by the Small Business Administration, there's a high chance of stepping on a bomb and having your business blown to smithereens. So, get ready to take that leap of faith and hope for the best.

Innovating within a company: The intrapreneur's journey

Ah, the intrapreneur. The perfect solution for those who want to dip their toes into entrepreneurship without fully committing to the risk and uncertainty of starting their own business.

Intrapreneurs get to innovate and be creative within the confines of a pre-existing corporate structure. They can enjoy the stability of a steady paycheck, job security and even health benefits if they're lucky.

But, let's be real, being an intrapreneur isn't all sunshine and rainbows either. You have to deal with corporate bureaucracy, office politics and probably attend an endless stream of meetings. And forget about being your own boss, because your ideas still have to go through a chain of command. And while you may get a pat on the back for a job well done, don't expect a giant bonus or a corner office with a view.

So, which one is better? There's no right answer, as both have their pros and cons. But let's take a look at some examples.

Success stories

Here are some success stories of both entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs that demonstrate their impact on the business world:

• Elon Musk: Check out this guy Elon Musk, a real up-and-comer in the business world. He's the mastermind behind companies like PayPal, Tesla Motors, SpaceX, Neuralink and The Boring Company. He's a real trailblazer in the automotive industry, having shaken things up with electric cars and made space exploration a reality with reusable rockets. You could say he's kind of a big deal.

 

• Sarah Leary and Nirav Tolia: The founders of Nextdoor, a private social network for neighborhoods, have successfully connected people within communities. Their platform has become the virtual equivalent of a bustling town square, where local businesses can hawk their wares to unsuspecting passersby and neighbors can trade their homemade goods and services with one another. With over 10 million registered users, it's no wonder that the platform has more users than the population of some small countries. It's like a virtual party where everyone and their pets are invited.

 

• Sara Blakely: The founder of Spanx started her business from her apartment with only $5,000 in savings. She faced many rejections before her product was finally picked up by a major department store. Well, look at her now! Her company is worth a whopping billion dollars, and she's rolling in cash like Scrooge McDuck in his money bin. She's living the American dream and making us all feel like underachievers.

 

• Tina Sharkey and Ido Leffler: The founders of Brandless, an ecommerce company that sells high-quality products without a brand name, have disrupted the consumer goods industry. They have built a successful business by eliminating the middleman and offering affordable, sustainable products.

On the other hand, intrapreneurs have also made significant contributions to the success of many companies. Here are some examples:

• Sheryl Sandberg: As the second-in-command at Facebook, Sandberg has been the company's resident taskmaster, keeping things running smoothly and monetizing the heck out of their user base through advertising.

 

• Jeff Wilke: Wilke, the all-knowing master of Amazon's consumer business(retired now), had been the chosen one responsible for expanding the company's reach to every corner of the world. He led his minions to increase the product offerings to satisfy every customer's whims and fancies, and he even managed to ensure their undying loyalty through exceptional customer service.

 

• Evan Spiegel: As the CEO of Snapchat, Spiegel has created a platform that has become popular among younger generations. His innovative ideas have helped the company grow and adapt to changing trends in social media.

 

• Ginni Rometty: Rometty, the former CEO of IBM, magically transformed the company by waving her wand and making hardware disappear into thin air. She also conjured up the company's focus on software and services and introduced new spells like artificial intelligence and blockchain to keep IBM relevant in the modern world.

So, what can we learn from these examples? Well, first of all, there's no magical formula for success, whether you're starting your own business or trying to innovate within a company. But hey, who knows? You might just stumble upon the next big thing and become the talk of the town. All you need is a brilliant idea, a solid plan and a bit of stubbornness to see it through. Easy peasy, right?

My advice

As someone who has seen both sides of the coin, my advice to both entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs is to always stay curious, take reckless risks and rely heavily on the advice of others. Remember, you can't do it all on your own, so find some yes-men and build your network.

And if you ever feel like you're not good enough, just know that even successful leaders like Richard Branson and Sheryl Sandberg have struggled with imposter syndrome at some point in their careers. So, take comfort in the fact that it's a common experience, and don't let it hold you back from reaching your full potential.

Oh, don't worry about the obstacles that may come your way! As an entrepreneur or an intrapreneur, you'll face plenty of difficulties, but just ignore them and keep pushing towards your goals. After all, who needs a plan B when you have a plan A and sheer determination?

So, what if the odds are against you? Just keep hustling, and success will surely follow! Remember, as the great inventor Thomas Edison once said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." So, keep pushing forward, keep learning, and keep adapting.

Who knows, maybe one day you'll end up like Elon Musk, starting your own car company and launching rockets into space, or like an intrapreneur at Google, inventing the next big thing in tech. Or maybe you'll just end up creating the world's most innovative paperclip. Hey, someone's gotta do it, right?



Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Increasing productivity, improving organizational skills, and fostering a collaborative environment are all goals that business owners strive to achieve through technology. As such, calendar apps are excellent technology additions. You can keep your team up to date and improve communication with these tools.

Even though most computers and smartphones come with built-in calendars, there are third-party apps that can help you manage tasks, automate tasks, schedule events, and do more. However, you really want a digital that comes with the following features:

• User-friendly. An intuitive and user-friendly shared calendar app should require minimal navigation and maintenance. Moreover, they should simplify and streamline the collaboration process.
• A simple scheduler. Scheduling should be easy with a shared calendar, which organizes everyone’s schedule. It would be nice to be able to see your coworkers’ availability at a glance, for instance. Customizable features, multiple calendar options, and location- and time-based reminders are also helpful.
• The ability to collaborate and share. Your team should have access to your availability, event invitations, and calendars. Within the app, you can also share documents and projects, calendars, and events.
• Cross-platform compatibility. It is important to have cross-platform support because not everyone has access to the same platform. No matter what device people use, everyone is on the same page, eliminating the need for multiple apps.
• Synchronization is automatic. The use of auto-syncing can save you a great deal of time. It is ideal that any calendar updates shared with you will sync with everyone else’s accounts as well. In addition to automatic syncing, many calendar apps integrate with other applications.

But, if you’re still not convinced, here are the benefits of using a digital calendar for business.

Promotes productivity and communication in the workplace.

Productivity is a concern for every business. However, many business owners focus on increasing productivity without considering communication. Why’s that a problem? Lack of communication costs companies with 100 employees $420,000 annually.

Thanks to technology, your business can reach even greater heights. Specifically, by utilizing technology, you can enhance your business communication.

Having a group calendar makes it easy to organize meetings and assignments. Calendars update automatically when changes are made, so there’s no confusion.

You can easily coordinate team meetings and events if you have an overview of everyone’s schedule. That’s right; you won’t have to contact everyone separately.

Custom events and online meetings can be scheduled with Calendar. You can also customize the scheduling pages. After that, you can choose what time slots to display. You’ll also see meetings from your scheduling app on your Calendar. It’s a lot easier than emailing back and forth.

Meetings are now more organized.

If you’ve invited team members to business meetings, you can see if they’ve RSVP’d. To get an answer, you can follow-up with them if they haven’t responded.

Having a more unified front will make video conferencing or in-person meetings more productive when you know who is attending. There’s no point in assigning them responsibilities or sending an agenda if they’re not going to attend.

It’s easy to schedule recurring meetings.

With most digital calendars, setting up recurring meetings is as straightforward as creating an invitation. Determine if the event will occur only once or regularly and, if not, how frequently.

You can use this method to set reminders and notifications. In addition to being necessary for one-time meetings, they also keep attendees prepared and organized for multiple sessions.

Additionally, you can block out important stakeholders’ calendars. A CEO who needs quarterly meetings with his or her senior executives is more likely to meet with them through recurring meetings.

It increases creativity and saves time.

Time is always an issue when organizing team meetings with your busy team. When scheduling them, the same applies. It saves you time, however, to find the best day and time between them by using public calendars. Additionally, you will never be overbooked or underbooked.

Business calendars are like personal assistants who manage the entire schedule of your company.

In addition, shared calendars can increase productivity since you have to switch back to your other task after checking your email for approximately 16 minutes.

Keeping things transparent.

You can hold everyone accountable while respecting boundaries when you know when they are available or unavailable. With a task-based calendar, your employees will know what to work on and when, and you’ll remember how to divide up work among everyone.

Managers can schedule crucial tasks for when employees are most likely to accomplish them by making themselves available during their most productive work times.

It allows you to balance tasks.

With a company-shared calendar, you can also distribute tasks among your teammates. The team calendar can help you determine each employee’s availability and commitments. This enables them to better schedule tasks, projects, and appointments.

Using a previous team calendar, you can see what your colleagues did, who they met with, and what assignments they did. Data like this can also be used to plan future projects.

If an employee’s calendar is full, you can delegate the task to another employee. You’ll know your calendar is working if everyone’s calendar is manageable and all tasks have been assigned evenly.

Better work-life balance.

Most workers today struggle to create healthy boundaries between work time and personal time. According to one 2020 survey, 92% of knowledge workers regularly work on weekends and nights.

Fortunately, calendar blocking can help you achieve work-life balance. Blocking out personal time on your calendar is a great way to prioritize things outside of work that is important to you. In turn, you can achieve work-life balance if you choose the right path.

In the same way you would block out a client meeting after work — you will make family time a priority if you block it out on your calendar. Alternatively, if you didn’t block it out, you might end up staying late to finish a project and missing out on quality time with your children or spouse.

Calendar blocking can also help you figure out schedule imbalances. If 80 percent of your weekly calendar block is work-related, you don’t spend 20 percent of your time on personal stuff. Knowing this can help you figure out how to balance work and personal time.

Keeping track of important events is important.

With a shared calendar, your company can plan ahead and attend events in advance, offering new opportunities for networking. You can also use a calendar to remind you to follow up on the initial contact you made.

A shared calendar is also indispensable for trade shows and networking events. Every year, thousands of trade fairs and exhibitions are held across every industry. You’ll get a better idea of what to expect by attending a few events. If your business benefits from this event, you can attend it every year.

Know when important dates are coming up.

Attending events is crucial to getting customers, and it can be a rapid process. In addition, your marketing strategy should include social media, internet content, and public relations.

All of these things can be scheduled using a shared calendar. You can, for example, respond to industry news quickly. That’s a big deal for public relations. If breaking news breaks, a reporter might take your comment as representing the industry.

Additionally, a business calendar can provide you with a roadmap for your content. Why? You can use it to keep track of content performance, organize ideas, and schedule content consistently.

Maintains the financial health of the business.

“Getting and staying organized for the long haul requires developing protocols and processes that close (or bridge) time management and financial management gaps,” writes Abby Miller in a Calendar piece.

“If your struggle with self-organization is an everyday occurrence, try these steps,” adds Abby. “First, they’ll help reinforce weak spots with strong, proven practices.” You’ll notice an increase in performance and efficiency within a few weeks of making consistent changes.

• Keeps your credit score high by paying your bills on time.
• Your invoices will be due sooner, so you’ll get paid faster.
• By consolidating your calendars, you can keep your personal and professional lives organized.
• It lets you figure out where your organization’s problems are so you can fix them. You can find out why the project was delayed by reviewing status updates, for example.

Gives team members time to relax and build relationships.

We should spend our office time wisely, but we shouldn’t forget to enjoy ourselves. After all, having fun at work is essential to building a unified workplace culture.

When team building is not scheduled in advance, it can be difficult to schedule it in the midst of work. Due to the fact that most businesses qualify as large groups, schedulers must be aware of everyone else’s availability. It’s also easier to see everyone’s availability on one calendar.



Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/

As parents and educators, we all want our adolescents to succeed. We want them to grow into confident, capable and resilient adults who can overcome challenges and achieve their goals. Nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset and skill set in adolescents is highly important, even if they don't have aspirations to become business owners or entrepreneurs. Here are some ways you can encourage adolescent growth:

1. Develop a growth mindset

Developing a growth mindset is critical to adolescent growth and success. Adolescents who believe their abilities can be developed through hard work and dedication tend to perform better than those who believe their abilities are fixed. Encouraging a growth mindset requires a shift from focusing on innate abilities to valuing effort and resilience. Praising effort over innate ability can help reinforce this shift in mindset.

For example, when a teenager tries to learn a new skill or complete a challenging task, it's essential to acknowledge and praise their hard work. When faced with setbacks or failure, it's important to teach adolescents that these experiences are opportunities to learn and grow. Emphasizing the importance of persistence and resilience can help adolescents develop the skills and mindset needed to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. Encouraging a growth mindset in adolescents can help them develop confidence in their ability to learn and grow, setting them on a path to long-term success.

2. Encourage independence

Adolescents need opportunities to make decisions and take responsibility for their actions, which helps them build confidence and decision-making skills. As a parent or guardian, it's essential to encourage your teenager to take on tasks and projects that challenge them and allow them to make decisions on their own. Providing them with age-appropriate responsibilities, such as managing their schedule, completing household chores or organizing a community service project, can help them develop the skills needed to be self-sufficient and independent.

While it may be tempting to micromanage or take over tasks to ensure they are done correctly, resisting this urge and giving adolescents the space they need to learn and grow is essential. This will help them develop a sense of ownership and responsibility, which can lead to increased motivation and achievement. Encouraging independence in adolescents can be a delicate balance between offering guidance and support while also giving them the space to make their own decisions and learn from their mistakes.

3. Provide mentorship

Mentorship and guidance from adults/professionals with experience in areas your adolescent is interested in can be one of the fastest ways for them to learn. Encourage them to seek out mentors in their field of interest, and provide them with access to resources and opportunities that can help them grow and develop. Help them find local networking events, and attend with them. Take an interest in what they're doing, and share their excitement for their passions.

4. Resilience is key

Life is full of ups and downs, and adolescents need to learn how to bounce back from setbacks and challenges. Encourage them to focus on their strengths and accomplishments rather than dwelling on their mistakes or shortcomings. Help them develop a growth mindset, where they view challenges and failures as opportunities to learn and grow rather than as a reflection of their abilities. Praising their effort and hard work, rather than their innate abilities, can also help foster a growth mindset.

It's important to note that building resilience is an ongoing process that takes time and effort. Adolescents may struggle with setbacks and challenges, but with your guidance and support, they can learn to cope and bounce back stronger than ever. Encourage them to be patient with themselves and to focus on their progress rather than perfection. If your teen is struggling with confidence, there is nothing wrong with enrolling them in an individual teen therapy program to gain expert help. By teaching coping strategies and promoting a positive mindset, you can help your teenager develop resilience and thrive in all areas of their life.

5. Encourage entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is an excellent way to foster adolescent growth and success. Encourage adolescents to explore their entrepreneurial interests by providing access to resources and opportunities such as business plan competitions, internships and mentorship programs. Instill creativity, and harness the four pillars for raising an entrepreneurial child.

6. Teach financial literacy

Financial literacy is critical to life and personal success. Teach adolescents how to manage their finances, including budgeting, saving and investing. This can help them make informed financial decisions in the future.
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Encouraging adolescent growth and success requires a multifaceted approach considering personal and professional development. By fostering a growth mindset, encouraging independence, promoting creativity, providing mentorship, promoting resilience, encouraging entrepreneurship and teaching financial literacy, we can help adolescents reach their full potential and achieve success in life.



Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/
Image Credit: Hero Images/ Getty Images

As a millennial woman founder, I know firsthand the obstacles that women encounter in the corporate world. Although there has been some progress over the past eight years, the representation of women, particularly women of color, is still lacking. According to McKinsey & Co, only 1 in 4 C-suite leaders are women, which is a staggering statistic. However, the situation is even more alarming for women of color, as only 1 in 20 hold a senior leadership position.

I started my first business at age 16, and now, at age 26, I am running a seven-figure fintech consultancy. But my success hasn't come without its fair share of challenges. Like many young women in the corporate world, I have faced bias, skepticism and a lack of representation. That's why it's more important than ever for young women to have strategies to overcome these obstacles and succeed in the corporate world.

Here are some key strategies to break through the barriers and achieve our goals.

1. Build your network

Building a strong network is absolutely essential for success in the corporate world. As a young woman in this industry, connecting with other women and allies who can provide support and guidance is especially important. Here are some ways to build your network:

• Attend industry events and conferences: This is a great way to meet new people and learn about the latest trends in your field. You might even be surprised by how many like-minded individuals you come across at these events.
• Join professional organizations or networking groups: My advice would be to look for groups that are specifically focused on supporting women in your industry. These groups can be an incredible resource for making connections and building relationships with other successful women who have gone through the same challenges you're facing.
• Seek out mentors: As a young woman in the corporate world, having a more experienced woman in your corner can be invaluable. Look for senior-level women in your company or industry who you admire and reach out to them. Don't be afraid to ask if they would be willing to meet with you for coffee or lunch.
• Connect with your colleagues: Building relationships with your coworkers can help you build a strong support system and open up new opportunities. Take the time to get to know your colleagues, ask for their advice and insights, and find ways to collaborate on projects.

2. Develop your skills

In the corporate world, it's important to constantly develop and refine your skills. This is particularly true for young women who may be starting out in their careers and seeking to prove themselves. By investing in your own growth and development, you'll be better positioned to take on new challenges and succeed in your career. Here are some ways to develop your skills:

• Seek out learning opportunities: This can include online courses, webinars and training programs that can help you build new skills and knowledge. You can also seek mentorship or coaching from more experienced professionals in your field. Don't be afraid to ask for help — everyone starts somewhere!
• Volunteer for new projects or initiatives at work: This can give you the chance to learn new skills and take on new responsibilities, all while demonstrating your value to your team and organization. Don't shy away from opportunities pushing you outside your comfort zone.
• Hone your existing skills: Take the time to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, and look for ways to improve in areas where you may be struggling. Seek out feedback from your colleagues and supervisors and use it to inform your growth and development. Remember: No one is perfect and there's always room for improvement.
• Stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in your field: Read industry publications, follow thought leaders on social media and attend conferences and events to stay informed and ahead of the curve. Don't let yourself fall behind — staying current is crucial in today's fast-paced corporate world.

It's easy to feel like you have to work twice as hard to prove yourself in the corporate world. But investing in your own growth and development is one way to give yourself an edge and position yourself for success. Remember, you're capable of achieving great things — it's just a matter of putting in the time and effort to develop your skills and knowledge.

3. Speak up and advocate for yourself

In the corporate world, it's important to be your own advocate. This can be particularly challenging for young women who may be hesitant to speak up or self-promote. However, speaking up for yourself and advocating for your ideas and contributions is essential for getting ahead in your career.

Early in my career, this was one of the biggest challenges I faced. I remember sitting in meetings where I had great ideas, but I was too afraid to share them for fear of being dismissed or ignored. It took me some time to realize that if I wanted to make an impact and be successful, I needed to have confidence in my ideas and the value I brought to the table.

One way to start advocating for yourself is to be proactive in sharing your accomplishments and contributions. Don't be afraid to speak up in meetings or presentations and share your ideas and insights. Look for opportunities to take on new responsibilities and demonstrate your value to your team and organization.

Another important aspect of advocating for yourself is setting boundaries and speaking up when you feel uncomfortable or unsupported. I remember a time when I was working on a project with a colleague who was constantly interrupting me and talking over me in meetings. It was frustrating and demoralizing, but I didn't know how to address the situation. It wasn't until I spoke up, set boundaries and was able to establish a more respectful working relationship.

Remember, advocating for yourself doesn't mean being aggressive or confrontational. It's about having confidence in your ideas and contributions, setting boundaries and speaking up when you need to.

Final thoughts

As young women in the corporate world, we face a unique set of challenges. But with the right mindset, strategies and support, we can overcome these obstacles and achieve success in our careers.

Remember, you have the power to shape your own career path. By developing your skills, speaking up for yourself and seeking out mentorship and support, you can navigate the corporate world with confidence and purpose.

In the end, what matters most is staying true to yourself and your values. Be authentic, be resilient and never stop pursuing your goals and dreams. With hard work, dedication, and a supportive network, there's nothing you can't achieve. So go out there, break down those barriers and show the world what you're capable of!



Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/
Image Credit: Hannah Busing