Journal Entry 1

1.     Am I an entrepreneur?

I believe that I am on my way to becoming an entrepreneur, especially upon the completion of this course. This class will help provide me with the right tools and guidance needed to begin my journey toward becoming a true entrepreneur. I believe that I have the mindset of an entrepreneur with my critical thinking and problem-solving skills. I just need to expand upon that knowledge and put it into action through innovation.   

2.     What is success?

I think success comes in many forms and it ultimately is dependent on the goal that we set for ourselves. There are a lot of moving parts and things to consider which is why success in the business world can be hard to achieve but having a goal in mind can help manage expectations and set a clear idea of what we envision success being. For example, if I develop a new product my goal could be to get it into retail stores, so my overall success would be dependent upon the completion of that goal. For this course, I believe that success will come when I have successfully developed or pitched an innovation with my team members, but before that, I must begin the process of developing a business model/plan. 

3.     Am I a self-starter? How well do I follow through on my ideas?

I would argue that I am a self-starter. Although I haven’t made any innovations or started my own business, I believe that the knowledge and experience I have gained in college is essentially an investment. I am investing in myself so that I can be successful in the future. I sought out to gain an education and seek a degree and now I am on my way to completing that goal this spring. This degree will then help me continue down my entrepreneurial path and allow me to better pursue my goals and aspirations.   

4.     How does ODU view entrepreneurship?

Entrepreneurship is defined as the process of developing or managing a new business through the design or launch of a product, service, or system with the intention of generating profits (business) or social impact (not-for-profit). ODU views entrepreneurs in a variety of ways but ultimately it is a means for everyone to discover innovation in their respective areas of interests or disciplines. Entrepreneurship is for everyone. Entrepreneurship is best represented when multiple disciplines and areas of expertise can come together and work to solve a problem using creative innovations. ODU wants everyone to feel as though they can become an entrepreneur no matter the approach they choose.

5.     What is my role in this ecosystem?

I think my role right now in the ecosystem is being a consumer but I’m on my way to becoming an innovator or entrepreneur. I think the knowledge I gain from this course will help me develop skills that will be crucial once I enter the workforce/business world. I will use this opportunity to take the first steps towards entrepreneurship. Becoming an entrepreneur is a goal that most if not everyone has at some point and it’s something that can be life-changing with the right idea or innovation. If I want to be more than a consumer, it starts with learning and following the guidance that this class will provide and hopefully, it will end with a successful project by the end of the course.