Last week, here in the UK, our 18 year olds who have remained in full-time education received their ‘A-Level’ results; these are the results that ultimately decide whether or not the young person will be allowed in to the University of their choice, have to go through a system called ‘clearing’ to find a different University place, or if their dreams of attending University are lost.

For more young people than ever, not reaching their expected grades and therefore not attaining a place at University is becoming a reality. With 6 applicants fighting for every place in clearing, this is becoming big news. The pressure on young people to attend University is great, with no real alternative being offered to bright, intelligent and motivated young people.

Is a University degree essential in order to be successful? For many employers it is the easiest way to distinguish the capabilities of potential applicants, providing a playing field on which their relevant skills and abilities can be assessed. However, just because someone has a degree does not mean they will be more competent at carrying out a job as someone with years of experience doing that work, instead of attending University.

Throughout the education system there is considerable emphasis placed on attending University, with the end goal being to achieve a good job, working for someone else. There is little mention of the option of working for yourself, with the end goal being to have your own business, with or without attending University.

Of course, telling all young people that they can create a company that will rival Apple and expand allowing them to make millions would be unrealistic, and whilst it is great to inspire ambition, and that should certainly be part of it, I am more concerned with exploring the option of lifestyle businesses with our young people.

Young people should be given all the options; attending University, getting a job, gaining technical skills, or starting their own business. Young people need direction, and focus, and many consider starting their own business an unobtainable pursuit.

The truth is, however, that as University places are being snatched up in days, and the cost of University is increasing, alternatives need to be sensibly and beneficially, relayed to our young people. We don’t need to tell them that they could be the next “Richard Branson”, but instead that it is possible to build a business for yourself, that will work for you and the lifestyle you wish to have.

The fundamentals of business start up and financial planning would obviously need to play a part, but with the economy as it is these are useful skills for all young people to have. And besides, what would be wrong with instilling a bit of entrepreneurial spirit and ambition in to our young people?

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Entrepreneurship and small business have been making news recently; with banks being tackled to lend more to small businesses, and television shows such as Dragons’ Den dividing the nation over the way small businesses are portrayed and helped. My views on such television programmes are one for another day, but for now all this has highlighted a real sense of enterprising throughout the UK.

In a time when unemployment is high, and job security seems like a long lost friend, it is easy to see why over half a million people are starting their own businesses every year. But what is the best way to start a business? Quit the day job and take the plunge, or build up steadily until you have the security you need to enter fully in to the world of the self-employed?

This is a question that is very much based on individual circumstance; I, for example, started my first business whilst at university and have been doing so ever since! But, at the same time there are many successful entrepreneurs out there who have worked in a job all their lives and at some point turned around and said “enough!” and have started out on their own well in to their working life. If this describes you, I would love to hear from you.

There is no ‘right’ way to start out in business. You can buy all the books, and read all the blogs, but starting your own business is something that has to be driven by you; your drive, enthusiasm and vision for you business. Of course, there are external pressures on us all, and mortgages to pay and families to support have to play a major role in how we develop our businesses.

That is why I will always say there is no iron-clad correct way for a business start-up to progress. A business has to grow in accordance not only with demand, but also in line with how the business owner wants it to develop. For some, diving in feet first and spending every waking hour on their business, building and expanding and constantly reaching for the next goal, is the only way to do business. I guess these people would fall in to the 9-5 camp, in that their business is their day job, but I know from experience 9-5 is a mere fraction of a small business owners’ day!

Other small business owners, for various reasons, take a gentler approach and test the water, building up their customer base alongside their current job or while looking after children and running the family home. These people are the 5-9ers. Although, yet again, that time frame does a disservice to these people as a lot of business owners I know are more 5-12ers! For some, this is a way to build their business to a point where they can launch and go it alone; but for others this is how they want their business to be. Something that can fit in with their lives, not run it, and provide enough of an income to make them comfortable, not rich.

People start their own business for many reasons, and it is not always to work every hour under the sun (and through the night!) to build a hugely successful business. There are many different businesses, and many different types of entrepreneur. Each deserves as much respect, help and admiration as the other, whether they work 9-5, 5-9 or anywhere in between on their business.

Owning your own business is about creating a life that is right for you and those around you. 9-5 or 5-9? It makes no difference at all – success is in the eye of the achiever.

The WinWeb.com Small Business Competition that I mentioned in my last blog post has made me think about the way entrepreneurs work and the effect that a surge of entrepreneurship could have on the economy, worldwide.

In the UK alone, SME’s account for 99.9% of all enterprises, providing 59.4% of private sector employment and 50.1% of private sector turnover. In fact, small businesses alone accounted for 47.9% of employment! (statistics from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills).

In this time when unemployment is rising, and the economy is weak, investment in SME’s could help reduce unemployment and bring a healthy boost to the economy.

If small businesses alone provide 47.9% of employment within the UK, giving small businesses more opportunities, easier access to funding, and greater support could not only pay for itself but also increase the GDP of the UK.

But, this change in thinking does not just have to start with adults. Children in our schools, teenagers and young people, need to be given inspiration and a “can do” attitude – the attitude of the entrepreneur. If we can instill in our children, and generations to come, the ethic and attitude that allows them to think that it is possible to achieve and be successful, while at the same time teaching them about the realities of running a business, then we could create a generation of entrepreneurs, and build the economy, and country, on a “can-do” attitude.

Increasing the number of SME’s within the UK will increase employment levels and have a great impact on GDP. But before we can do this we need to capture the spirit of the entrepreneur and rid generations of the “can’t-do” attitude.

As Barack Obama said: “Yes, we can change”. Entrepreneurs can change our country, change our economy and change the world.

Are you onboard?

I recently heard from Jonathan Kay of Grasshopper who wanted to share a video with you all. The clip is an inspirational message to all potential entrepreneurs to encourage them to start their own business and work together to get the economy back on track.

The positive message of the video is accompanied by some uplifting music and visuals which I am sure you will enjoy.

 A small business quote a day keeps you thinking, inspired and entertained 

 “The entrepreneur is… the most important player in the building of the global economy. So much so that big companies are decentralizing and reconstituting themselves as networks of entrepreneurs.”

 John Naisbitt (b. 1929) US business executive & author, Global Paradox (1994) 

 To find previous Quotes of the Day look here 

A small business quote a day keeps you thinking, inspired and entertained 

“The real challenge is creating an entrepreneurial atmosphere in what can easily amount to a big bureaucratic company.”

Percy Barnevik (1941) Swedish former CEO of ABB, quoted in In Search of European Excellence (Robert Heller; 1997) 

To find previous Quotes of the Day look here 

A small business quote a day keeps you thinking, inspired and entertained 

“Just starting a company was a badge of courage, and the entrepreneur became an instant hero.”

Regis McKenna (b. 1939) US marketing entrepreneur & chairman of The McKenna Group, referring to high-technology industry entrepreneurs in 1990s, Relationship Marketing (1991) 

To find previous Quotes of the Day look here 

A small business quote a day keeps you thinking, inspired and entertained 

“Being an entrepreneur is about having the will and determination and not being frightened of getting it wrong.”

Jason Drummond (b. 1969) British Internet entrepreneur, Sunday Times (October 2000) 

To find previous Quotes of the Day look here 

A small business quote a day keeps you thinking, inspired and entertained 

“Masters of entrepreneurial judo.”

Richard D’ Aveni (b. 1950) US strategist, ‘The Mavericks’, Fortune (June 1995) 

To find previous Quotes of the Day look here 

A small business quote a day keeps you thinking, inspired and entertained 

“Money isn’t what motivates entrepreneurs; it is acknowledgement – a craving for your ideas to be acknowledged.”

Reuben Singh (b. 1977) British entrepreneur & author, Management Today (September 1999) 

To find previous Quotes of the Day look here