Questions From College Students On Entrepreneurship
Hawai`i Student Entrepreneurs (HSE)is a Shidler College of Business student organization at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa. Recently, about 24 of its members got together and invited me to do a talk on entrepreneurship at the new RISE Manoa building with PACE. I was thrilled to spend some time with Hawai`i’s future entrepreneurs!
I prepared for them a talk on “The Power of One” outlining the growth and dips in our company and as an entrepreneur and my professional AND personal successes and struggles.
This was one of the most engaging group of students I have ever spoken to either interested in entrepreneurship and starting their own business, or who are not sure what they want to do and I reminded them how important they were and may become the much needed partner to the entrepreneur or the GM or integrator for the vision.
This was a very excited group with lots of feedback and questions and not enough time. So I’ve included below some of their take-aways as well as some of their questions and link to a video with my responses.
Students’ Take-Aways
You can start small and make incremental gains along the way and not try to do everything all at once.
Trust your gut.
Embrace challenges and the pivots that follow.
Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith.
Be good to people.
Do not give up no matter how hard things are. Persevere.
The only limits are the ones you place on yourself.
Questions
How did you deal with burn out? What are some of your coping mechanisms?
How do you manage your time so you can juggle being a mom, wife, daughter, business owner simultaneously?
How do you manage your work life balance?
When adding new products or expanding your business, what questions do you ask yourself to make sure your plan aligns to your values/mission?
How do you stay disciplined and motivated?
What is your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
What logistical problems or challenges do you experience during inception and expansion?
When did you see your entrepreneurship?
Do you have any financial advice when it comes to starting a business?
Why didn’t you give up and go back to teaching dance?
HERE is the link to a video with my responses since it was too much to write! :p
erin’s tip
If you are in college, find groups like this one to make friends, get inspired, experience new things in your community, and learn!
