A recent Bloomberg News article detailed how the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a surge of entrepreneurial ventures in the U.S.
In the article, Michael Sasso and Alexander Tanzi write that even though recent jobless rates in the U.S. haven't been this high since the Great Depression, American entrepreneurs continued to create new businesses in record numbers.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, new business formations are up 77% from three months ago and 82% from last year and Employer Identification Number — a unique number assigned by the IRS to businesses in the U.S. — applications increased by 79% during the third quarter.
What does it take to become an entrepreneur?
According to Merriam-Webster, an entrepreneur is someone "who organizes, manages and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise."
So what exactly does it take to become a successful entrepreneur? An Indeed article recently suggested traits that entrepreneurs need. Some of them included:
- Self motivation
- Open mindedness
- Curiosity
- Being proactive
- Creativity
- Persuasiveness
- Brave
- Team-oriented
- Humble
- Punctual
- Humorous
What kind of education does an entrepreneur need?
Although many famed entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg achieved success without finishing college, in today's ultra-competitive world, anyone who plans to go into business for themselves needs the knowledge, skills and level of confidence that only having a good education can provide.
To handle the responsibilities and demands of being an entrepreneur, it's advisable for anyone following this path to consider taking business-oriented college courses.
Some of the primary courses anyone with aspirations of becoming an entrepreneur should consider taking:
- Accounting classes
- Business management classes
- Office management classes
- Computer science classes
- Marketing classes
- English composition classes
Where can I get the education I need to become a successful entrepreneur?
Hocking College's Business Management and Entrepreneurship program is designed to provide business and entrepreneurship-oriented training to students who are new to the business world and established professionals who have aspirations of one day going into business for themselves.
The training students receive in the Business Management and Entrepreneurship program prepares them for careers in the business management field and includes a practicum in an area business, industry or agency in addition to an optional internship or cooperative work experience.
Hocking College's smaller class sizes mean students will be able to get crucial one-on-one time with their instructors needed to develop the following business-related skills:
- How to develop accounting records
- How to make sound management decisions
- How to understand the legal system as it relates to the business world
- How to develop and implement appropriate marketing strategies
- How to maintain high ethical standards in business dealings
- How to assemble an effective staff
- How to use effective quantitative skills in business activities
For more information on Hocking College's Business Management and Entrepreneurship program, contact Program Manager LaDora Ousley by email at ousleyl@hocking.edu or by phone at 740-753-7062.