Identifying as a young entrepreneur in the Digital Age is an ever transforming identity. No, this transformation does not equate to an identity crisis. Rather this transformation represents the beautiful metamorphosis every person needs to undergo in their own way in order to find a happy and fulfilled life. In the life of an entrepreneur, this takes shape in all aspects of their business and personal spheres. A well rounded entrepreneur is the entrepreneur who will succeed in the Digital Age.
1. They Adapt
Just as technology is ever adapting, a young entrepreneur who hopes to succeed in the Digital Age needs to be vigilant in their pursuit of knowledge and its application. With the plethora of media available at our fingertips, it is sheer laziness that keeps us from growing and learning. Successful entrepreneurs research trends in their niche, constantly learning about current economic issues, the latest innovations, and the greatest leaders of our generation.
However, the well-rounded individual also watches, reads, and participates in a variety of other activities and forms of information. Maybe you learn to cook healthier through a YouTube channel, or your idea of relaxing is taking a painting class. Whatever extracurricular activities you embrace, you should always be learning or mastering a skill. This will keep your mind sharp as well as allow it to rest and digest that technical information you read on your lunch break.
2. Learn from Failure
Successful business people learn from failure. We all know the story of Thomas Edison and how he learned 999 ways not to make a light bulb. This persistent devotion to his task meant that he was not deterred by failure. Sure, Edison was likely frustrated many times. He may have even contemplated giving up. Yet, instead of admitting defeat, he was confident in his work and through each mistake made an adjustment. These gradual adjustments created the stepping stones upon which he trod to bring us modern electricity. If it were not for him, there would be no Digital Age.
Instead of focusing on the “right” solution, young entrepreneurs need to focus on finding a “correct” solution.
The difference between these mindsets is simple. The first narrowly depicts there being only one right answer. The second creates a plethora of opportunities and options to work with. This second framework allows you to write and rewrite your business plan as many times as necessary to find success. However, the only way it works is if you try, adjust, try, adjust, and relentlessly keep doing what you need to do until you can fly.
3. Technologically Savvy
We would be remiss to neglect the technological side of business in the Digital Age. The successful entrepreneur in the 21st Century is the entrepreneur who knows their tools. You do not have to be a member of the IT Crowd to use technology efficiently.
Tools like Hootsuite (for social media), WordPress (for websites) and OneDrive (for organization and collaboration), are enough to begin managing your business in a practical way. Once you create a schedule for your content creation and find a categorizing system that works for you and your team, you just need to stay on top of your technology tools to ensure they are still working properly. There are some simple skills you can pick up to help optimize your website and social media presence.
Coding classes are available online for competitive prices. While coding can be used to create highly technical programs, coding is also useful for installing your own security systems and payment processing systems into your sites. This cuts down on the amount of time you’ll need to spend on the phone with tech support in India and will give you more time to spend marketing or interacting with your clients.
4. Creative Application
Another aspect of being successful in the Digital Age comes through the medium of creative content. Having a visually appealing and practical website is paramount. However, the key to having a viable internet presence is more than just a snappy About Page and an Add to Cart button.
To create an internet presence worth talking about, you need to be offering your clients creative content on a regular basis. This can come through the medium of blogging, videos, infographics, or really any creative application you can come up with.
Creating engaging content for your consumers to interact with is a great way to hone your own creative energies as well. By learning what your consumers’ questions are in regards to your industry, you can not only learn the answer for yourself but position yourself as an expert in the field. Through research and creating informative content, you will put yourself ahead of the competition. Branding yourself as an educator is one of the most important labels you can have no matter your industry.
Final Word
Overall, being a successful entrepreneur in the Digital Age requires a well-rounded person who is not afraid to take on a challenge. While there will inevitably be setbacks and failures along the path, being able to adapt and learn from failure in a creative manner will allow you to grow not only as a business owner but as a person as well. These skills are specifically designed to help you discover who you are as you find your way in this world. Life is about more than the work we do, it’s about finding who we are and how we relate to others. So take a moment and reflect on that today. Remember that you are not what you do, but what you do helps you grow into who you want to be.
Eric Gordon is an independent business development and marketing specialist for SMEs. He loves sharing his insights and experience to assist business owners in growing their revenues. You can find Eric on Twitter @ericdavidgordon
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