In a recent article that appeared in the TODAY paper, Young entrepreneurs thriving in Singapore, 13 May, I read that Singapore ranked 2nd for its entrepreneurial activity in a study of 25 comparable economies globally done by NTU (Nanyang Technological Institute). It would seem that Singapore is a thriving hotbed for creativity, aggressive risk-taking and business acumen. At least based on the NTU study.
But everyone I speak to have very little of each of those above traits. So either I have very little friends, very low quality friends or something’s got to give. And something’s got to give.
We cower behind safety nets and iron bowls, and when that was snatched, we turned to half-hatched plotting to earn that little bit that completes the hand to mouth cycle. I’m not trying to belittle what we’ve done. I’m just saying, I do not think we are risk-takers or have business acumen or think outside the box. We don’t. But we might get there.
This article highlights the creative ways people come up with to earn an extra $1,000 a month here and some pocket money there in addition to their regular job or while studying. Yes, that’s good practice, but I wonder how effective that mindset is in the long run because no one really is thinking that this will be a full time job.
The article quoted some people saying they are happy remaining small-scale and would still like to have their full time job. I ask, is this what we define as “young entrepreneurs thriving in Singapore”.
So my question to you is, do you have an idea but are too afraid to fail. If you answered yes, then you my friend, are what Singapore will consider a young entrepreneur. You’ll get a job, but think about this desire/hobby/idea/business, and you will delve into in half-heartedly, eventually. You might see a little success or immediate failure, but going into it full-time will never be on the plate.
Dinesh Dayani
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