Unlearning What You Were Taught in School: How to Adopt the Entrepreneurial Mindset

Aspiring entrepreneurs are often faced with the task of unlearning what they were taught in school, especially in business school. This is because most schools, including business schools with MBA programs, are designed to prepare students for employment, rather than entrepreneurship. Students are trained to follow rules, avoid mistakes, and see work as a necessity. However, entrepreneurs require a different mentality to succeed. They must be willing to take risks, challenge the status quo, and follow their instincts. In this article, we explore the mindset that aspiring entrepreneurs should adopt, as illustrated in the Mind Subway Map.

What to Unlearn from School
– Follow the rules: In school, students are encouraged to follow the rules. However, entrepreneurs cannot be successful by simply following the rules. They must be creative and innovative, which demands that they break some rules along the way.
– Money is evil: In school, students are taught that pursuing wealth is wrong. However, entrepreneurs understand that the lack of money is the root of all evil. They recognize that generating wealth is necessary to achieve their goals.
– Behave yourself: Entrepreneurs challenge the status quo and are not afraid of making mistakes. This goes against the discipline that is enforced in school.

What to Never Think
– I don’t know enough: Aspiring entrepreneurs must surround themselves with people who are experts in their areas. They must also recognize that they will never know everything and that being the smartest person in the room is not a good thing.
– What if I fail: The fear of failure often holds many people back from pursuing their dreams. However, in entrepreneurship, failure is considered a valuable experience that can lead to success.
– Am I doing as well as Bob: Comparing oneself to others is a waste of time in entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs should focus on their own situations and how they can improve them.

What to Always Remember
– Think different: Entrepreneurship requires a different mindset than that of an employee. Entrepreneurs must embrace the struggle and experience, while employees seek comfort and security.
– Don’t follow the rules: Entrepreneurs should not be afraid to stand up to authority and break rules that impede their progress.
– Work is an opportunity: Entrepreneurs should enjoy what they do and see work as an opportunity, rather than a necessity.

What to Learn to Think
– Where can I add value: Entrepreneurship is all about creating new products and services that add value to the market. Aspiring entrepreneurs should always be looking for ways they can add value to the lives of others.
– Be authentic: Being genuine and true to oneself is crucial in entrepreneurship. Customers can tell when someone is not being truthful, so entrepreneurs should always be themselves.
– My gut is usually right: Entrepreneurship requires trusting one’s instincts. Aspiring entrepreneurs should work on developing their intrapersonal intelligence to be better able to trust their gut instincts.

In conclusion, the entrepreneurial mindset involves unlearning what you were taught in school, challenging the status quo, taking risks, and following your instincts. Aspiring entrepreneurs must surround themselves with experts, embrace failure, focus on their own situations, and look for ways to add value to the market. They must also learn to trust their instincts, be genuine, and see work as an opportunity. Ultimately, entrepreneurship offers the freedom to live life on your own terms, control your time, and control your income.