Skill Diversity and the Modern Entrepreneur
It is the age of information. It is the age of entrepreneurship. We have everything before us. This is perhaps what a modern Dickens would’ve said. With the internet, we have more access to information than ever before. The world is an entrepreneur’s playground... If an entrepreneur has the skills to play!
At VanGo, we are entrepreneurs through and through. We started our business back in 2014 and have come a long way since. From a simple brother-operated shop, to a globally recognized leader in premium e-liquids, we like to think we know a thing or two about entrepreneurship. One of our secrets? We are still keeping it simple. Simple quality ingredients, simple family values and simple excellence in service.
In addition to a clearly-defined, simple business model, here are some of the skills that every modern entrepreneur needs to succeed:
Social Skills
The digital age has given us the ability to share and engage with other people constantly. This ability doesn’t necessarily translate to good social skills though. The first rule of socializing (that anyone with good social skills understands!) is to listen. By being a good listener, we open ourselves up to the world around us. We learn more and understand better. We come up with relevant and useful ideas. Listening makes us better teammates, communicators and adaptors. And, of course, everybody loves a good listener!
Cognitive Skills
Creative thinking, formulation, problem-solving, decision-making, initiative. These are all part of our cognitive armory. Contrary to some belief, you can acquire these skills. Creativity starts with observation. Pay attention and look to the world for inspiration. It’s a big place. Formulation and problem-solving take practice. Think through a situation, look at it from every angle, postulate outcomes, and then choose your best course of action. Like a game of chess. Decision-making will come easily once you’ve mastered problem-solving. As for initiative, you’re an entrepreneur, aren’t you?
Management Skills
From knowing how to deal with people, to the ability to plan and make strategic decisions, management skills encompass both social and cognitive skills. As a business owner, it’s important to be up to date on all the latest systems that might be advantageous to implement, and on developments in your chosen industry as well as the world at large! Being a good manager means having your finger on the daily pulse, but also looking to the future, making predictions and innovating based on that foresight. It also means knowing when to delegate and placing trust in the people around you. No man is an island, after all.
Learning Skills
Can you learn how to learn? Of course. It’s a skill, and an invaluable one at that. Entrepreneurs need to be quick on their feet and able to learn new skills as required. The key to learning is deliberate action. Set aside the first or last hour of every day to learn something new, or even just to read up on happenings in your industry. By making time for yourself to stay current and learn new things, you will ensure you are always at the top of your game, and that likewise, your business stays relevant.
Tech Skills
This world we live in is moving at lightning speed. Every day, there are new, ground-breaking developments in tech. Even if you own a brick and mortar shop, it’s important that you understand and make use of technology. Because your competitors most definitely are. Having a basic understanding of web development, wireframing, data analytics, design, email marketing and social platforms is extremely helpful for any aspiring entrepreneur. These are the modern-day tools that will help you grow your business.
It seems like yesterday that we were just three brothers with a paper route dreaming of bigger things. Our entrepreneurial spirit and a careful cultivation of all these skills has gotten us those bigger things. You can get there to. If you have any questions, business propositions or just want to chat about entrepreneurship in general, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with us here.
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