As a nation, Sri Lanka has come to the 21st century with plenty of baggage; among those are very irrelevant, outdated mindsets that mar our real achievable growth. Notions that the country owes us everything, from the day we are born with free healthcare to free education and a government job which assures a pension until death, notions that somehow, the government is responsible for our well-being and plenty of others which in this day and age, look a little silly if not downright out of context.
We have professionals asking for their ‘rights’ when they should be focusing on what they can give back to the country having made use of its money for their education. We have many whose first option is to protest before looking at ways of solving issues by dialogue. The ones who protest go home at the end of the protest, discarding their powerful slogans on the public roads, littering the streets. When one visits a country like Singapore, which takes pride in its lean government service and its entrepreneurial attitude towards all enterprise, which fuels greater achievement at a lesser cost, you wonder where we lost the plot and keep losing it again and again.
So why would anyone think a more entrepreneurial attitude would work for a nation? How can it help us overcome, slowly perhaps but surely, the traps of the past, the attitudes of the past that are completely irrelevant in today’s context and above all, instil in the next generation a sense of hard work and achievement instead of entitlement and pomp? To be fair to the next generation, the one that is wired 24/7, many understand the advantages of entrepreneurship in a global context. They are the ones setting up tech start-ups and service-oriented businesses. They get the big picture, but of course, not everyone does.
Today, connected as we are by advanced technology, the entire world is one level playing field. No profession takes precedence over another in that context; what matters is how committed you are to what you do. Granted some professions may take a considerable amount of training and talent but that does not mean that it has a special place in society. It is all within context. If you were the world’s best doctor flying an aircraft that might be cruising through bad weather, then your skills as a doctor are complete useless at that time, in that location. You have to depend upon the skills of the pilot who is indeed the man of the moment at the time.
That is why with a more wholesome, more responsible mindset that fuels a greater sense of accountability is a must for us today. That is what entrepreneurship teaches us in its practical application. It may not be so much about being an entrepreneur but it’s more about developing an entrepreneurial mindset.
Developing entrepreneurial mindset
Better usage of resources - For starters, thinking like an entrepreneur means taking into consideration the resources you use – they are resources that you pay for. So naturally, you are considerate of the money spent on those resources. Unlike the scant attention people in this country pay to public resources whether free education disrupted with strikes causing a considerable loss of man hours, time and effort or not properly using a public toilet in a way that the next person also can, this would mean that you would care. You would try to be as efficient as possible in utilizing those resources.
Accountability – Entrepreneurs are accountable – to themselves, their plans, their goals and their funding. Being accountable forms the cornerstone of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs understand that without being accountable for their actions, they cannot go anywhere. It would do Sri Lanka a world of good if the majority can acquire an accountability mindset.
Less is more – Entrepreneurs constantly seek ways of using less to achieve more. This way, you optimize your output and usage of resources as we discussed earlier. Instead of wanting five hours and 10 people to get something done, you look at ways of getting it done in three hours using five people. You also get your hands dirty, which teaches you the best lesson – you are not seated on a chair barking instructions but often, on the field, getting whatever that needs to be done, done as soon as possible. Your end goal is to build your business and of course yourself. In the process, you acquire incredible knowledge.
Think differently – Within our predictable, antiquated education system, children are not taught to think ahead or think differently. They dwell for years in the same old same old, learning by rote and not being stimulated by opportunities to think outside the box or think differently. As an entrepreneur, you have to think differently in order to survive and be successful. The world is full of entrepreneurs who did things differently to achieve world-changing results. It is often what makes or breaks a vision.
Take on a challenge and emerge victorious – This is a tough one but one that will build character and maturity. In a competitive world, challenging circumstances are to be expected. They also teach the best lessons. Without a challenging environment, we are reduced to mere players in a routine set up. On the other hand, a strong commitment to achieving success in a challenging environment, driven by a vision and a mindset that refuses to give up, can mean everything.
Let us as a society make use of principles that have driven generations of entrepreneurs towards greater success, in building a nation. If everyone can learn to think like one, it would indeed be a game changer. It would also encourage us, whether in the state or the private sector to come out of our comfort zones, get down to basics and look realistically at getting things done – the right way.
“Impossible only means that you haven’t found the solution – yet” – Anonymous
(Nayomini Weerasooriya, a senior journalist, writer and a PR professional, can be contacted at nayominiweerasooriya@gmail.com)
