People often think of entrepreneurship as self-employment, i.e., starting a business, buying a business, or joining a family business. Typically, these are differentiated: entrepreneurship focuses on starting a business, small business involves owning and managing a new or existing firm and family business deals with family issues in firms such as succession and cross-generational conflicts. In our program, we look at all three, viewing entrepreneurship in the same way the general public defines it.

Yes. Classes in entrepreneurship can help the conscientious business owner increase his or her firm’s chances of survival and success. For others, the training can help make the business more profitable. Good entrepreneurship classes are demanding and require that participants make a serious commitment to learning the skills of business.

The complete Entrepreneurship Certificate is divided into six classes. Participants may choose only those courses that are pertinent to their business development or take all six for the certificate. The first course is an introduction that gives the participant an overview of entrepreneurship and asks whether he or she is making the right choice to become an entrepreneur. The following courses examine various aspects of business startup and management, such as business planning, financing, marketing, and leadership.

No. There are many fine MBA programs that examine entrepreneurship; however, such programs study about entrepreneurship while this program focuses on being an entrepreneur. Our instructors are successful entrepreneurs who have experienced the pains and frustrations of business startup. Our program does not require that participants have a bachelors degree and there is no requirement for qualifying examinations, such as the Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT).

The following five personal qualities are often suggested as critical for a successful Entrepreneur:
• Self-reliance.
• Ability to identify and exploit opportunities.
• Creativity.
• Willingness to take chances, even if it means to expose oneself to risk.
• Personal Drive.

More recently, however, greater attention has been devoted to the processes of entrepreneurship. These processes require substantial business knowledge and skill to structure new businesses around opportunities in ways that minimize the personal and financial risk to the entrepreneur. Nevertheless, the entrepreneur needs confidence and drive – a sense of knowing what is right – to overcome the obstacles to success as an entrepreneur.

I recently left a position with a large company and have not been successful finding another position. Is entrepreneurship right for me?

Starting and running a business is very different than working in a business. The entrepreneur often works long hours without pay as the business is established and grows toward profitability. As an employee of the new business, the entrepreneur is typically the last one to receive pay. Entrepreneurship can be lonely, as the owner of the business makes the tough decisions of investment, marketing, pay and employment. Entrepreneurship should not be seen as a simple replacement for a job.

I recently retired from a position with a large company. I have always wanted to own and operate my own business. Can I learn how to do that?

What are the hot industries in entrepreneurship right now?

First, it is more important to choose a business that is right for you than to choose what is hot. Your potential for success is much greater if you can make a personal commitment to the kind of business you do. For information on trends in entrepreneurship, see Entrepreneurship Magazine’s web site, www.entrepreneur.com. The Encyclopedia of Emerging Industries also tracks trends of new business by industry.

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