September 2011 President's Message Archives: -- Select One -- September 2011 October 2011 november 2011 may 2011 june 2011 Febuary 2011 April 2011 September 2010 October 2010 november 2010 05 / 2010 03 / 2010 02 / 2010 01 / 2010 11 / 2009 10 II / 2009 10 / 2009 09 / 2009 06 / 2009 05 / 2009 04 / 2009 03 2009 02 2009 01 2009 11 / 2008 10 / 2008 09 / 2008 06 / 2008 05 / 2008 04 / 2008 03 / 2008 02 / 2008 01 / 2008 11 / 2007 09 / 2007 05 / 2007 04 / 2007 03 / 2007 02 / 2007 01 II / 2007 01 / 2007 11 / 2006 10 / 2006 09 / 2006 07 / 2006 06 / 2006 05 / 2006 04 / 2006 03 / 2006 02 / 2006 11 / 2005 09 / 2005 06 / 2005 05 / 2005 04 / 2005 03 / 2005 02 / 2005 01 / 2005 11 / 2004 10 / 2004 09 / 2004 06 / 2004 05 / 2004 03 / 2004 03 / 2004 02 / 2004 01 / 2004 11 / 2003 10 / 2003 09 / 2003 06 / 2003 05 / 2003 04 / 2003 03 / 2003 02 / 2003 01 / 2003 12 / 2002 11 / 2002 10 / 2002 09 / 2002 06 / 2002 05 / 2002 04 / 2002 03 / 2002 02 / 2002 01 / 2002 12 / 2001 11 / 2001 10 / 2001 09 / 2001 06 / 2001 05 / 2001 04 / 2001 03 / 2001 01 / 2001 11 / 2000 09 / 2000 06 / 2000 04 / 2000 Think of America and how our freedoms which most take for granted have created an entrepreneurial culture that allows us to become the world leader in creating new technologies that completely change the world market place. Far too many non-entrepreneurs believe that business plans that include market research coupled with those hockey stick financial projections are what entrepreneurship is all about I have discovered through observing and participating as an entrepreneur that programs, seminars, and universities that teach entrepreneurship are very different then what occurs in the real world. The programs I see today being called events for entrepreneurs are really designed for the audiences rather than the entrepreneurs. The audience participation to me is always interesting when people who have never started their own business tell the entrepreneur how to build their business. To me it’s a show for the audience where they get to demonstrate how smart they are by the questions they ask. If they were as smart as the presenting entrepreneur wouldn’t they start their own company? To me entrepreneurship is about solving real problems by pushing the current limitations of thinking. For its entrepreneurs that spark our imaginations through their innovation and initiative and resourcefulness. They have the courage to do what most can only wish they had the same courage that would allow them to change their own lives. As the current world financial meltdown continues governments talk of assisting entrepreneurs through legislation. So far those efforts have only stifled entrepreneurs because the laws created to assist entrepreneurs really prevent the growth of their businesses. When I was much younger my family and friends thought of me as one of those crazy people called entrepreneurs. When I left corporate America in 1969 where I was earning a substantial income as a salesman selling computers everyone but my bride questioned my sanity. To my generation we find it rewarding that today entrepreneurs have become the people expected to drive innovation and create the jobs so needed in today’s world. Today’s educators are still trying to create a formula that makes no distinction between entrepreneurship and small business management. I believe that by following this path they have overlooked what it really takes to start and successfully grow a business. If all these entrepreneur programs were measured for their accomplishments I believe they would be called failures. For thousands of students take these expensive courses and after graduation never use their education to start their own company. Today’s entrepreneur with little more than a cell phone and a laptop and a few credit cards are what’s changing our world. Unlike my generation who had to challenge the corporate giants they are wiser and do not take on the corporate giants directly but exploit their weaknesses and create business using this information. With little policies and procedures or heavy management structure that destroy curiosity, innovation and initiative they excel in this economic environment. They use social networking and by being early adopters have built strong networks that enable them to be leaders. As I end this piece I issue this warning to all those CEOs of large international corporations always remember that in a basement, garage, apartment, coffee shop an entrepreneur is building technology with your company’s name as a target to disrupt your dominance in a certain market Jerry R. Mitchell President Sincerely, Jerry R. Mitchell, President The Midwest Entrepreneurs' Forum