Final Reflection

After reading through my past blog posts, my most formative experience was the “Need Awareness and Information Search” assignment. It was the assignment where I was finally able to conduct interviews properly without sounding awkward. I know that sounds kind of weird, but the previous interview-based assignments were ones that I didn’t look forward to, but they were definitely a learning experience. So with this one, I was able to successfully find people to interview and conduct meaningful discussion in order to improve my venture. Completing the assignment was something I was proud of accomplishing. The most joyous experience of the course would probably have to be the “Venture Concept No. 1” assignment because I finally got to put the elements of the venture together. One of the experiences I will remember years later would be the “Celebrating Failure” assignment because I don’t think any other class required me to self-reflect on my college experience thus far.

At the end, I don’t know if I would call myself an entrepreneur only because I haven’t actually established a real business venture. However, I have moved closer to developing an entrepreneurial mindset thanks to the way this course was structured. I learned to be structured in completing the assignments but also flexible when my schedule demanded it. Since taking this course, I have become more aware in identifying problems in different settings. I have also learned how to deal with failure when it occurs and make it an opportunity to learn something rather than wallow in sadness. Those are probably the most important aspects of an entrepreneurial mindset – flexibility, problem identification, and accepting some failures as an opportunity to learn.

One recommendation I would make to those who are thinking about taking this class is to figure out why they want to take it. The course does not involve any exams, so it’s understandable that some would notice this. However, in order to get the most out of the class, one actually has to do as many assignments as they can. If one takes the class with the intention of learning what the entrepreneurial mindset is and what it’s like to do some of the things an entrepreneur has to do in order to start his or her venture, then the assignments will make sense and be a different learning experience. Ask your TA questions about the course since they are your first resource for guidance. As for completing the assignments on time, the course is based on points obtained through assignments, so working ahead of schedule if possible is one way to perform best in this course. That does not mean rush the assignment, though. Also, utilizing the entrepreneurial mindset also helps one to perform their best. That means finding opportunity in a creative way and learning from failures. In order to foster that mindset, maybe try to do something new every weekday. It obviously doesn’t have to be something dramatic, just new. For example, some light reading on a topic you are not that familiar with. Doing something new each day, no matter how small, allows you to view things from a new perspective.