“The Discipline of Innovation”
September 26, 2024
Originally posted in our September 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. The HBR article “The Discipline of Innovation” underscores the need for structured approaches to foster sustainable, innovative growth. In it, Peter Drucker identifies key sources of innovation, such as unexpected occurrences, incongruities, and industry changes. Applying these principles to community entrepreneurship is vital to enhancing local economic development. By systematically exploring opportunities and leveraging local resources, community entrepreneurs can drive impactful, culturally relevant innovation, ultimately creating…
Read more“Why entrepreneurship education fails in impoverished regions”
August 29, 2024
Originally posted in our August 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. This piece from the University of Michigan references and expands on a study that found entrepreneurship programs in impoverished regions are more successful when they showcase domestic or culturally relevant innovations rather than highlighting the world’s most successful entrepreneurs. This aligns perfectly with ELI’s belief that unlocking entrepreneurial potential is best achieved by providing relatable social models to those we aim to help. If the examples…
Read more“As a Man Thinketh”
Originally posted in our August 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. Recently, we’ve been inspired by the wisdom in James Allen’s classic text “As a Man Thinketh.” This insightful volume likens a person’s mind to a garden, emphasizing that our thoughts and actions are profoundly shaped by how we “tend” to them. This metaphorical framing helps us ask important questions of ourselves. Are we letting our thoughts run wild? Or are we cultivating “right and useful” thoughts?…
Read more“New Business Building: A Winning Strategy in Uncertain Times”
July 29, 2024
Originally posted in our July 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. McKinsey’s exploration of developing new businesses during times of economic instability, which in turn can lead to thriving amidst uncertainty, emphasizes the importance of agility and innovation—key tenets of the entrepreneurial mindset. In this thought-provoking article, we learn about five archetypes McKinsey has identified from newly emerging successful businesses. Things like leveraging automation and service-minded value creation are cornerstones of the article’s point, but also of…
Read more“How to Help Students Focus on Learning Instead of Their Grades”
Originally posted in our July 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. In this piece from Berkley’s Greater Good Magazine, the author unpacks the significance of steering students’ attention toward learning rather than solely fixating on grades. That subtle but difficult shift can make the act of discovery a reward in and of itself. This perspective is closely aligned with the essence of entrepreneurial mindset education, which champions growth, creativity, and intrinsic motivation. As educators gear up for…
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