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By Isioma Okenimkpe  Communication for me is as easy as putting ice in water! Yes, no matter what the situation or place, I am able to converse easily and have meaningful dialogue. But then, when I am around unfamiliar faces, I get tongue-tied and I start to think that communication is an inner gift that people are blessed with, little did I know that this was part of my trait as an introvert.
As an entrepreneur, I saw this as my weakness because I felt that I wouldn’t be able to communicate effectively what I needed to in front of my customers. At this point, I knew I needed to find a way to improve on my communication skill and with the help of my colleague, I carried out research on communication and communication for Introverts. So far, my findings have been my guide to effective communication with people. Below are my tricks and tips.
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By Nick Glavan I miss seeing live theatre. It’s something that can’t be matched by a recorded performance or edited films or tv shows. Being in a space where real humans have poured hours of their time into rehearsing and memorizing 2-hour sequences of storytelling, and being there as they perform it with the energy of an audience reacting…there’s no perfect substitute. However, innovators across the world have been finding ways to bring COVID-safe alternatives to life amidst these “unprecedented times.” Each means of producing and performing through/around restrictions has carved out a niche experience that never existed(to my knowledge) before. All while keeping every actor, crew member, and audience member safe and secure. So while I am eager to return to a theatre and physically settle in for a show, I wanted to reflect on some of the amazing ways theatrical artists have adapted their livelihood in the face of the virus, and extract lessons we can all apply to our own innovation journeys.  By Elyse Ball  We’ve all been told things like “you’ve got to tackle your problems head on” or “the only way out is through.” Well, as a student of Netflix (Class of 2021), I can tell you that’s not true. Over the past few weeks, I’ve binge watched my way through both Lupin and Queen’s Gambit and uncovered incontrovertible evidence that there’s pretty much always another way to win.
I suspect that I enjoyed these shows, because they’re about clever, creative problem solvers, who are definitely underdogs. If you have millions of dollars and hundreds of people on your team, a straightforward approach to overcome a thorny problem is perfectly fine. But if you’re a 20-something American chess protégé going up against Russian grandmasters, or a thief who came from nothing taking on the rich and powerful, or even a small group of innovators and entrepreneurs trying to get your first product to market, you might need to take a less direct – and more creative – approach. What does this mean? By Shannon Marshburn
By Anna Radachy  Did you know there are people who raise bugs? There are companies and startups all over the world with bug farmers who breed, raise, and sell all sorts of insects for all sorts of purposes every day.
This market of raising and selling bugs affects many, many markets across the world. Some markets include things you would expect like reptile food and fertilizer, while other markets are more covert like dyes and fabric production. Around the world, people eat bugs, use them to feed their animals, make their clothes, and many other things every day, but how does this affect us? Have you ever looked at a beetle and thought “I could make a business out of that”? I am willing to bet the answer there is no. In reality, every single day we come into contact with hundreds of entrepreneurial opportunities that never even occur to us because we are unaware of their market potential. Raising bugs is not the only hidden specialized market out there and taking the time to think about these small things may lead you to your next idea! By Isioma Okenimkpe Paulo Coelho “A child knows how to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.”  source: Shutterstock I recently became a mother for the first time, and since spending quality time with my little one and bonding with her, it struck me that babies are naturally born entrepreneurs so I thought it might be useful share.
Key Takeaway
First is the newborn baby’s growth. A newborn baby’s growth is like that of a startup, some babies are born bigger while others are born smaller. According to research, the average newborn will weigh in around 7 and half pound and measures about 20 inches long but one thing is for sure, the newborn will lose some weight in the first few days after birth. In fact, nearly all newborns will leave the hospital less than they did when they’re first born. In the same vein, whether you start big or small, every business is created, and nurtured from a basic idea to a functional company, and with this comes its own growing pain and weight loss. The fact is that more than 50% of all businesses will fail within the first 5 years and this is nothing to be afraid of because just like the newborn, you will recoup with the right amount of time, resources, and dedication. When most people think of Bill Gates, they think of this super-genius billionaire who is always successful. Well, as you are about to see, that is not exactly true. You see, back in 1970, Bill and his partner Paul Allen had started their first business: Traf-O-Data. Bill and Paul worked closely with many electrical engineering students and faculty members at the University of Washington, hoping to create a device that automatically read traffic tapes (Back in 1970, manually reading these tapes was tough work).  Well, after years of sinking time and money into this business, Bill thought he was going to have his first big break...
An official from the county office was scheduled to see a demo of Traf-O-Data. How exciting right? A chance to finally push his product into the market. So one day, the official walked into the lab, and the demonstration started. The lights on the device lit up. Everything seemed to go well… but then: CRASH! It’s getting close to the end of the semester!
It’s exciting that’s it’s almost over right? But frustrating because you’ve got so much going on… All the projects, exams, and homework you have to do… It all seems to pile up. Stressing you out and making it harder to focus on your ideas. It’s a problem lots of student entrepreneurs suffer from. So what do you do? How do you get your school work done… and make progress as a student entrepreneur? “I constantly see people rise in life who are not the smartest, sometimes not even the most diligent, but they are learning machines. They go to bed every night a little bit wiser than they were when they got up, and boy does that help, particularly when you have a long run ahead of you.” – Charlie Munger
Want to know the “secret weapon” billionaires like Warren Buffet use to fuel their success? Their biggest piece of advice… Adopt A “Growth Mindset.” What’s a growth mindset? You’ve seen people who are stuck in the same place for years… doing the same tasks each day. People like this seem to be like robots running on autopilot…  By: Elyse Ball
Sitting at the intersection of Northeast Ohio's research universities and startup scene, my University of Akron Research Foundation (UARF) colleagues and I often see startup ideas in their earliest stages. Last fall, after having met with dozens of entrepreneurs who were working on napkin ideas or sharing their startup aspirations for the first time, we finally decided it was time to take action to assist entrepreneurs that aren't quite ready for the region's incubator and accelerator programs. The result - the Starting Line Pre-Acccelerator - aims to help beginner entrepreneurs develop their business concept into a full-fledged startup. Through a 10-step process, entrepreneurs craft a business model, interview customers, sketch out their prototype concept, and construct their first startup pitch. Starting Line comprises mainly online, "at-your-own-pace" activities, ranging from completing a business model canvas and interviewing customers to listening to podcasts and TEDtalks about entrepreneurial mindset. Entrepreneurs also get the chance to have one-on-one meetings with Dan Hampu and I to guide them through the process. If you are or know of an entrepreneur that would benefit from Starting Line, let us know or check out uakronuarf.com/step1. |
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