Flush the Toilet: Young Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs tend to be naturally curious people. We like to ask questions and think about how things work and why they work the way they do. Ever hear that saying “Curiosity killed the cat”? Well curiosity will always save the entrepreneur.

I can remember back in my high school years when my teachers would literally tell me to leave the classroom because I was becoming too disruptive for asking too many questions. Isn’t that ridiculous? Go figure.

In science class my professor would get angry if I found out a new (or my own way) of doing the lab work. He wanted me to stay on track with the book and how he was teaching the class. Well I’m sorry but it’s never fun when a student has to always go by the book or by exactly what the professor says.

Have any of you students out there ever be in a class where the teacher basically teaches directly out of the book and never deviates from the prepared lesson? Well I’ve been in a ton of those classes and they’ve always made me sick.

I guess I have this theory that professors are partially to blame for the lack of students who are willing to deviate from the books (the ways things are always done) and to start thinking on their own, instead of always having knowledge spoon fed to them.

I mean, I hate to keep on bashing college on this blog, but I can’t keep my mouth shut when I see professors – the people who are purportedly supposed to encourage curiosity – continue to shut students down when they have an original idea about something.

In order to combat this blatant disregard for individuality from many of our nation’s colleges, the student entrepreneur must continue to ask questions and explore new ideas without worrying about being shutdown from “authority figures.”

We need to attend conferences, meetings, and social events of the things that really interest us in life and continue to ask, ask, ask, and then ask some more. Never be scared to try and learn more about a topic from someone who knows more than you do. If your teachers doesn’t want to be a part of this learning process, then fine. Don’t think that learning is only limited to the classroom; there are a ton of smart people and sources of information out there that are just waiting to answer your questions and offer feedback to your ideas.

If you’re around people who continue to shut you down and kill your curiosity, then please remove them from your social circle – they’re deadly to entrepreneurs. Try to surround yourself with ambitious people who support your goals and that really want to help further your aspirations in life.

And if you’re going to continue to hang around people who project negativity, then just take them for face value and be aware of their intentions. There will always be snakes in the garden, so just watch where you’re walking.