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Millennials get a bad rap for a number of reasons, some of them justified, others less so.
Among some of the less flattering stereotypes of millennials that exist out there, is the idea that they are entitled, undisciplined, and lack the ambition required to achieve great things in business.
Of course, there’s no reason why millennials can’t become successful entrepreneurs – and, in fact, many are spearheading the charge into the new and exciting world of web-based, location-independent work.
All the same, there are various tips that might be useful for millennials who want to become entrepreneurs, without living out some of the worst stereotypes of their generation.
Here are a few of those tips.
Aim to work smart and hard, in a balanced way – not just to work smart
One trend that commonly repeats on millennial-centered blogs and websites, regarding entrepreneurial work, is the desire to find ways to “work smart” instead of just “working hard.”
This desire to find efficient ways to get more done, in less time, with less effort, is often quite closely connected to the desire to travel the world while working remotely, and living a life of adventure. It’s in stark contradiction to the old idea of an entrepreneur as someone in a suit who never leaves the office, and who doesn’t have a personal life.
Of course, balance is important. Doing nothing but work is not likely to be fulfilling for many people, on a deeper level.
And, it’s also true that finding ways to “work smart” is important in order to maintain peak efficiency, and allow for proper work-life balance.
Don’t, however, fall into the trap of aiming to work “smart” and not work “hard” at all. Instead, aim to work smart and hard, while maintaining balance.
All entrepreneurs have to work hard if they want to be successful. If you don’t, be sure that your competitors will, anyway.
Get the basic infrastructure in place, get started as soon as you can, and stick with it
Often, people are daunted by the idea of setting out on an entrepreneurial path, and are good at procrastinating, making excuses, and drawing the process out forever.
If you actually want to become a successful entrepreneur, though, it’s important to get started as soon as you can, and to dedicate yourself to a process of iterative improvement, done consistently, over the mid and long-term.
If your business needs ATM equipment, buy it. But then, get started, and iron out the kinks as you go along.
Action builds momentum, and provides plenty of learning opportunities. And action combined with endurance can go a long way.
Become your own manager – get used to holding yourself to a schedule and routine
Associated with the general stereotype that millennials don’t like being constrained in their professional lives, is the idea that being an entrepreneur allows you to be completely intuitive and spontaneous with how you structure your time.
Realistically, though, it’s important for you to view the entrepreneur’s life as an injunction to become your own manager, and to hold yourself to a schedule and routine, and not as an excuse to do what you want, when you want.
It’s always much easier to actually achieve things when you have some order in your life.
Growing Forward 