An entitled Generation

      Get an Education they said, that way you will be sure to get a good job. You don't need to get some random skill set in some useless vocation like making jewelry its for people who can not afford to get an education they said. Study hard at school and make good grades you will certainly get a good job once you are done with school they said.

         Now they have the effrontery  to call me entitled. You should note that I am quite familiar with the term entitlement what I do not understand is why its become an important part of their vocabulary whenever I walk into the room.

         When you brush your teeth with their water they say ah! your generation is so entitled when I was your age I already had a house of my own, when you watch the news on their TV they say ah! your generation is so entitled we didn't have the opportunities you have now.

         Oh yes entitlement but allow me to ask  are we still basking in the euphoria of entitlement when we have to struggle with one million other "entitletees" for twelve slots in a government parastatal?

          Are we still entitled when we have to create jobs that have never existed, jobs that you didn't even know could exist. If you think I lie then please by all means introduce me to one of your fifty year old friends who is a social media manager or better yet an online PR personnel or even perhaps a gossip blogger. Yes that's how entitled we are.

         Are we still basking in the euphoria of entitlement when we have to pay through our noses to learn those skill sets we used to call mediocre because now our options are few I mean its either the blue collar or no collar at all right? Oh how entitled we must be!

         

Starting the African start up today? here are seven simple ways to start your business

Content written by ANDREW MEDAL
CONTRIBUTOR
Serial Entrepreneur, Digital Strategist, Web Designer, Author,
Volunteer

            I have a family member that has been talking about quitting her job
for the past five years. I have a friend that has been talking about
starting a business for the past 10 years. I see these two scenarios
every day, with different people, in different areas of my life.
I get emails from hundreds of entrepreneurs every week (most likely
because I’ve included my email address on my columns and because
one was titled, Why and How You Should Cold Email Everyone ). That
offers me the opportunity to speak to lots of entrepreneurs. I hear
their requests, and learn what problems they need to overcome.
Figuring out how to start is one of the biggest hurdles.

       You Only Need Permission From You to Be an Entrepreneur
From an outsider looking in, it may seem daunting and impossible to
start your own business. It’s not. Plenty of people with lesser skill
sets, resources and time, from all walks of life and of all ages have
gone to live the life they’ve always dreamed of by simply putting one
foot in front of the other. Like anything, entrepreneurship can be a
taught and learned skill.

          Before we get into the list, I want to help you overcome a basic
obstacle. You may not know what business to start. Here’s a cool
idea that I’ve seen before: On your Facebook wall, ask the question,
“If you could come to me for advice on one subject, what would it
be?” Whatever topic has the most “advice” suggestions, start that
type of business. People already see you as an expert on that
topic, and it’s most likely something you’re passionate about.

           Here are some ways you can finally quit and start that business
you’ve always dreamed about:
            1. Check Craigslist.
Oh, yes, the coveted Craigslist. Think about it, people go to Craigslist
and make posts about different services/products they need. This is
valuable data and information. It is actually how I started my digital
marketing agency. I responded to a couple different website
development posts and found my first couple of clients. You can do
the same utilizing your skills to provide services and products.     

          2. Hire a designer and utilize the Invision app.
This point is specifically addressing web- or mobile-based
businesses. You don’t have a product, but have an idea. That’s
alright, and a good start . Now, you should create a demo. The next
best thing is a demo that shows exactly how your website/mobile
app will look and function. This will be helpful with potential users,
clients, partners, investors or whomever you’re talking to about your
business.

      First, find a designer that can mock up the vision you have of your
mobile or web application. Use reference sites to cut down on
confusion, and get specific with details, as design is subjective (what
you may think looks good, someone else may not, and vice versa).
Then, take those mockups and add them to the Invision app. By
creating hot spots in the files, you can make your boring static PSD
files clickable, which gives them new life and the allure of a working/
functioning product.

             3. Take out Facebook ads.
I get this scenario all of the time. I have two ideas, but unsure which
to pursue. Create two simple landing pages for each idea (just don’t
get stuck on the landing page creation -- do something quick and
easy). Include a basic email capture form on both landing pages.
Then, create two separate Facebook ads promoting each idea.
Whichever gets you more emails, start that business, and use that
list as your first set of users, clients or customers.

             4. Build a site with Striking.ly.
Forget about learning Wordpress, and definitely don’t use GoDaddy.
Striking.ly helps you create attractive websites with a very simple
visual composer. You can literally drag and drop, and have a
professional-looking site up in minutes. Use that website to help you
gain instant credibility through a web presence.

             5. Sell to your friends and family.
The reality is that your friends and family are your low hanging fruit
for any business you start. If you’re looking for clients, users,
whatever, friends and family can be that first early adopter base you
need to get going.

         6. Build an audience with Instagram and a website.
I test ideas all of the time using Instagram and Wordpress websites
that I build. I figure out a specific niche I want to test. For instance,
currently, I’m building websites for CrossFit athletes. Then, I figure
out who the top influencers are and use Crowdfire to follow their
followers, and start communicating with them via Instagram, while
making posts and using the right hashtags to gain more attention.

        My website is in my profile name, and I generate tons of traffic this
way. You can see this at work on the Brand_Athletes Instagram
account and the website I created (and didn’t even finish to start
quickly testing the idea). I already have a ton of people that have
signed up and are in the process of building websites for. This can be
done in any industry, with any business.

            7. Get a part-time job.
I know that some people disagree with this point. Some people will
say focus on your project full time. That’s not realistic. You most
likely have bills. Keep it real. Get your expenses down as low as
possible, figure out your monthly burn, get a part-time job anywhere
that helps alleviate the financial pressures and start designing your
new life.

         I love startups, and love building things. Through my different
successes I’ve experienced how exhilarating it is to have masses of
people using a product you’ve helped create. From my failures I have
learned valuable and practical lessons that can be applied to current
and future endeavors. I have not found a rush that compares to being
an entrepreneur. It is fun, exciting, challenging and worth the risk and
thrill in every sense.

        If you’ve ever thought about starting a business -- do it. The worst
that can happen is that it doesn’t turn out the way you intended, and
you learn something new.
If I can be a resource, please let me know. Additionally, I started a
private Facebook group for entrepreneurs, where we all share insight,
tips, questions and experiences.

cullage: enterpreneur.com

Favourite Scribd selects on business and leadership

        Oscar Wilde said if you read books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking. The following books are not your average, they would change your outlook on business and leadership in ways you never knew where possible.

How to work a room, 25th Anniversary edition by Susan Roane
          This silver Anniversary edition is fully revised and updated to include the role of technology and social media in networking. Plus practical hints to starting conversations and strengthening  rapport with strangers. I recommended this book to all entrepreneurs, job professionals and job seekers alike.

The five lessons a millionaire taught me by Paul Evans
        Wise and compelling, this book can be read in a single sitting and will leave you with insights of what being rich is about and just how you too can build that wealth.

Abundance: the future is better than you think by Peter. H. Diamandis and Steve Kotler
       This bold, contrarian view, backed up by exhaustive research, introduces our near future, where exponentially growing technologies and three other powerful forces are conspiring to better the lives of billions. Written by tech entrepreneur turned philanthropist Peter. H. Diamandis and award winning science writer Steven Kotler. This book will change your perspective of the future in the most phenomenal way you taught possible.

The art of always being right by A.C Grayling and Arthur Schopenhauer
         This book shows you the 38 ways that will convince people that you are right based on a life time of observing opinion. The Art of always being right shows you the 38 ways that will convince people that you are right. Read this book and see yourself become a persuasion guru.

A more beautiful question by Warren Berger
          In this book, Warren Berger shows us that one of the most powerful forces for igniting change in our business and in our daily lives is simple. This author outlines a practical why/what if/ how system of inquiry that can guide you through the process of innovative questioning.

Change by design by Tim Brown
        In this book Tim Brown, CEO of the celebrated innovation IDEO introduces us to design thinking. This book serves as a blue print for creative leaders seeking to infuse design thinking in all facets of their businesses. Written with humour, imagination and vision, this vital and inspiring guide is essential reading for anyone confronting the challenges of today in order to create the opportunities for tomorrow.

In the plex by Stephen Levy
        Written with full cooperation from top management, including co-founder Sergey Brin and Larry Page, this is the inside story behind Google, the most successful and most admired technology company of our time, told by one of the best technology writers. No one has ever turned Google inside out as Levy does with this book.

Excerpts from Scribd book summaries.