Our popular culture can be crushing to girls’ confidence. But learning entrepreneurial skills builds girls’ confidence. That’s a gift that will help them become more successful in life no matter what career path they ultimately pursue.
Children learn that a different set of rules apply to them in entrepreneurial skills class. To begin with, they make the rules, whether it's not speaking when others are talking, letting ideas flow without criticism during brainstorming, or making sure that everyone “has fun.” The children are in charge, and instead of being told what to do, they have agreed on what to do. It becomes one of the few classrooms where kids have the autonomy and responsibility of being in charge. Middle school teachers have told us that they can see a shift in their classrooms—fewer disruptions, faster work, with the responsibility for solutions subtly shifted to their students.
This builds confidence, which leads to embracing creativity and accepting and learning from failure: and moving ahead into becoming entrepreneurs. At a young age.
Most people understand that the economic and cultural success of the United States has been based on the country’s entrepreneurial spirit. For that reason, you might assume that the U.S. must lead the world in teaching entrepreneurial skills to our young.
What can we do to prepare our young people for the economic swells and falls of the future? How are we equipping them to start and lead the technology companies of the future?
Let's start early by encouraging girls to be entrepreneurial. Not every girl will become an entrepreneur, of course. But every single girl who is encouraged to be an independent and creative thinker benefits every one of us.
I'd love to hear your thoughts about the entrepreneurial girls in your life. How have you fostered their creativity? Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.
