There was an interesting article by Marshall Goldsmith in the August 25th issue of Business Week entitled We’re All Entrepreneurs, Advice for the Young that Transcends Age.   The article paints a fairly harsh picture of the current and future world of work in North America.  We know that Job security and corporate paternalism are relics of the past.  But, what is on the horizon?  With globalization and other major shifts in the world economy, the career landscape here in North America will continue to evolve.  It is an new era—an era of great promise and great uncertainty.

What is Goldsmith’s advice to young people from the West who are just entering the workforce?

“It is tough out there, and it’s only going to get tougher.
Forget about security.
Like it or not, even if you start with a large corporation, you are going to be an entrepreneur.
Make peace with this reality, and you life is going to be a lot better.”

Goldsmith says we all need to think and act like entrepreneurs who are competing in a global economy.  Yet, many workers, especially those in medium size and large corporations, have little to no practice in thinking and acting like entrepreneurs.  According to a poll cited in Business Week, 42 percent of white-collar workers say that they aren’t entrepreneurial.  Why not?  Because they see few incentives for risk-takers.  That tells me that there a quite a few organizations out there that do not reward, and might even squelch, entrepreneurial behavior.

What does it mean to be an entrepreneur?”  Entrepreneurs take risks.  They take the initiative.  With global competition for jobs, you need to be a lifelong learner, someone who is constantly learning and developing.  To keep up and stay competitive, you’ll need to seize opportunities to grow your talents and regularly upgrade your skills.  You own your future, so grab the wheel and take control.  “And, like every great entrepreneur, invest time and money in your future.”

Are you thinking and acting like an entrepreneur?