Are Entrepreneurs Born or Built?
A 60-minute session on where the people who start things come from: the kid who sold stickers in class, the boy raised at the shop counter, the friend who could afford to fall, the shy person who learned to sell anyway. Is the instinct to build something born in a few people, or made by family, money and practice? Twelve independent cards; open three or four.
The opening question
Someone pays all your bills for the next two years, no strings attached: do you start something of your own, or keep doing what you do now?
Everyone in the room answers this in one line before any card is opened. Write the answers down; you will come back to them.
The cards
12 ways into the topic
Each card is independent. Your group votes on which to open, and four or five is plenty for an hour. Behind every card sit three prompts, one at a time, that only appear once it is opened on the board. Unopened cards keep for next time.
- 1
Selling Things As A Kid
You were nine. You sold stickers, drawings or old comics to kids in your class. Your cousin never sold anything in his life.
- 2
Growing Up In A Business Family
In some homes, dinner talk is about stock, rent and who still owes money. In other homes, nobody talks about money at all.
- 3
Taking Over The Family Business
Your father built a business from nothing. Everyone assumes you'll run it one day. You're not even sure you like it.
- 4
When Your Business Fails
You quit your job and started something. Two years later, it's over. Now you're applying for jobs again, and relatives are asking questions.
- 5
Having A Family Safety Net
Two friends both have a great business idea. One knows her parents will cover her if it fails. The other is paying his family's rent.
- 6
Marrying A Startup Founder
A marriage proposal comes for your daughter. He's smart and kind. He also quit his job last year to run a company that doesn't make money yet.
- 7
Being Comfortable With Risk
Some people just jump. They quit, move cities, put their savings in, and still sleep fine. Others lie awake over small decisions.
- 8
Learning Business In College
You can now study how to start a business, with courses, degrees and online gurus.
- 9
Being Too Shy To Sell
You've made something good. But calling strangers, pitching it or asking for money makes your stomach turn.
- 10
Everyone Wants To Be A Founder
Your college friend's profile now says “Founder & CEO”. He has a logo, a podcast and a quote about hustle. Nobody is quite sure what the company does.
- 11
Daughters In The Family Business
A family has a son and a daughter. The daughter is sharper with numbers. But everyone assumes the son will run the shop.
- 12
Why Not Everyone Can Do It
People love to say anyone can start a business if they work hard enough. But you've seen people try everything and still fail.
The line to leave with
Which part of yourself have you been calling “just how I'm made” that might simply be something you were never given the chance to practise?
More boards,more ways in.
Every discussion we have run has a board behind it. Browse them by topic.