The word “entrepreneur” comes from the French verb “entreprendre” meaning “to do” or “to undertake.” An entrepreneur is someone who “does”, someone who acts. Generally, this means putting the time, energy, and money into starting up a business, and being willing to take the risks that come along with it. Whereas most people see problems, entrepreneurs see opportunities. Whereas most people complain about problems, entrepreneurs create solutions. Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy. Nearly two-thirds of all new jobs created in the past fifteen years have come from small businesses, and over half of these businesses are run from home! About one out of ten people work for themselves or for a small company. We’re all very fortunate to live in a world that encourages the creation and growth of new businesses. The process of opening your own company is relatively easy. But who can be an entrepreneur? Anyone can be an entrepreneur. You may be a twenty year old kid with no money in the bank with just a good idea, and you can still build a company from scratch. You don’t have to be old to create a business: Google, Facebook, and Dell are all examples of companies that were started by students. You don’t need lot of money, either: Microsoft, Nike, Domino’s Pizza, Hewlett-Packard, and Eastman Kodak are all examples of companies that were started with ten thousand dollars or less. Don’t think that setting up a business is an intimidating task that requires a lot of work, money, and special talent. The question “Who can be an entrepreneur?” wasn’t really a fair one, was it? If I asked, “Who can play golf?” and you answered “Anyone,” you’d be technically right – just about anyone can pick up a club and hit a ball. But the real question should be, “Who can play golf well?” Just about anyone can start a company, but being a successful entrepreneur requires a particular type of person, a lot of hard work, and a good measure of luck.