Hats off to Entrepreneurs this week!
If you aren't someone who keeps track of all the National and International Days that are commemorated in the US and around the World, you'd probably be aware of just a few major ones such as the World Science day, World Immunization day, Labor Day and Day of Peace.
If you did diligently follow them, you'd have quite a few laughs over the Global Handwashing Day (No, I am not making this up), Talk Like a Pirate Day (Aren’t we all dying to say 'Ahoy, Cap’n!'), Boss’ day (You bet! They don’t like to be left alone) and the best one of all - the International Day Day!
On a more serious note - I think it is only fair that there is a National Entrepreneur’s Month, Day and Week as well. Innovative and driven entrepreneurs are the prime movers of the economic engine of a country and I am glad that President Barack Obama has proclaimed November as the National Entrepreneurship Month and the 16th of November as National Entrepreneurs’ Day.
Here's an excerpt from the Proclamation signed on Nov 1, 2012: “America is known around the world as a country that empowers the inventor and the innovator. Ours is a Nation where men and women can take a chance on a dream -- where they can take an idea that starts around a kitchen table or in a garage and turn it into a new business or a new industry. During National Entrepreneurship Month, we celebrate the hard work, ingenuity, and courage of our thinkers, doers, and makers.”
Link to the complete Proclamation: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/11/01/presidential-proc…
As opposed to numerous other National Days that simply make us ‘LOL’, the National Entrepreneurs’ Day could be one that motivates us to learn about and support Entrepreneurs in our community and across the world. In this highly connected age of Social Media, this only gets easier. Be it through mentorship , skill-based volunteering programs or crowd sourcing through organizations like YCombinator, AngelPad or Kiva, appreciating and encouraging entrepreneurs is the key to promote innovation and spurring job growth .
On that Note, here’s a Google Hangout http://virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/global-entrepreneur-hangout with Sir Richard Branson who answered questions from Entrepreneurs yesterday. What struck me most was his point about not being afraid of delegating the day to day work to others early on and instead focusing on the vision of the company.