When you’ve completed your studies in college, it’s the beginning of a journey through the real world. Real because it could be what you get in college, not in line with reality. The theory and skills you get are not met the needs of the job. Finally, your choice after graduation is only three, namely being a worker, self-employment, and unemployed. Of course, the third option is not an option that parents want. So, the choice is left to two – being a worker or an entrepreneur.
Ok, let’s say you choose to work after college. The question is, what will be the first salary? Under, same as or above a fresh graduate early salary? Whatever salary is received, have you ever calculated the investment of parents who sent you from kindergarten to college? Take a calculator or open excel in your notebook. Try to calculate the total cost of education that has been incurred by parents from kindergarten to college. Then the amount is divided by your working time after college (average 30 years). Then multiply 30 years by 12 months. To get what exactly salary per month you should receive to return the total investment of education, please divide the total investment by 360 months. See the numbers!
Another life choice is being an entrepreneur. The question is, why should I choose self-employment as a life choice? In the present day, an entrepreneur can be said to be an economic hero. Self-employment can erode poverty and unemployment which is a crucial problem in our country. With his ability to see business opportunities, an entrepreneur can turn resources that are not glimpsed and considered by others into something of economic value to himself, his family, and the surrounding community. Entrepreneurs have an unyielding spirit. Failure is a delayed success for a successful entrepreneur. For someone who has a high entrepreneurial spirit, 1001 types of entrepreneurial opportunities are open to him.
The value of worship for an entrepreneur is his desire to create jobs for others (job creators), rather than just being an employee in a company or government agency (job seekers). In the world of entrepreneurship, there is also someone who works as an employee but is not satisfied with the salary received every month, trying to earn additional income by opening a business. People who choose self-employment as a life choice help the government build the national economy.
For long-time I teach entrepreneurship courses, not many students dare to raise their hands when asked who wants to be an entrepreneur after college? Or even dare to entrepreneurship while sitting in college? The numbers are very, very minimal. At least 2 or 3 people out of 40 students in the class dared to raise their hands.
The lack of interest in people who lived in developing countries to dare to take part as entrepreneurs are triggered by the following factors:
The first is the socio-cultural factor. Especially in developing countries, the perception of people who hold that being an employee is higher than an entrepreneur. Such perception is a colonial heritage because at that time the indigenous who became employees were very limited. This limitation is what then positions indigenous employees occupying high positions in the social structure of society. This legacy continues to this day when we observe the concept of parents educating children. In educating children, parents always expect their children to get a good education in a good school or college and finally get a good job and income as well. Rarely do we meet a parent who directs their child’s future to become an entrepreneur, because he is no more than a “trader”! There is a shame for parents if their children choose a profession as a trader.
The second is the political factor. In the political sphere, there are not many political policies that lead to the growth of entrepreneurship in several countries. In the political system, those nations are still preoccupied with learning how to organize a democratic system, to forget about the arrangement of the economic system. The disharmony of bargaining for the interests of certain political parties still colors the activities of legislators when going to launch legislation related to pro-people economic policies. Our political system still forgets the concept that a democratic society will not be created in a society that is not economically prosperous. The policy of structuring the democratic system must be in line and line with the arrangement of the economic system.
Third, economic factors. Economic policies reported by the government have not fully stimulated the development of entrepreneurship in developing countries. The policy of opening the import faucet of a product often harms national entrepreneurs because the price of their products is less competitive than imported products. There are no ideal mechanisms and policies to protect national products, especially in anticipation of free trade agreements. Considering that Indonesia has a population of 360 million, our country is a very potential market for the throwing of foreign products. The government’s helplessness in fortifying itself against the attack of foreign products, causing there is no incentive for the emergence of new entrepreneurs.
Fourth, is the technology factor. Advances in information and communication technology provide opportunities for the emergence of new entrepreneurs. The internet boom can be used as a place to open a business. However, the low level of literacy of information and communication technology causes this potential has not to be utilized as an optimal business opportunity. Our society is still classified as a user (user) of technology not yet as a creator (creator). The emergence of e-commerce trends, electronic transactions, virtual malls, e-marketing seems to be considered something ordinary by our society. This can be understood because the transaction habits of our society still use conventional methods – cash. The habit of transacting conventional models causes entrepreneurship opportunities by utilizing information and communication technology that has not been worked on optimally.
The Potential to Be an entrepreneur
The potential for entrepreneurial development is quite large. The countries which have abundant natural resources, big populations as a potential market, relatively good economic growth, stability in political and security conditions are good atmosphere for doing business. This condition has the potential to give birth to new entrepreneurs.
Try to reflect on the life choices you must decide: Want to be an EMPLOYEE, ENTREPRENEUR, or UNEMPLOYED? If you want to become an EMPLOYEE face the fact that more and more people who have not been able to work, both as private employees and public servants this is due to 1) Limited job openings, 2) Not appropriate skills owned by existing job openings, 3) Low educational qualifications owned, 4) Lack of skills owned, and 5) Increasingly fierce competition.
Many employees are dissatisfied with being workers for reasons primarily: 1) They don’t like to be ordered or follow orders, 2) Their abilities are not recognized, 3) Salaries are predetermined, 4) Their responsibilities are limited, 5) It’s hard to realize their ideas, and 6) They don’t like depending on their employers.
Disgruntled employees may be looking for new opportunities to become entrepreneurs, they tend to open their businesses for a variety of reasons:
1. Independence – they want to be the boss of their own business.
2. There is an urgent need.
3. Want to increase income.
4. Want to develop a business for their children’s future.
5. They want to make more money than they receive as employees.
6. A chance to prove his ability.
Looking at the conditions of the choice of work above, the question is whether I can become an entrepreneur? The answer, of course, can be. Everyone has the potential to be an entrepreneur. Try answering the following questions:
- Do you usually motivate yourself and be willing to work hard to achieve a predetermined goal?
- Can you cooperate with others?
- In a group of people, do you usually take on leadership roles?
- Can you communicate well with others?
- Are you confident?
- Do you have a positive self-image?
- Are you quick to make decisions?
The more “YES” answers to the above questions, the higher your entrepreneurial nature. Remember, one of the main factors for becoming an entrepreneur is that you are giving something of value to others. The more people need your product or service, the more likely the rewards you will get.
