Last week, I attended a 2 day seminar on Entrepreneurial Thought and Action taught by the President of Babson College, Len Schlesinger, and the President of Innovation Associates Inc., Charlie Kiefer.  The seminar presented a practical, creative model of entrepreneurism vs. the traditionally-taught predictive model.  In this context, “creative” implies how we build something new.

The concepts presented in this seminar were simple and profound, highlighting a gap in current business school curricula:  that who you are, what you know and who you know are as important (if not moreso) to the success of a start-up as your ability to write a good business plan. The course content is grounded in recently published research which challenges traditional notions of what makes for a successful entrepreneurial venture.  The seminar was largely experientially-based with a free flow of conversation.  My classmates ranged from a 15-year-old entrepreneurial prodigy to a bestselling author.  Ideas and insights flowed freely.  Among them:

Charlie on entrepreneurism: “To the extent that I can create the future, I don’t need to predict it.”

Len on value: “You create value through your ability to create behavioral opportunities [on which you can act]….”

Charlie on risk: “Each step I take I want to be stepping on something that can bare my weight.”

Len on problem-solving: “Most intractable problems are defects in thinking [about the problem].”

In one of our exercises we explored the concept of how “tension seeks resolution.”  Screenplay structure, through the employment of ever-escalating reversals in the storyline, illustrates this concept beautifully.  Through our ability to heighten tension, we can force resolution (action).  This became an interesting window through which to view our own entrepreneurial actions (or lack of action).

For those of you out there with a big idea on which you have yet to take the plunge, you might want to consider attending this seminar (they iterate it every month or so).  2 days and $275 is a good deal for getting the second half of your business education.

Take another step