Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship Blog

By Ian Jenkins ’10, Thunderbird MBA candidate

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson.

As the winterim comes to a close, I reflect on the decision that I believe is running through all the heads in the class. Do I join the corporate world, or do I start out on my own? There is much experience to be gained in the corporate form, but then it oftentimes leads to a life that is too comfortable to leave. When you have a spouse, kids, mortgage and car payments, it is hard to leave the security of a salary and start off on your own. Thus it was fitting that the last speaker of the winterim was David Dodge. Mr. Dodge is a former T-bird who wrote his business plan during class and started a business while attending Thunderbird full-time.

The beauty of his story is how he simply experimented with the business idea. He wrote a plan, then followed it until it needed to be revised. He said that you never know what the future has in store, you’re always learning. Approach life with curiosity and passion, and don’t be afraid to try something new. So if entrepreneurship is your passion, why wait?

Ian Jenkins is a student in the 2010 Entrepreneur/CEO Founders Seminar, a two-week “Winterim” on campus in Glendale, Arizona. Thunderbird Professor Steven Stralser, Ph.D., leads the program, which provides an understanding of the development and implementation of entrepreneurial strategies and policy development. Guest speakers include entrepreneurs and business leaders from many industries and regions.

Posted: 01|22|10 at 8:28 pm.
Filed under: Stralser, Steven, Winterims.
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