Creating More Entrepreneurial Nations

Service. Resilience. Hope.Rick Spence

rick@rickspence.ca

In our global economy, we face serious problems, together:

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• Slowing growth• high government deficits• obsolete business models• nagging unemployment

The solution:Embrace entrepreneurship!

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At its root, entrepreneurship is not just about business.

It’s about personal development, innovation, curiosity, and learning to be of service to others.

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Successful entrepreneurs create innovation and jobs. More subtly, they create ecosystems of optimism.

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By creating more entrepreneurial communities, we can turn success into a renewable resource.

Entrepreneurs built Canada!@srijan #SrijanWW

Canadian Entrepreneurs

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Global entrepreneurs

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Entrepreneurs bring positive change to markets.

They only succeed if they can create more value than their competitors.

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World Entrepreneur of the Year, Monte Carlo

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Ruth Oltjer, Chemi-Pharm

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Frantisek Piskanin, HOPI 

@srijan #SrijanWWJorge Nazer, Grupo ALTO

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Innovation

"The great creative individual... is capable of more wisdom and virtue than collective man ever can be."

John Stuart Mill

Impact of EntrepreneursOne million small businesses in Canada contribute

more than 30% of Canada’s GDP

• Small businesses employ approximately 5 million Canadians, or just under half of the private-sector workforce.• Between 2001 and 2011, small firms accounted for 43% percent of all jobs created in the private sector.• In 2010, small businesses were responsible for $77 billion, or about 25 percent of Canada’s export trade.

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2015 Startup Canada/Staples PollWhen asked their motives for starting a business, just over half of respondents cited a desire to fill a gap in the marketplace or gain more flexibility and independence in their work.

Forty per cent expressed a drive to change the world, and leave a positive legacy.

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Corporate Canada’s Favourite Shopping List

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Entrepreneurship has the opportunity to become a renewable resource!

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Entrepreneurs succeed by creating value. Their innovation makes other firms better.

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More big companies are locating close to startups to get a piece of the magic

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Striving to make Canada “The best place on earth to start and grow a business.”

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Start where you are. Do what you can.

How do you create a more Entrepreneurial Culture?

Help entrepreneurs in your area by creating a true community!

If it chooses to embrace entrepreneurs, your community will thrive. If your region chooses not to offer support, your entrepreneurs will face greater risks – and your community will no longer determine its own destiny.

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10 ways to create a more Entrepreneurial Nation

1. Create a national financial literacy strategy/campaign

2. A national television “Innovation Channel” devoted to entrepreneurship, opportunity, technology and disruption

3. Create a “Made in Your Country” national awards program for entrepreneurship, vision, invention and execution.

4. Develop a national website telling the stories of your 500 top entrepreneurs, including their best advice.

5. Convince schools to embrace entrepreneurship. Create a national database on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs for teachers

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10 ways to create a more Entrepreneurial Nation 6. Refine and expand the “hackathon” model to focus innovators on new opportunities in non-IT areas: economic development, homelessness, health care, tourism, etc.

7. Develop a “Scale Up” community initiative: resources to help established entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level.

8. Make all levels of government more conscious of procuring goods and services from SMEs.

9. Target bureaucracy and paperwork. Encourage governments to review and trim back business regulations and filings.

10. Entrepreneurs’ Pledge. Encourage successful entrepreneurs to give back to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in their community.

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Entrepreneurial Nations and Communities solve economic problems by creating skilled,

resilient business leaders who will generate sustained success.

Your future is in your hands!

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Rick Spence@rickspence

rick@rickspence.ca

Thank You!

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