Our country continues to be shaped by evolving entrepreneurship. Statistics show that 70% of the people employed in this country are employed by small companies. TD Jakes, New York Times bestselling author of SOAR, strongly believes that we must become creators rather than consumers to become producers versus purchasers.
“We have to interject and aim our people to possibilities that are innovative, creative, and substantive.” In order to do that, we must have these kinds of conversations because we have generations, especially millennials, who were taught to go to school, get a degree and get a good job. Well, they went to school, they got a degree and they got stuck with a big bill! More times than not, a bill they can’t pay given very few opportunities to accommodate their skill set.
Colleges generally do not train us to be entrepreneurial. Therefore, to have this dialogue about job creation, rather than job seeking is a narrative that’s vitally important to propel us to the next level. To get us off the runway of “I hope” and “I think” into the air of “I’m going after it.” It’s about having audacious hope to go beyond the limitations and false expectations.
“To have an opportunity to better ourselves, I think it’s imperative that we go beyond just talking about jobs to creating jobs. Entrepreneurship is a way to do that.” –TD Jakes
Last fall, TD Jakes released the book, SOAR around the concept of the Wright Brothers—credited with building the first successful airplane. The notion of building a plane back then was just as ridiculous as any ideology in the world and yet these brothers stood on the ground, looked up and said, “I belong up there!”
Keeping with that narrative, how do we get off the runway, into the air where the possibilities really happen? Where we can create opportunities, develop communities, and new ideas such as alternative sources of energy. Jakes continues to issue a clarion call for sororities, fraternities, entrepreneurs, business people, and churches to come together for deeper conversations on these issues. He states, “We may not have the same theology, but we have the same concerns and we have the same enemies.”
As we evolve into deeper dimensions of entrepreneurship, let us recognize that we have the power to unite in a collaborative effort to find solutions to teach, train, and make sure that we equip our people properly—to have a running chance of getting into the air. Besides, if we go high enough, it’s always a good day to fly.
T.D. Jakes will receive the 2018 XCEL Award at this year’s Black Men XCEL event, August 29-Sept 2. Click here to register.