Ben Casnocha Takeaways
Ben Casnocha founded Comcate, Inc., a leading e-government software company at age 14, was a 2006 WAC student ambassador and is a University High School alumnus. Since then he's traveled the world speaking about entrepreneurship, careers, and the future of work.
Ben gave us 3 key takeaways during his talk:
1) "Entrepreneurship is a life philosophy more than the idea of starting companies, it is a skill set that can be applied in all aspects of life. You can be an entrepreneurial doctor, teacher, or apply entrepreneurial skills in any other profession."
Being an entrepreneur doesn't necessarily mean starting a company (although that is a form of entrepreneurship), rather being an entrepreneur is incorporating a mindset into all aspects of your life. You must be able to see things differently and strive to solve problems.
2) "The world is run by organized networks and power is distributed by the networked age."
All power structures in the world are boiled down to networks where individuals and groups serve purposes, interacting with these networks allow advancement and improvement.
3) "We live in a networked age. Personal networks are your most important asset and the best way to build your personal network is to provide value and assistance to others."
Ben advises seeking out creative collaborations, surrounding yourself with people that are passionate about the same things you are and people who you strive to be like.
In summation, I would like to leave the life-changing quote that Ben shared with us at WAC with the Planet of the Kids Community. This quote is from the 1984 Apple Ad "Think Different."
"Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. But the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."
Check out Ben's blog (http://casnocha.com/blog) where he posts tons of amazing content and check his new book "Tours of Duty: The New Employer-Employee Compact" when it comes out.
#entrepreneur #changetheworld #entrepreneurship #teenageentrepreneur #youngentrepreneurs
