5 Unique Traits of Millennial Entrepreneurs

From getting their start in a rocky economic climate, to a focus on education, to use of technology and a unique collaborative approach; millennial entrepreneurs embody a distinctive set of circumstances that shape the way they do business. We loved this list from Entrepreneur, excerpted below, detailing five traits millennial entrepreneurs bring to the table. The list comes to us from Entrepreneur contributor Zach Cutler, founder and CEO of Cutler PR, a tech PR agency in New York and Tel Aviv.

I started Cutler PR in 2009 at age 22 — just three months out of college. I began the business in my bedroom, with $200. I was scrappy and focused on results, and I hustled to make my company a success. As a millennial entrepreneur, I did things that in many ways were different from the actions of previous generations of entrepreneurs.

Here are a few of the top characteristics that set today’s millennial entrepreneurs apart:

1. We grew up on entrepreneurship.

Past generations idolized climbing the corporate ladder, whereas for millennials, business success has often been envisioned in the form of enterprising endeavors.

"Gen Y is the first generation to grow up with entrepreneurial role models,” says Donna Fenn, author of Upstarts! How GenY Entrepreneurs are Rocking the World of Business and 8 Ways You Can Profit From Their Success.

Our parents looked to the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, like Chrysler's Lee Iacocca and GE's Jack Welch, for career inspiration, but we grew up watching Steve Jobs lead the renewed Apple, Mark Zuckerberg create a social media sensation and other young innovators break new ground. We saw entrepreneurs, not corporate titans, as the rock stars -- and we all wanted to be them.

Not only did these role models attract us to entrepreneurship through role models, but events simultaneously repelled us from the traditional corporate lifestyle: We watched corporate scandals unfold, experienced elders get laid off or fired and other facets of the downside to corporate life reveal themselves.

We were inspired to create our own paths.

Read the rest of the article here.

Four myths about women entrepreneurs

"Unicorns" aren't the only mythological terms you'll hear when discussing startups and entrepreneurs--particularly women entrepreneurs. Here are just a few preconceptions people tend to have about female founders, with responses that should equip you to understand more and bust a few myths. 

her.yourstory.com - As a woman entrepreneur, I’m sure you’ve faced more than your share of misconceptions and preconceived notions. No matter how far you’ve come or how high you’ve risen, there will always be people whose notions are grossly incorrect, sometimes downright offensive. For instance, how often have you been asked, “How are you able to manage it all?” On the flip side, we don’t often hear men being asked such questions about how they tread the fine line of work-life balance, right? So why are we, as women, subjected to such presumptions?

Myth #1: You won’t have a life outside the home or office

One of the most common (and therefore most persistent) myths out there is that you just won’t have a life outside of work. While this may be true in the early stages of your entrepreneurial journey, once you’ve established your business, it becomes easier to take a step back. The trick is to ‘prioritise and compartmentalise’ – that is, focus on the top tasks on your ‘to do’ list and devote time exclusively to each task. Leave work behind when you come home and learn to set aside time for yourself. I know scores of women, like me, who helm corporations and have a demanding family life, but still manage to squeeze in some ‘me time’ for themselves on a daily basis. Chalk out at least a half-hour every day to do something you love and then watch the magic unfold.

As for me, I always try to steal away from my packed schedule a weekend trip to Pune, every few months, to spend time with family.

Myth #2: You need to act like a man to succeed

Here’s another golden oldie – that, to be successful, you need to behave (and dress) like a man.

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