Life’s About Saying Yes

If you have yet to watch the recent film, Ordinary Angels, starring Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson, then it may be time to add it to the family movie night list. The film chronicles the true story of a persistent hairdresser named Sharon who throws her entire purpose behind helping a young girl get a liver transplant. At one point in the film, Sharon is coaching the little girl’s father into seeking opportunity so he can pay the medical bills. When he hesitates, she blurts out: ‍

“Life’s about saying yes, and then figuring it out.”‍

I argue that truer words have yet to be spoken. Life is, in fact, about saying yes—saying yes to opportunity, saying yes to adventure, saying yes to chasing dreams. And on the flip side, it is about figuring it out afterwards.

Too often, we fall victim to “paralysis of analysis” as we work toward wanting to have it all in place before we move forward. When it comes to the entrepreneurial mindset, this often means we act too late and miss out on potential rewards.

This is not to say that there is no room for planning—planning is, of course, a necessary and vital skill. But sometimes we focus so much on the planning that we forget to take action in the first place. James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, suggests that at some point, planning becomes its own form of procrastination—that there is a comfort in hiding behind the act of planning when in reality we should be doing. This comfort can become a blocker to our potential for growth.

And remember the words of Craig Groeschel: “growth and comfort can never coexist.”

As we help students develop the entrepreneurial mindset, it is worth noting that entrepreneurs are “biased for action” and this means saying yes and then figuring out how—it means building the plane while it is being flown and constructing the staircase while already on the steps.

This sort of thinking is not immune to failure; rather, it assumes failure and accepts it as part of the necessary path toward success. In living this out, we become a model of entrepreneurial thinking that will inspire our students to step out and say yes when opportunity appears. And remember that opportunity does not wait around but favors those who are ever ready, anticipating its arrival.

So, what are we waiting for? Let’s Go!

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Saying “Yes” to hiking Angels Landing in Zion National Park

Interested in Starting an Entrepreneurship Program at Your School But Need a Few Tips?

Join my free virtual workshop on June 6^th to learn more‍

My mission is to help private schools launch an impactful and effective entrepreneurship program on their campus through the transformative power of teaching the entrepreneurial mindset.

I have helped over ten K-12 schools launch successful programs on their campus and have a tried and tested program that teaches the entrepreneurial mindset in a meaningful way by engaging students and preparing them for the future.

Join me Thursday, June 6 at 11 AM ET

Attendees will learn:

1. The primary steps to launch an entrepreneurship program
2. The core competencies in the curriculum
3. The formula for a successful student-run business
4. The principles and attributes of the entrepreneurial mindset

All attendees will get a free copy in the mail of Stephen’s book, Teaching the Entrepreneurial Mindset: Innovative Education for K-12 Schools

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‍ ❝  Imagine your culture infused with growth mindset, grit, redefining failure, and opportunity seeking. Imagine your team acting and thinking like entrepreneurs.

  Stephen Carter