Over the years I have already shared a lot of knowledge with young people, customers and now also with starting entrepreneurs who learn the trade through GLRXtra. In one year the students receive the theoretical information, guidance from a coach at school and they do an internship in their own company, where the practical supervisors serve as their internship supervisors. I am such a practical supervisor and I was allowed to take three enthusiastic young women under my wing.
This week we had a meeting with all the practice supervisors to discuss progress, any problems and obstacles. How do you motivate someone who just doesn’t feel like it anymore? How do you explain that entrepreneurship is a marathon and not a quick sprint to riches. Entrepreneurship is a way of life that you have to embrace. There are days when it feels like you are on the highest peak, but there are also days when you plunge into the deepest valley. The trick is to see the average of it. Celebrate your victories and embrace the lesser moments as learning moments, not as failures. But most importantly, keep going. Keep your goal in mind. It doesn’t matter how slow you go, as long as you keep moving. Because without you realizing it, you are suddenly almost on your 20th anniversary (according to year).
After the meeting I dive into the city. I celebrate my victories with a euro ice cream in the warm spring sun, just because I can. When I look up over my shoulder on the stairs of the stock exchange, I suddenly remember how I entered there as a girl on the top floor as the tech girl who would know everything. Fake it till you make it, they say. Suddenly I’m very proud of that girl who stood up so bravely up there in the WTC.
I made it through trial and error at the time. I’m sure my students will make it that way too!