We live in the age of entrepreneurship—from social media to television shows, our culture celebrates and encourages the making of entrepreneurs. The term “Shark Tank” has now been popularized in our society and we think nothing of people starting an LLC or sharing an idea for a scalable project.

And therefore, it is tempting to think that the “entrepreneurial mindset” is unique to our time and that we have developed advanced thought when it comes to thinking like an entrepreneur. Yet this is far from the truth.

Recently I came across the famous quote from Ivan Pavlov: “If you want new ideas, read old books.” Old books contain the truths and principles on which our contemporary society of ideas revolves. One of these “old books” (although written in 1968, well past Pavlov’s time) is Og Mandino’s The Greatest Salesman in the World.

Telling the story of Hafid and the famous scrolls, the book purports to be much older than it is and yet the truths inside are more relevant than ever, especially as we consider how to teach and train our young adults to think like entrepreneurs.

Consider the famous principle the story revolves around: “I will persist until I succeed.” At the core of the entrepreneurial mindset is the need for grit coupled with the necessity of redefining failure. It comes with understanding that success often comes only after sustained effort and overcoming obstacles.

Truly, the victory goes to those who are willing to work harder and persist longer toward a worthy ideal—especially in a fast-paced society where people’s focus is often brief and disjointed. Imagine the power of igniting the desire in our students to outwork everyone else—they would be unstoppable.

Later in the book, the reader encounters a scroll which states, “I will avoid with fury the killers of time.” This concept is essential for all of us—how many precious minutes of our day are spent rather than invested? How much time do we give to meaningless pursuits, and how many hours do we throw away with busy work?

The book exhorts us to “drink every minute to its full” and to “waste not a moment.” When it comes to thinking like an entrepreneur, it is hard to find better advice than this.

The 2024 CHCA Entrepreneurship Symposium is SOLD OUT

Did you miss your chance to sign up for our 2024 Entrepreneurship Symposium? No worries – this popular event will be back in 2025 as we continue to develop content and programming around the entrepreneurial mindset.

Want to get on a waiting list for future events? Email [email protected] to get notified first.