Self Created Jobs

Everyone has dabbled in entrepreneurship. Often, we don't recognize the earliest forms of ‘being our own boss.’ As a kid, perhaps you cashed in on hot days with a lemonade stand, got paid to eat other people’s food as a babysitter or made collections on your newspaper route.

Given these early experiences, it’s not so surprising that entrepreneurship is such a hot career choice. Today, small business drives the Canadian economy, and experts project that 20 per cent of working Canadians will be self-employed by the end of this decade. Young people are a huge part of that trend, with 30 per cent of all new small businesses in Canada started by people under the age of 30.

The English word ‘entrepreneur’ comes from the French word ‘entreprende’, which means ‘to undertake.’ An entrepreneur typically has a strong vision they wish to develop and an overwhelming desire to work their own way. While most entrepreneurs create their own businesses, there are also ‘Intrapreneurs’ who use their talents from employed positions within companies.

What’s it like to be an entrepreneur? You can make your own decisions, set your own schedule, work with people you actually like, create your ideal lifestyle and enjoy the sheer satisfaction of doing something you love.

However, self-employment is not for everyone. It’s a life full of twists and turns, long hours, uncertainties, and endless multi-tasking. Before you plunge, test the waters with these exploratory steps:

• Take Training. Entrepreneurship programs will help you understand what’s involved in running a small business.
• Day in the Life. Arrange to job shadow an entrepreneur for a few days to make sure it lives as well as it reads.
• Get Tested. Online self-assessment tools will explore your aptitude for entrepreneurship.
• Be Paid to Prepare. Before launching into your own business, take a job in that industry. You’ll make valuable contacts, understand the competition, wire into customers and make sure the work truly suits you.
• Identify your Passion. Most entrepreneurs don’t do it for the money; explore a business idea that combines your personal passion with marketplace opportunity.

In Canada, there’s plenty of strong support for Young Entrepreneurs from educational institutions, business associations, non-profit organizations and all levels of government. Search out resources such as training, mentoring programs, loans, grants, workshops, conferences, peer groups and online communities in your area to help you explore entrepreneurship.

Where to Explore Entrepreneurship:


Hineni Media Workshops. Marisol's mission as an author, columnist and seminar leader is to help people make a living doing what they love. You can contact her @ hinenisyndicator@gmail.com

The Canadian Youth Business Foundation is the national leader in youth entrepreneurship through mentorship and financial support. Loans up to $15,000 are available. Also visit their resource site for young entrepreneurs, www.youthbusiness.com. www.cybf.ca

Canada’s largest business information website, Strategis is produced by Industry Canada to provide business and consumer information to all Canadians to help grow the economy. www.strategis.ic.gc.ca

BusinessGateway.ca is the main Government of Canada portal for Canadian businesses. It is designed to provide easy access to relevant, frequently used services and information offered by federal, provincial and territorial governments. www.businessgateway.ca

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is a financial institution owned by the Government of Canada. Canada’s ‘small business bank’, the BDC offers unique loan products and consulting services, with a particular focus on technology and exporting. www.bdc.ca

Active within university campuses, ACE (Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship Inc.) is a national, not-for-profit organization that provides and promotes education, training and instruction to Canadian youth on entrepreneurship and the formation and operation of businesses. www.acecanada.ca