To be successful you need a good idea to accompany an indispensable ability and entrepreneurial drive.
A report entitled "Entrepreneurship in Latin America: A Lot of Companies and Little Innovation," prepared by the World Bank (WB), reports that in the region one in three workers are self-employed or a small employer. However, most of them rarely hire workers and remain small, even after decades of operation.
Most Costa Ricans think it is better to make a living as a freelancer or as a government official.
In Costa Rica only two out of ten people plan to be entrepreneurs in the next two years.
This was revealed by a survey on entrepreneurship by Unimer, in which 1,200 adults were consulted. The main motivation given by the respondents was the increase in revenue and personal improvement.
Traditional education punishes errors with bad grades, when in fact the essence of entrepreneurship and innovation is all about trial and error.
Andres Leon, manager of entrepreneurship at the business accelerator in Ciudad del Saber, knows that the first step is to break through the paradigms. And he is the right age to do it: 23.
Alfonso Acosta's article in Prensa.com, reviews the basic concepts that Andres Leon preaches as a consultant in entrepreneurship:
The Youth Entrepreneurship program in partnership with Junior Achievement is taking shape with the formation of 74 companies by young entrepreneurs.
Over twenty years, the program has trained and supported more than 38,556 young technicians. Today, it demonstrates results with the formation of 74 companies and 16 others that are in process.
The chairman of the program, which is run by the Nicaraguan Development Institute (Inde) said, "Our dream was to grow opportunities for young people through a program of personal and business growth and development."
"Entrepreneurship is not a job, or even a calling, but a thirst."
Successful entrepreneurs - those creatures that we are all now viewing as essential to save the world economy from its troubles - come from different countries, societies, cultural backgrounds and business sectors. There is no single or particular stereotype, however, these individuals have several things in common.
Business incubator "Ciudad del Saber" (City of Knowledge), signed an agreement with IDB, for fostering entrepreneurial culture and supporting business projects.
Besides promoting entrepreneurial culture and fostering projects in Panama, the business incubator at 'Ciudad del Saber' will create a sustainable technical and financial framework for developing, incubating and financing these business ventures.
U.S. universities are exporting entrepreneurship and innovation know-how to Latin America.
In a world dominated by change, Latin American companies must solve their lack of entrepreneurship culture and innovation strategies, to avoid being left behind by global competition.
John Trapani is the director of A.B. Freeman School of Business, from the University of Tulane.