Being an entrepreneur is an option. In addition to the talent, being an entrpreneur can be reached through education. This condition would be better if someone with talent equips it with theory and training. "Because, in principle, everyone can become an entrepreneur. They could be students, staff, librarian or anyone else. Because, actually, everything can be learned," said Nurul Indarti, S.E., Sivilokonom, Cand. Merc, Friday (25/2) at UGM Libraries Unit 2 Floor 1 at the Talkshow Ways to become a Young Entrepreneur.
Within the last ten years, said Nurul, many people seemed grasping the prospect to become an entrepreneur because this field can be performed by a manager in their spare time or even those who do not work anymore. "What is needed is a mindset, from the “find a job” to “open a job opportunity” mindset,” she said.
In the talk show organized by the Library of UGM, Nurul explains that by becoming an entrepreneur means to have to think creatively and innovatively. So, it is not surprising that many State-Owned Enterprises, Regional Owned Enterprises and Private Owned Enterprises often carry out entrepreneurship training. "This kind of training gives workers the courage to make decisions. Not in the sense that they will open businesses afterwards, but many decisions taken by the workers affected their performance in the company," said Nurul.
Hence the choice to become an entrepreneur can be reached by becoming an employee who is working for others, professional executive. The employee can become intrapreneurs, which means employees with sharp and innovative entrepreneurial spirit in viewing opportunities. Or become an entrepreneur who develops his own business and willing to take risks. In addition, one can also become a social entrepreneur, namely as a social activist with entrepreneurial character, or eco-preneur which is entrepreneurship in the environmental field.
Unlike academics, being an entrepreneur means being oriented to simple actions. They are always looking for new opportunities and pursue these opportunities with high discipline. "Only by taking the best opportunity and focus on execution as well as focus the energy of each person in the business, then he would become an entrepreneur," said Nurul.
Thus, when starting the business they are expected to have excellent characters, among other are to have a clear purpose and business plan, not easily discouraged and willing to take risks. Meanwhile, to become the excellent characters, young entrepreneurs are expected to continually develop the business by doing a variety of innovations. He is also expected to continue to be updated on the global business development, taking advantage of technological developments and open access to global markets. "But the main provision for them is the requirement to have business ethics, thus they are able to manage human resources as best as possible. Consequently, they are not only oriented toward capital gains," she explained.
Meanwhile, Firman Budi Prasetyo, SH, the successful entrepreneur of Tela Krezz snack declared that to be an entrepreneur, "crazy” actions are needed. Because with this kind of action, we can change one’s mindset. "Rather than seeking for a better job, it is better to create employment opportunities. As when we graduate from university, we only receive a diploma and transcripts. The question is whether this value has given the benefit for others," he said.
At first, Firman did not imagine himself to be an entrepreneur. However, his destiny had been written otherwise, he had become into a successful young entrepreneur in managing snacks businesses made from cassava. After graduating cum laude from Faculty of Law UGM in 2004, he was still weighing his options between seeking for job or opening new employment, because in his closest environment, especially his family, still want him to work at a company.
Youth exchange program (Indonesia-Canada Youth Exchange Program, Canada World Youth, Vancouver, Canada-West Kalimantan) in 2005 and early 2006 in Entikong seemed to be a very precious moment for Firman. In the border areas of West Kalimantan, Kuching, he saw the women labors go in and out from Malaysia. "They become illegal immigrants, one was tortured, one returned home without money, and others. This is one reason that encouraged me to process natural resources in the local area," he explained.
Firman admits his business adventure started from the concerns about food’s raw materials in Indonesia. Most of the food supplies brought from abroad, these products include soybeans, wheat for flour and corn. Firman was sad to see this condition that as an agricultural country the Indonesian people consume products made from imported supplies.
Indonesia actually has the potential of agricultural products for food. One of them is cassava (Manihot utilisima). Unfortunately, the Indonesian people already see the cassava as less classy food. From that concern, the idea to process atural resources that is abundance in the area of Yogyakarta is born. Actually, the island of Java is the number one producer of cassava.
In his business, the man born in Semarang, December 5, 1981 believed that the product “brand” is a very important key. Because the name can be the magnet that directs consumers to be more interested in the product.