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Choosing the path less traveled (and why it's not as scary as you think.)

Writer's picture: April AiriApril Airi

When you graduated high school, what options were available for you?


For me, I was choosing between going to college that was 3 miles away from my house and another that was 46 miles away.


My options didn't include out-of-state colleges or a gap year around the globe.


Whether it was a lack of opportunity or simple knowledge, the path laid out felt scarily narrow.


Then I went to the Horn Entrepreneurship program at the University of Delaware and that's when everything changed.


Instead of doing a typical 9-5 right out of college, I made the conscious decision to take a less stable, risky path to pursue my own projects of passion.


It took me 2 years to finally feel like I made the right choice, but I don't think I would've ever taken that kind of leap without the concepts I share in this article.

 

When most people think about entrepreneurship, Gates, Bezos, and Musk may come to mind, but at Horn, entrepreneurship is more than finding a scalable business model.


It's a mindset you use to create the life you want.

Imagine this - you have the curriculum, critical analysis, and creativity to turn an idea into new realities. In addition to that, the same process can help you find a community that believes in what you do and helps you solve the problems you care about.


This is effectuation and purpose development tied into one.


Effectuation - the golden sauce that brings your purpose to life - is the entrepreneurial process and mindset to make something grand out of resources you within your reach.


At it's core, it's problem-solving in the real world, and I believe that's the foundation of an intentional life.

 

If you look at the 5 main principles of effectuation (beautifully devised by Saras D. Sarasvathy), you can see how each one builds a competency for problem-solving in the real world.


In the context of choosing a different path than the one society pressures you to take, it can give you the comfort of figuring it out on your own.


For example, let's look at each of these principles playing in to my leap towards an entrepreneurial path.


Bird-in-hand: I got a degree in entrepreneurship, a wide range of transferable skills, and a nourishing network across the entreprenurial space. This abundance of opportunity came from years of hard work and support that I was incredibly fortunate to have.
Affordable Loss: My opportunity cost, responsibilties, and expenses are low enough to not pursue a full-time salary at this time. With savings and fortunate circumstances, I could afford myself 2 years of exploratory freedom.
Lemonade: From turning conversations into job offers and happy hours into business partnerships - I've had unexpected encounters become life-changing opportunities. Embracing the serendipity allowed me to leverage untapped potential in ways that worked for me.
Patchwork Quilt: I know I can't do this alone so I lean into my friends at Horn Entreprenuership, part-time roles that feed into my purpose, and mentors I trust to keep me on a good path.
Pilot-in-the-plane: As I gain more confidence, I lean into the decisions that are aligned with who I am and whom I want to be. In an uncertain future, the best I can do is course correct when I need to.
 

I am proud of my past self and the work she did to afford me this freedom.


There is too much sacrifice and love poured into me to not take a chance on something great.


 

Please like, comment, and share this post with those who could use some guidance. 😊

Quick Reflections:

What is the ideal life you want to have?
Do you feel more or less free today than you were 5 years ago?
Which of these 5 principles do you think are the easiest for you to lean into?




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