Originally published on Medium.
Walking across the campus yesterday, I happened upon a sight that pulled at my heartstrings. A flock of high school students, their eyes bright with ambition, gathered outdoors for a program designed to nurture young entrepreneurs. I couldn’t help but be drawn in by their enthusiasm, so I dug a little deeper.
A quick browse of their website led me to an intriguing corner — testimonials from previous participants. Here, two comments in particular caught my eye. “The absolute most important thing is the no-bullsh*t attitude practiced at *<masked — incubator name>*💩” read one. “<Masked — incubator name> is where it’s at. Direct access to real entrepreneur mentors, not ‘book smart’ lecturers,” said another. These bold proclamations left me startled and set me on a thought path I hadn’t trodden before.
These kids, who had yet to taste the sweetness of college life, seemed so eager to discard the ‘book smart’ world, a world I hold dear as a mathematics enthusiast. Their contempt for academia stung me a little, but it also made me wonder — what was pushing them towards this entrepreneurial path with such fervor?
Let me tell you a little story — one about a chicken farm. This farm, run by a savvy farmer, was home to hundreds of chickens. Every day, the farmer fed them, nurtured them, hoping some would grow fat enough to be the stars of Thanksgiving. The reality, however, was that many chickens wouldn’t make it that far. But did it matter to the farmer? Not really. He had his eyes on the prize — those few plump chickens that would bring him his reward.
Now, replace the farmer with venture capitalists, the chickens with young entrepreneurs, and Thanksgiving with the cut-throat world of start-ups. Venture capitalists sow their seeds widely, knowing well that not all will sprout. Their real hope is that one or two will grow into mighty trees, giving them the jackpot they seek. The cost for them? A bit of their abundant wealth. The cost for the young entrepreneurs? Possibly, their dreams, their youth, their enthusiasm.
You might wonder, why would venture capitalists invest so heavily in promoting entrepreneurship among young teens? Well, it’s a bit like the farmer fattening up his chickens. The more chickens he has, the higher his chances of getting a fat one for Thanksgiving. The more young entrepreneurs venture capitalists can get excited about start-ups, the higher their chances of finding the next big thing.
And who else stands to benefit? The government, just like our farmer, thrives on the few success stories. The innovations and economic activity they bring in help maintain their global dominance. Do they care about the chickens that don’t make it to the Thanksgiving table? Likely not. Their eyes are on the economy, the innovation, the global standing.
Here’s the thing — I’m not against entrepreneurship. I’ve been down that path myself, and found the journey rewarding. But as I observed those high schoolers, all abuzz with entrepreneurial ambition, I found myself pondering. Are they being shown the full picture? Might they be missing out on other joys, like the thrill of academia or the pleasure of uncovering a new passion?
There are indeed venture capitalists out there, who like our farmer, genuinely care about nurturing their ‘chickens,’ and not just fattening them up for Thanksgiving. It’s these relationships, founded on mutual respect and growth, that paint a vibrant stroke in the entrepreneurial landscape.
So, maybe it’s time we painted a more holistic picture of entrepreneurship, one that isn’t all glitter and gold. Perhaps we need to remind these young dreamers that it’s okay to explore, to learn, to grow before committing to one path. And no matter which path they choose, it’s their journey, their story, and their potential to realize. It’s important to remember that each young dreamer is much more than just a chicken in a farm, they are individuals with a world of opportunities lying ahead.
Also, Chinese variant of thanksgiving: ✅🐓❌🦃
This essay is a collaboration between the author and OpenAI’s language model, ChatGPT, to translate thoughts and ideas into words.