35歲以后創(chuàng)業(yè)還有戲嗎
????最近聽不少人說,硅谷已經(jīng)成為美國最歧視老年人的地方之一,這片創(chuàng)業(yè)熱土完全是二十來歲年輕人的天下。雖然這種說法或許沒錯(cuò),但它并不一定適用于美國其他地區(qū)。 ????根據(jù)巴布森學(xué)院(Babson College)2012年發(fā)布的《全球創(chuàng)業(yè)觀察美國報(bào)告》(Global Entrepreneurship Monitor U.S. Report ),就美國總體而言,35到44歲這個(gè)年齡段的人創(chuàng)業(yè)參與度其實(shí)是最高的。雖然這個(gè)年齡段并不算老,但這份報(bào)告的確表明,在年長創(chuàng)業(yè)者的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下,數(shù)量驚人的小企業(yè)正如雨后春筍般不斷涌現(xiàn),而這群人并不屬于我們時(shí)常聽說的那些二十出頭、富有遠(yuǎn)見的硅谷青年才俊的范疇。 ????有幾個(gè)因素或許可以解釋這個(gè)極其復(fù)雜的趨勢:上世紀(jì)90年代,美國經(jīng)濟(jì)從制造型轉(zhuǎn)向服務(wù)型,許多年齡較大的員工紛紛離職。隨后幾年爆發(fā)的“大蕭條”引發(fā)了一波大規(guī)模裁員潮,年長的員工——無論是生活所迫,還是自身愿望——開始在傳統(tǒng)的工作環(huán)境之外尋找機(jī)會(huì)。就業(yè)資源集團(tuán)(Employment Resource Group)總裁兼CEO莎朗?休斯克說:“處于45歲到55歲這一年齡段的人幾乎毫無例外地陷入職場中年危機(jī)。他們知道,要是年齡再大些,他們就會(huì)變得更加沒有‘銷路’。于是,他們采取了行動(dòng)?!?/p> ????年長的創(chuàng)業(yè)者往往具有豐富的經(jīng)驗(yàn),深厚的人脈網(wǎng)絡(luò)和成熟的視角。他們是塑造美國商業(yè)版圖的重要資源。在年輕人攻城拔寨的技術(shù)領(lǐng)域,吉姆?克拉克55歲時(shí)創(chuàng)辦了快門網(wǎng)(Shutterfly),凱文?萊恩40多歲時(shí)創(chuàng)辦了吉爾特集團(tuán)(Gilt Groupe),邁克?拉姆齊與他人合伙創(chuàng)建替您錄科技公司(TiVo)時(shí)已經(jīng)47歲。此外,Lot 18公司的菲利普?詹姆斯,商務(wù)社交網(wǎng)站LinkedIn的雷德?霍夫曼和星佳公司(Zynga)的馬克?平卡斯同樣不畏活力四射的青春創(chuàng)業(yè)風(fēng)暴,在各自人生的后半段創(chuàng)建了全新的商業(yè)模式。 ????這樣的案例不僅僅局限于高科技領(lǐng)域。比如,羅賓?凱斯40歲時(shí)創(chuàng)建了吉普卡租車公司(Zipcar),63歲的伊利?卡拉威創(chuàng)辦了拉威高爾夫公司(Callaway Golf Company)。 ????巴布森學(xué)院發(fā)布的這份報(bào)告還凸顯了另一個(gè)現(xiàn)象:所謂的機(jī)遇型創(chuàng)業(yè)者越來越多。比如,有不少美國人完全是憑借著自己對(duì)未來機(jī)遇的感知而走上創(chuàng)業(yè)之路的。這個(gè)趨勢跟肇始于2008年的經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退期形成了鮮明的對(duì)比。那段時(shí)期,創(chuàng)業(yè)精神背后的主要?jiǎng)訖C(jī)是損失而不是收益,也就是所謂的“生存型創(chuàng)業(yè)”。鑒于經(jīng)濟(jì)形勢瞬息萬變的特性,創(chuàng)業(yè)已不僅僅是一種明智的人生選擇,它還很有希望消除正在侵蝕許多傳統(tǒng)工作環(huán)境的年齡歧視現(xiàn)象。 ????科技正在助長美國人的創(chuàng)業(yè)熱情。無論年齡高低,任何人都可以非常輕松地在網(wǎng)上開辦一家企業(yè),無需支付太多的經(jīng)營開銷。不一定非得先開辦一家實(shí)體店面,哪怕你出售的是實(shí)物商品。在初出茅廬的創(chuàng)業(yè)者需要承受更大開支(比如租賃辦公空間和廣告預(yù)算等等)之前,他或她可以很容易地對(duì)產(chǎn)品或服務(wù)進(jìn)行測試、評(píng)估或?qū)嶒?yàn)。 ????總之,我們必須認(rèn)識(shí)到,成功的關(guān)鍵并不是擁有“恰當(dāng)?shù)摹眰€(gè)性或“恰當(dāng)?shù)摹蹦挲g;成功的關(guān)鍵是把一個(gè)人的技能組合與恰當(dāng)?shù)臋C(jī)遇聯(lián)系起來。 ????本文作者萊亞?伊萊恩?格林是一位高級(jí)內(nèi)容專家,供職于德克薩斯州奧斯汀市的電子商務(wù)平臺(tái)提供商Volusion公司。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng)) ????譯者:葉寒 |
????Recently, there's been much conversation about how Silicon Valley has become one of the most ageist places in America, where twentysomethings rule the startup scene. While that might be true, that's not necessarily the case across the rest of America. ????In fact, 35-to-44-year-olds hold the highest level of participation in entrepreneurship in the U.S. as a whole, according to a 2012 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) U.S. Report by Babson College. Though that's not exactly old, the report does suggest that there are a surprising number of small companies springing up under the leadership of older entrepreneurs who fall outside the twentysomething visionary we often hear about in Silicon Valley. ????A few factors may explain the underlying complexities of this trend: The nation's transition from a manufacturing-based to a service-based economy in the 1990s saw the exit of many older employees from the workplace. And in the years following the Great Recession and subsequent massive layoffs, older employees -- out of either necessity or desire -- began seeking opportunities outside traditional office environments. "Almost without fail, people in the 45-55 age range get to a place where they go through a professional midlife crisis. They know that once they get to older they are less marketable so they make a move," according to Sharon Hulce, president and CEO of Employment Resource Group. ????Older entrepreneurs with their vast experience and networks and mature perspectives represent a vital resource for shaping America's commerce. In the technology sector where youth is so often valorized, Jim Clark formed Shutterfly at the age of 55, Kevin Ryan of Gilt Groupe was in his 40s and Mike Ramsay was 47 when he co-founded TiVo. In addition, Phillip James of Lot 18, Reid Hoffman of LinkedIn (LKND), and Mark Pincus of Zynga (ZNGA) defied the model of the youthful startup by establishing new business models later in life. ????Beyond tech, there's Zipcar founder Robin Case, who was 40 when she launched the company and Ely Callaway, who formed Callaway Golf Company at the age of 63. ????The Babson College report also highlights a growing number of so-called opportunity entrepreneurs, including Americans who are leaping into entrepreneurship based on their perception of promising opportunities ahead. This trend also marks a direct contrast to the 2008 economic recession, a time when the primary motivation behind entrepreneurialism was loss rather than gain -- a reaction referred to as "necessity entrepreneurship."Given our ever-changing economy, entrepreneurial ventures have become not only a sensible life choice, but constitute viable solutions to the ageism that can undermine many traditional workplace environments. ????Technology fuels Americans' appetite for entrepreneurship. Budding business owners of any age can easily start an online business without much overhead at all. There's no need to begin with a physical, brick-and-mortar location right away -- even if selling physical items. Products or services can easily be tested, evaluated, and experimented with before the budding entrepreneur commits to larger expenses, such as an office lease or an advertising budget. ????Above all, it's essential to realize that the key to success is not having the "right" personality or being the "right" age; it's aligning one's skill set with the right opportunity. ????Lea Elaine Green is a senior content specialist at Volusion, an Austin, Texas-based e-commerce platform provider. |
-
熱讀文章
-
熱門視頻