Entrepreneurship — A Learning Process

Hiro Ando, the 17-year-old owner of Pro-Clean Cleaning Services in Redmond, WA, started his car wash business at the age of 10. Hiro’s development as a business owner was slow at first, but when he reached high school, he got a tremendous boost from the courses in marketing and entrepreneurship that were available. “In my entrepreneurship class, we practiced making decisions as to what our company would do,” he explains.  “We learned how to break into groups and work in smaller teams to solve problems.” Hiro also learned a lot by reading books on economics and business management and doing online research.

Eighteen-year-old Mike Wilson, owner of Lefty’s Auto Parts in Overland Park, KS, found that having a business mentor is extremely helpful. “I traveled with my dad to Australia, where he was working on selling large industrial microwave ovens to a customer,” Mike explains. “I was involved in the selling and marketing, as well as the closure of the deal.” He also observed his father during merger and acquisition meetings with other companies.

When it comes to business education, Hiro and Mike agree it’s a lifelong journey. “Get all the business insight you can whenever the chance comes along,” Mike says. “Whether it is through entrepreneurship and business management education, traveling opportunities, academic classes, or just reading and studying on your own, business knowledge and skills cannot be oversold.”