Entrepreneurship<\/p>\n
The campaign launched by President Soeharto yesterday to
\npromote the spirit of entrepreneurship in society has set loose a
\ngush of refreshing air in the direction of the business sector in
\nwhich, up to now, only rent seekers, opportunists and politically
\nwell connected persons seem able to succeed.<\/p>\n
The fact that the nationwide entrepreneurship drive was
\nstarted on Cooperatives Day serves as a reminder to us that the
\ncooperative movement, which is supposed to be the backbone of our
\neconomy and the training ground for entrepreneurs in the
\ncountryside, has disappointingly remained largely the extension
\nof the bureaucratic machinery.<\/p>\n
More than 44,885 primary cooperatives have been set up
\nthroughout the country. An impressive record it may seem. But if
\nthose cooperatives are stripped of official largess and
\ngovernment sanctioned business deals they will be reduced mostly
\nto organizations of bureaucrats and opportunists who are
\naffiliated with local officials.<\/p>\n
The objective of the campaign is undoubtedly very important,
\nespecially now when the private sector has come to serve as the
\nengine of economic growth and when the majority of university
\ngraduates still prefer to seek paid employment instead of self-
\nemployment or entrepreneurial activities.<\/p>\n
If we are really serious about promoting the spirit of
\nentrepreneurship in this society, the campaign should be directed
\nat two main targets -- the government sector and the general
\npublic.<\/p>\n
First of all, the drive should be designed to inculcate the
\nsame perception among both the civil servants and the public
\nconcerning the basic elements of entrepreneurship: Innovation,
\nproductiveness and frugality.<\/p>\n
Both \"entrepreneurs\" and \"businessmen\" want to make money. The
\nfundamental difference, though, is that an \"entrepreneur\" sees
\nmaking money as a means to an end, not as the end in itself. That
\nis why such a person will live a frugal life even after making a
\nlot of money. \"Entrepreneurs\" thrive on creating new things, even
\nthough encountering many risks in that process. They like to
\nrelate to people, to feel for people. But to the ordinary
\n\"businessman\" -- let alone the rent-seeking opportunists --
\nmaking big money as quickly as possible is the end. That is why,
\nonce they make money, they tend to show off, living a
\nmaterialistic lifestyle.<\/p>\n
Hence, to enhance the spirit of entrepreneurship, it is
\ncrucial for the government to develop the kind of regulatory
\nenvironment that is conducive for innovative and risk-taking
\npeople to create things through business enterprises. Officials,
\nor government agencies, should never think of being able to out-
\nthink the entrepreneurs making choices on their own initiatives.
\nThat means that the playing field should be made as level as
\npossible and the entrepreneurs should be given full freedom to
\nprofit from their risk taking endeavors by creating new
\nbusinesses and new jobs.<\/p>\n
But risk taking, innovative entrepreneurs can thrive only in a
\nsociety which allows people to make honest mistakes. We think we
\nstill need to learn to accept business failures made by people
\nwho have tried their best as a matter of course, because those
\nwith true entrepreneurial spirits are never stopped by failure.
\nHonest mistakes, or failures, are, of course, basically different
\nfrom dishonesty and manipulation.<\/p>\n
In countries where entrepreneurship is well advanced, such as
\nthe United States, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, thousands of
\nbusinesses fail each month, but almost the same number of new
\nbusinesses sprout up. That has been possible partly because the
\npublics in those countries do not look down upon people who
\nsuffer from bankruptcy. Public opinion instead considers failure
\na license to try again and again. That, we think, is the kind of
\npublic perception and public opinion which should be promoted by
\nthe campaign to enhance the spirit of entrepreneurship.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/entrepreneurship-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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