"Develop a start-from-scratch mentality. Imagine walking into your kitchen each morning and seeing a completely empty pot-no leftovers, no old recipes, just a blank slate. That's what I face every day as a creator: the daunting but exhilarating task of starting fresh. This mindset is essential for innovation. We can't rest on yesterday's ingredients. We must embrace a beginner's mind, a state of utter unknowing, like a child who can see infinite possibilities and the extraordinary in the ordinary."
"Below, Melissa Bernstein shares five key insights from her new book, The Heart of Entrepreneurship: Crafting Your Authentic Recipe for Success. Bernstein founded a toy company, Melissa & Doug, with her husband, in 1988. In 2021, they launched their second company, Lifelines, a wellness brand offering sensory products to manage stress and enhance well-being. She is the entrepreneur-in-residence for the Inner MBA certification program created by Sounds True, LinkedIn, and Wisdom 2.0. She is also cofounder of Duke University's Melissa & Doug Entrepreneurs program."
As people age, many lose childlike curiosity and wonder, which are essential ingredients for entrepreneurship. Everyone can think creatively, solve problems, and innovate, but these capacities require a deliberate process. A start-from-scratch mentality—approaching each project as an empty pot—promotes innovation by encouraging a beginner's mind and openness to possibilities. Creators must let go of ego, which fosters fear and rigidity, and lean into curiosity and exploration. Passion functions as a litmus test for commitment; lack of passion signals the need to empty the pot, cleanse prior assumptions, and begin anew with fresh ideas and experimentation.
Read at Fast Company
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