Bit too smart or bit too lazy?

I have recently returned from a business trip to Silicon Valley. I know. There are thousands of articles and books that describe Silicon Valley’s fantastic ecosystem out there. Indeed, what an amazing place – I couldn’t resist sharing some personal thoughts about the area, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Visiting Silicon Valley is a truly inspirational experience that motivates you to put ideas into practice. The excitement is even bigger if you live in a country like China, which is going through deep social and economic transformations that constantly create new opportunities for personal and professional development. The most beautiful part of having an entrepreneurial spirit is that it makes you feel vibrant. This feeling goes beyond money. Entrepreneurship is about creating. It is about pursuing your own dreams. You can also be entrepreneurial within a larger organization- for those who are not familiar with the topic, this is known as “intrapreneurship”. More on this later.

These days we run into the word “innovation” in political speeches, business gatherings and even family dinners. Innovation is seen as a fundamental part of human progress and almost no one questions that it is key to reduce the appalling social inequalities of our world. However, innovation is not just the result of individual or collective intentions in that direction. Perhaps more important, innovation does not emerge just because societies and governments praise it. Instead, it finds its roots in a mix of entrepreneurial spirit, knowledge, creativity and the empathy to decipher what people need.

China is becoming an innovation powerhouse. Taking part in projects with potential to change the world moves the brightest minds of the country. I feel excited every time I hear stories of young Chinese who leave their jobs to join start-ups, taking a chance. Yes, in today’s China, entrepreneurship is the real deal. But still, taking risk is not a simple endeavor.