Lessons Learned from Silicon Valley

After coming back from Silicon Valley, and reflecting on the one week I spent there that was full of activities, I can summarise what I learned in few lessons.

1- Entrepreneurship has many routes, it does not have to be a start-up.

That realisation is very important for me personally. My first experience in the world of entrepreneurship was an accelerator. After finishing the accelerator I realised that I don't really like it, and I came up with a generalisation that entrepreneurship is not for me. Few months later I discovered that entrepreneurship does not have to be in the form of a start-up. Even if it is in the form of a start-up, you don't have to be the founder. Entrepreneruship is more of a way of thinking and a mindset that you learn, not a title that you acquire.

2- Anyone can make it

During my time in Silicon Valley I met many people who came from a wide range of backgrounds, many from the Middle East and other parts of the world that is outside the states. By listening to their stories one realise the many difficulties they faced in the way. Yes, it is a long route that requires dedication, commitment, and hard work. But it is not impossible if you really want it (nothing is after all).

3- Seek Innovation, not Entrepreneurship.

Innovation is more of a general term than entrepreneurship. You don't have to have a start-up to be innovative. You can be innovative in the way you do a certain job, or by an initiative you do in your community.