From Trader to an Entrepreneur

When I first started university, my idea of business was simple: buy, sell, and make a profit. That’s all I knew, and I thought that’s all there was. I saw myself as a trader, exchanging services or products for money, and nothing more. Business, in my mind, was transactional. But then, everything shifted when I started meeting people who thought completely differently.

These weren’t just talking about buying and selling; they were thinking about solving big, global problems. They had dreams of building platforms that would help others, creating solutions that could change the world. It was eye-opening. I realized I had been limiting myself. While others were dreaming about creating and innovating, I was stuck in a narrow view of what business could be. I didn't know how to change, but I really wanted to.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with trading. It’s a profitable way to do business. But the problem was I couldn’t see myself as more than that. I wasn’t an entrepreneur in my eyes, just a trader. Even when I started to understand what entrepreneurship meant, I felt like I didn’t belong in that world. The idea of being an entrepreneur felt too big, too out of reach, because deep down I knew I hadn’t been dreaming big enough. So, I avoided calling myself an entrepreneur.

That’s when I knew I had to change my thinking. I had to expose myself to more, to people who were doing incredible things, to new ideas, new perspectives. I started reading books about entrepreneurs, watching videos of entrepreneurs sharing ideas, and learning from others. Little by little, my thinking expanded. The more I learned, the more I realized that I didn’t have to limit myself to just trading. I could create, build, and solve problems in a much bigger way. As my mindset shifted, my dreams started to grow. I began to see myself differently, and because of that, I started to act differently.

What I learned through this process is that other people’s success isn’t something to be intimidated by, it’s something to learn from. Instead of feeling small when you see others achieving big things, let their success show you what’s possible for you, too. Watching others, I realized they weren’t just special or lucky. They had simply allowed themselves to dream bigger, and I could do the same.

There’s no limit to what business can be. But if you don’t challenge the way you think, you’ll remain stuck in one way of doing things. The way we see ourselves plays a huge role in what we believe we can achieve. If you think small, you’ll dream small. But if you expose yourself to new ideas and new possibilities, you’ll start to think bigger, dream better, and execute your ideas with confidence.

It’s not your fault if your thinking has been limited, but it is your responsibility to change that. Open your mind, see the possibilities in others, and know they’re possible for you too.