I am going there, I am raising the RED FLAG!

I can’t stand the generic use of labeling everyone with an idea to start a business as an entrepreneur. Communities and educational institutions need to stop investing both private and public dollars in establishing “innovation spaces”. Let’s get workers and tinkers back in their garages. When have you seen "Entrepreneur" on your electrician's work van. He is a skilled worker, an informed problem solver, the CEO, the CFO and a practitioner.

Isn’t it interesting that a high school graduate can take out a student loan averaging $30,000/year, yet we don’t provide a high school graduate coming out of vo-tech program a small business loan to start a masonry business.

I wonder if they identified as an entrepreneur if someone would invest in them?

Walter Isaacson quoted Steve Jobs, late Apple founder as saying, "I hate it when people call themselves 'entrepreneurs' when what they're really trying to do is launch a startup and then sell or go public so they can cash in and move on. They're unwilling to do the work it takes to build a real company, which is the hardest work in business.”

But what is even more impudent is celebrating teenagers who made their first t-shirt or took a photo someone liked on Instagram, as entrepreneurs. They are not! They are learners. Let them finish “learning” Let them be more deeply engaged with their world. Teens need a network of established adults, who are willing not to be their friend, who will test them and encourage them to fail. Yes FAIL!

What is at stake here is work ethic and character. We need to encourage young adults to embrace the value of sacrifice and delayed gratification. Their pitch needs not to be centered on a disposable product but on elevating their intrinsic nature in service of others. Once this happens, what they build is built to last.