Tag: Creativity

  • How Google Art Games Can Inspire Your Artistic Journey

    How Google Art Games Can Inspire Your Artistic Journey

    Are you ready to embark on a transformative artistic journey? Look no further than the captivating world of Google Art Games. Gone are the days when gaming was solely reserved for entertainment. Now it can serve as a source of inspiration and creativity. A  Google Art Game  seamlessly blends the excitement of gaming with the beauty of art. Offering a unique and immersive experience for aspiring artists and art enthusiasts alike. Whether you’re a seasoned painter or just beginning to explore your artistic side. These games provide a platform to unleash your creativity and ignite your imagination. Join us as we explore how these innovative games can take your artistry to new heights, allowing you to transcend the boundaries of traditional art and create your very own masterpiece. Get ready to level up your artistic journey and unlock a world of endless possibilities with Google Art Games.

    The Intersection of Gaming and Art

    In recent years, the worlds of gaming and art have collided, giving rise to a new form of artistic expression. Traditionally, gaming and art were seen as separate entities. Gaming is associated purely with entertainment and art reserved for galleries and museums. However, with the advent of technology and the rise of digital art, the boundaries between these two realms have blurred. The result is a fusion of gaming and art, where interactive experiences and visual storytelling converge to create a truly immersive and captivating medium.

    Google Art Games are at the forefront of this intersection. Offering a range of games that not only entertain but also inspire. These games combine elements of gameplay with iconic artworks, allowing players to engage with art in a whole new way. By merging the interactive nature of gaming with the aesthetic beauty of art. Google Art Games provide a unique platform for artists to explore their creativity and push the boundaries of their artistic practice.

    How Google Art Games Can Inspire Your Artistic Journey Image
    How Google Art Games Can Inspire Your Artistic Journey; Image by WOKANDAPIX from Pixabay.

    Benefits of Using Google Art Games for Artists

    For artists, Google Art Games offer a multitude of benefits that can enhance their artistic journey. One of the key advantages is the ability to gain inspiration from renowned artworks. The games feature a vast collection of masterpieces from around the world, allowing artists to immerse themselves in the work of great artists and draw inspiration from their techniques, styles, and subject matter. This exposure to diverse artistic styles can be invaluable for artists looking to broaden their horizons and experiment with new techniques.

    Another advantage of using  Google Art Games  is the opportunity to engage with art in a hands-on and interactive way. Traditional art forms often require specific materials and tools, making them less accessible for aspiring artists. However, with art games, all that is needed is a smartphone or computer, making art more accessible than ever before. These games provide a platform for artists to experiment, practice, and refine their skills, without the need for expensive art supplies or studio space.

    Exploring Different Art Games Available on Google Arts and Culture

    Google Arts and Culture offers a wide range of art games, each offering a unique and immersive experience. One such game is “Art Palette,” which allows users to create their color palettes by matching colors to famous artworks. This game not only allows artists to explore different color schemes. But also provides insight into the color choices made by master artists throughout history.

    Another popular art game is “Art Selfie,” which uses facial recognition technology to match users’ selfies with portraits from art history. This game not only provides a fun and interactive experience. But also allows artists to see themselves in the context of art history. It can be a great tool for self-reflection and understanding one’s own artistic identity.

    How Art Games Can Inspire Creativity and Artistic Growth

    Art games have the power to inspire creativity and spark new ideas. By immersing yourself in the interactive world of art games, you can explore different artistic styles, experiment with techniques, and push the boundaries of your creativity. These games provide a safe and supportive environment for artists to take risks, try new things, and learn from their experiences.

    One of the ways art games foster creativity is through their emphasis on playfulness and exploration. Unlike traditional art forms, which can sometimes feel rigid and structured, art games encourage players to think outside the box and approach art with a sense of curiosity and wonder. This freedom to explore and experiment can lead to breakthrough moments of inspiration and artistic growth.

    Tips for Incorporating Art Games into Your Artistic Journey

    If you’re ready to incorporate art games into your artistic journey, here are some tips to get started:

    1. Set aside dedicated time for art gaming: Treat art gaming as a valuable part of your artistic practice and allocate specific time for it in your schedule. This will help you prioritize and make the most of your gaming experience.
    2. Experiment with different games: Try out different art games to find the ones that resonate with you the most. Each game offers a unique experience, so don’t be afraid to explore and discover new favorites.
    3. Reflect on your gaming experiences: Take the time to reflect on your art gaming experiences. What did you learn? What inspired you? Reflecting on your experiences will help you integrate the lessons and inspiration into your artistic practice.
    4. Share your creations: Many art games offer the option to share your creations with others. Embrace this opportunity and share your artwork with the gaming community. Not only will this help you gain feedback and support, but it can also inspire others on their artistic journeys.

    The Future of Art Gaming and Its Impact on the Art World

    As technology continues to advance, the future of art gaming looks promising. With virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) becoming more accessible, the possibilities for immersive art gaming experiences are endless. Artists can already create virtual galleries and exhibitions, allowing viewers to explore art in a whole new way. As these technologies continue to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative and interactive art games that push the boundaries of traditional art and challenge our perception of what art can be.

    The impact of art gaming on the art world is already evident. It has opened up new avenues for artistic expression, democratized art by making it more accessible, and fostered creativity and collaboration among artists. Art gaming has the power to engage new audiences, inspire future generations of artists, and reshape the way we experience and appreciate art.

    Conclusion: Embracing the Power of Art Games in Your Artistic Journey

    In conclusion, Google Art Games offer a transformative and inspiring experience for artists of all levels. By merging gaming and art, these games provide a unique platform for artists to explore their creativity, gain inspiration from iconic artworks, and push the boundaries of their artistic practice. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just beginning your artistic journey, incorporating art games into your practice can help unlock your full creative potential and propel you toward creating your very own masterpiece. So, embrace the power of art games, level up your artistic journey, and let your imagination soar. The world of art gaming awaits you.

  • Top 14 Tips to Create a Good Survey Online

    Top 14 Tips to Create a Good Survey Online

    What are the Top 14 Tips to Create a Good Survey Online? Creating a successful survey project begins with a good design. Whether you’re using a template or starting from scratch, there are certain boxes you should check to ensure that your survey is intuitive, easy to take, and likely to complete.

    Here are the articles to explain, Top 14 Tips to Create a Good Survey Online

    In this piece, we’ll provide some invaluable advice on how best to design and distribute your surveys. Follow these tips to ensure that your next survey project is a total success.

    Establish the survey’s purpose and parameters upfront

    It’s important to craft a good introduction page for your survey, to keep participants engaged and willing to complete the whole thing. Make sure your intro page clearly and concisely explains the purpose of the survey—and also clarifies that the survey is confidential and that the survey respondent’s personal information will not misuse or sold to third-party buyers. It’s also a good idea to inform the respondent how long it typically takes to complete the survey. And let them know if they’ll be able to save their progress and complete the survey later.

    Include a survey progress bar and a “save and continue” option

    Another way to reassure participants is to include a progress bar. Which shows them how much of the survey is still left to complete. If they can see that they’ll finish soon, they’re less likely to quit early. If it’s not a short survey, add a “save and continue” button. So that they can save their progress and then finish the survey later. Sogolytics surveys include both of these features, both of which encourage greater participation.

    Use the appropriate question types

    The type of survey you’re conducting should determine the type of questions you ask. If you already have some information about the respondent, you might use a short survey composed only of a few close-ended questions—like sending a brief CSAT survey after an interaction with a long-time customer. However, when you’re trying to dig a little deeper, you will likely need to write a longer survey that contains more open-ended questions. Which allows the participant to elaborate on their responses.

    Keep the questions simple

    Easily understandable questions increase participation. Use multiple-choice questions—and don’t include too many answer options. Customer satisfaction surveys and net promoter scores are also simple, straightforward ways for customers to rate your business.

    Keep the language simple, too

    Along those lines, make sure that the way you word your questions is easily comprehensible. Don’t use flowery words, overlong sentences, or technical jargon, which could potentially overwhelm your respondent. Use ordinary, everyday words that all audiences can understand. If you need help simplifying your speech, try hemingwayapp.com. Which gives you a “readability” score and suggests ways to further simplify your language.

    Avoid asking leading questions

    Your language doesn’t just need to be simple—it also needs to be impartial. You don’t want to accidentally bias your respondent. For example, you wouldn’t want to word a question like, “Which of our product features do you love the most?”. This question assumes that the respondent loves multiple product features—which may not be the case!

    Avoid asking double-barreled questions

    Another common mistake that you should be careful to avoid is asking double-barreled questions. A double-barreled question asks two questions at once. For example, “how much do price and quality factor into your purchasing decisions?”. That should be two separate questions, one about price and one about quality.

    Make your rating scales consistent

    If you use multiple rating scale questions, make sure that the scales remain consistent. For example, don’t use a 0-5 rating scale of “very dissatisfied” to “very satisfied” and then switch to a 0-3 scale of “bad” to “good.” Changing the range of scales—or changing the values, so that a 5 is positive for some and negative for others—will confuse survey participants and could lead to inaccurate data.

    Arrange questions in a way that makes sense

    A well-designed survey should have a natural flow. Group questions that cover the same areas, rather than mixing them all up. You can even create separate sections, which gives your survey a more organized, professional feel.

    Use skip logic

    A great way to save participants some time is by using skip logic to ensure they’re only presented with relevant questions. Skip logic is a feature on platforms like Sogolytics which changes the questions or pages that a survey participant sees based on how they respond. For example, you might ask a customer whether or not they’ve used a new product feature—if they say “yes,”. They’ll be asked some questions about the feature, but if they answer “no,” they’ll skip ahead to the next section of the survey.

    Test out the survey

    Even if you follow all of the above tips, there may be a mistake in your survey that you overlooked. Test the survey by sending it out to a group of colleagues who will check to make sure that the questions are well-written and typo-free, and that the survey logic is working correctly.

    Distribute the survey in a way that makes sense

    Choose a survey distribution method that makes the most sense for your audience. Oftentimes, the option that makes the most sense is distributing your survey via email. But in other cases, you may wish to create a link to the survey that you can share through a variety of channels. Sogolytics even allows you to create a QR code link to surveys, which can be put on printed materials, such as posters, flyers, pamphlets, and more.

    Send some reminders to participants who haven’t completed the survey

    Most online survey participants complete their survey within the first few days, but there are always some stragglers who fall behind. Be sure to email them reminders that encourage them to complete the survey. You don’t want to be overly aggressive or spammy, but some gentle, periodic reminders can boost your response rate.

    Incentivize completing surveys

    Struggling with participation rates? Maybe you need to sweeten the pot. If you offer incentives for completing your surveys, you’ll likely reap more responses. Oftentimes, companies will offer participants a special discount, coupon, gift, or another reward if they complete a customer survey.

    In conclusion

    Creating online a good survey is a crucial step in gathering valuable information for decision-making. By following the top 14 tips outlined in this blog, you can ensure that your survey is well-designed, easy to understand, and results in high-quality responses. These tips include determining the survey’s objectives, using clear and simple language, choosing the right type of questions, testing your survey, and much more.

    By considering these key factors, you can create a survey that accurately reflects your needs and provides the insights you need to make informed decisions.

    Top 14 Tips to Create a Good Survey Online Image
    Top 14 Tips to Create a Good Survey Online; Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay.
  • How to create a high-quality APP development

    How to create a high-quality APP development

    With the popularity of smartphones, APP development has become very common. Whether it is a company or a venture capital, sometimes it is necessary to develop and design an APP, but how to develop a high-quality APP?

    Determine APP development needs

    First of all, figure out what app you want to do. What industry is it? Is the APP still in the idea stage or has it already been implemented? What service issues are provided? What is the general direction and what is the main function? The key is what are you heading to do? Only a few pages can complete the APP or complex system software. This needs to be clarified, because the complexity of APP structure design is different, and the investment of manpower and capital is naturally different.

    Determine the APP support platform

    There are many service platforms for developing and designing APP, iOS APP, Android APP, and Windows background management may also require creating data, and then displaying it on iOS and Android terminals. If you only develop and design one terminal, it is of course a little cheaper than developing all terminals. Of course, the price depends on how long and human resources it takes for the effect of APP development and design.

    Choose business outsourcing or independent research and development

    Understand whether your APP business outsources or self-developed. The price of business outsourcing and independent research and development is different. Business outsourcing considers the first two issues.

    If you do independent research and development, consider the needs more comprehensively, from recruiting personnel, establishing requirements, planning, UI design, function development, and Comprehensive testing, and then operating from the content, each link must master the development and design cost budget, save costs, motivate employees, improve work efficiency, and maximize the use value in a limited time.

    Naturally, developing and designing an APP is not a particularly easy task. , Every step must be thoughtful and make decisions, to get twice the result with half the effort.

    So how to find an APP outsourcing development company?

    Look at the enterprise scale and qualification certificate

    Software outsourcing companies vary in quality and level. Some companies even only do marketing and outsource the business to third-party development companies after receiving orders. Therefore, we try to choose companies that have been established for more than five years and have a certain business scale, professional software development qualifications, and a complete technical development team.

    See industry development examples

    To distinguish whether a software outsourcing company is capable, one of them is to see whether there are rich and diverse industry development examples and whether the development company can provide industry development solutions according to the industry the company belongs to, which can save a lot of development and design time. Can prioritize.

    Check the service specification

    Look at the service specifications of software developers and find software outsourcing companies to develop apps. Service specifications are very important, especially in terms of the price process and after-sales process. Since the software development industry is relatively unique, there is no unified pricing standard yet, so we need to see if the price is fully transparent and effective.

    However, after development, design, release, and operation, there may be bugs in the APP. In addition, user satisfaction or market conditions should adjust or iteratively upgraded based on user satisfaction market conditions. Therefore, strong after-sales support is very important.

    How to create a high-quality APP development Image
    How to create a high-quality APP development; Photo by Benjamin Sow on Unsplash.

  • Focus Groups

    What is Focus Groups?

    A focus group is small, but the demographically diverse group of people whose reactions are studied especially in market research or political analysis in guided or open discussions about a new product or something else to determine the reactions that can be expected from a larger population. It is a form of qualitative research consisting of interviews in which a group of people is asked about their perceptions, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes towards a product, service, concept, advertisement, idea, or packaging. Questions are asked in an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other group members. During this process, the researcher either takes notes or records the vital points he or she is getting from the group. Researchers should select members of the focus group carefully for effective and authoritative responses.

    Define of Focus Groups

    “A group of people assembled to participate in a discussion about a product before it is launched, or to provide feedback on a political campaign, television series, etc.”

    Definitions of Focus Groups

    Market research: Small number of people (usually between 4 and 15, but typically 8) brought together with a moderator to focus on a specific product or topic. Focus groups aim at a discussion instead of on individual responses to formal questions and produce qualitative data (preferences and beliefs) that may or may not be representative of the general population.

    Problem-solving: Idea generation or forecasting technique where several experts or informed individuals share their point of view on a specific topic or problem.

    A focus group is a gathering of 5 to 10 people who are selected because of their relationship to the issue being discussed. Although focus groups are used for a variety of purposes, they can be used to help generate new business ideas.

    Focus groups typically involve a group of people who are familiar with a topic, are brought together to respond to questions, and shed light on an issue through the give-and-take nature of a group discussion. Focus groups usually work best as a follow-up to brainstorming, when the general idea for a business has been formulated, such as casual electronic games for adults, but further refinement of the idea is needed. Usually, focus groups are conducted by trained moderators. The moderator’s primary goals are to keep the group “focused” and to generate lively discussion. Much of the effectiveness of a focus group session depends on the moderator’s ability to ask questions and keep the discussion on track. For example, a retail establishment in which coffee is sold, such as Starbucks, might conduct a focus group consisting of 7 to 10 frequent customers and ask the group, “What is it that you don’t like about our coffee shop?” A customer may say, “You sell 1-pound bags of your specialty ground coffees for people to brew at home. That’s okay, but I often run out of the coffee in just a few days. Sometimes it’s a week before I get back to the shop to buy another bag. If you sold 3-pound or 5-pound bags, I’d actually use more coffee because I wouldn’t run out so often. I guess I could buy two or three 1-pound bags at the same time, but that gets a little pricey. I’d buy a 3- or 5-pound bag, however, if you’d discount your price a little for larger quantities.” The moderator may then ask the group, “How many people here would buy 3-pound or 5-pound bags of our coffee if they were available?” If five hands shoot up, the coffee shop may have just uncovered an idea for a new product line.

    Some companies utilize hybrid focus group methodologies to achieve specific insights and goals. An example is “college drop-ins.” This approach involves paying college students to host a party at their campus and providing them a budget to buy food and snacks. During the party, the hosts interview and videotape other students about specific market issues. Everything is up-front—the partygoers are told that the information is being collected for a market research firm (on behalf of a client).

    History of Focus Groups

    Focus groups have a long history and were used during the Second World War (1939-1945) to examine the effectiveness of propaganda. Associate director sociologist Robert K. Merton set up focus groups at the Bureau of Applied Social Research in the USA prior to 1976. Psychologist and marketing expert Ernest Dichter coined the term “focus group” itself before his death in 1991.

  • The Creative Process

    The Creative Process

    Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and somehow valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a musical composition, or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a literary work, or a painting).

    Scholarly interest in creativity involves many definitions and concepts pertaining to a number of disciplines: engineering, psychology, cognitive science, education, philosophy (particularly philosophy of science), technology, theology, sociology, linguistics, business studies, songwriting, and economics, covering the relations between creativity and general intelligence, mental and neurological processes, personality type and creative ability, creativity and mental health; the potential for fostering creativity through education and training, especially as augmented by technology; the maximization of creativity for national economic benefit, and the application of creative resources to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning.

    The Creative process can be broken into stages:

    Preparation

    This is the first phase, which most people call “work.” A writer, for example, prepares by writing, by reading, or by revising earlier work. A musician plays scales, chords, or songs; a painter messes with paints or visits an art gallery; an entrepreneur researches problems to solve; a programmer plays with code. In each example, the creative is going through relatively mundane processes.

    The reason I say most people call this phase “work” is that these processes may or may not be inherently enjoyable. They’re also fairly mundane and tedious, but the creative has learned that this process is necessary to plant the seeds that lead to…Preparation is the background, experience, and knowledge that an entrepreneur brings to the opportunity recognition process. Just as an athlete must practice to excel, an entrepreneur needs the experience to spot opportunities. Over time, the results of research suggest that as much as 50 to 90 percent of start-up ideas emerge from a person’s prior work experience.

    Incubation

    Incubation is the stage during which a person considers an idea or thinks about a problem; it is the “mulling things over” phase. Sometimes incubation is a conscious activity, and sometimes it is unconscious and occurs while a person is engaged in another activity. One writer characterized this phenomenon by saying that “ideas churn around below the threshold of consciousness.”

    This would be the mystical process if there were one, because you often don’t know that you’re incubating an idea, or if you do know you’re working on one, you don’t know when it’s going to come out. It’s during this phase that your conscious and subconscious minds are working on the idea, making new connections, separating out unnecessary ideas, and grabbing for other ideas.

    This is the phase that most people mess up the most with distractions and the hustle and bustle of daily lives. Modern life, with its many beeps, buzzes, and distractions, has the strong tendency to grab the attention of both our subconscious and our unconscious mind, and as result, the creative process stops and is instead replaced by more immediate concerns.

    Insight

    Insight is the flash of recognition when the solution to a problem is seen or an idea is born. It is sometimes called the “eureka” experience. In a business context, this is the moment an entrepreneur recognizes an opportunity. Sometimes this experience pushes the process forward, and sometimes it prompts an individual to return to the preparation stage. For example, an entrepreneur may recognize the potential for an opportunity but may feel that more knowledge and thought is required before pursuing it.

    Evaluation

    Evaluation is the stage of the creative process during which an idea is subjected to scrutiny and analyzed for its viability. Many entrepreneurs mistakenly skip this step and try to implement an idea before they’ve made sure it is viable. Evaluation is a particularly challenging stage of the creative process because it requires an entrepreneur to take a candid look at the viability of an idea.

    Elaboration

    Elaboration is the stage during which the creative idea is put into a final form: The details are worked out and the idea is transformed into something of value, such as a new product, service, or business concept. In the case of a new business, this is the point at which a business plan is written.

    Illumination

    This is the “Eureka” moment that many of us spend our days questing after. When it hits, the creative urge is so incredibly strong that we lose track of what else is happening. The driving impulse is to get whatever is going on in our heads down into whatever medium it’s intended for.

    The most frustrating thing for me is that the “illumination” moments happen at the most inopportune times. They invariably happen when I’m in the shower when I’m driving by myself, when I’m working out, or when I’m sitting in mind-numbing meetings that I can’t get out of. Of course, the bad part is as I said above: the impulse is to get the idea out as soon as possible, so it’s not at all uncommon for me to stop showering, driving, or working out and run to the nearest notepad – and, in meetings, I start purging immediately anyway. I’ve yet to gain enough clout to excuse myself from the meetings, but I’m working on it.

    I was speaking to a friend a few weeks ago, and I told her I was frustrated because I was pregnant with ideas and didn’t have time to get them out. Keeping with the analogy, when a Eureka! moment hits, it’s much like labor – you’re done with incubating, and it’s time for…

    Implementation

    This phase is the one in which the idea you’ve been preparing and incubating sees the light of day. It’s when that written piece comes out, when that song flows when that canvas reveals its painting, and so on. It’s also when a good creative starts to evaluate the idea and determine whether it’s good or not – but only after they have enough to see where it’s going.

    Most of the creative I know or work with get really frustrated with others during this phase. Other people only see the creation at the end, and they don’t recognize or care much about the process that generated that idea. This is especially true with some supervisors and bosses who expect the end product on a certain schedule, even though the creative process does not work that way. Creative know that for every good idea, there are at least a few that don’t work out, but they can’t know ahead of time what’s going to work out and what won’t.

    The creative process begins with work and ends with work. The takeaway point here is that creativity is not just percolating and Eureka: it’s percolating and Eureka sandwiched between work phases.

  • Successful Characteristics of Entrepreneur

    Successful Characteristics of Entrepreneur

    Have you ever thought about striking out on your own? After all, being your own boss can be an exciting prospect. However, owning a business isn’t for everyone. To be a successful entrepreneur, you must have or develop certain personality traits. Here are nine characteristics you should ideally possess to start and run your own business:

    I. Motivation: Entrepreneurs are enthusiastic, optimistic and future-oriented. They believe they’ll be successful and are willing to risk their resources in pursuit of profit. They have high energy levels and are sometimes impatient. They are always thinking about their business and how to increase their market share. Are you self-motivated enough to do this, and can you stay motivated for extended periods of time? Can you bounce back in the face of challenges?

    Meaning of Motivation is a theoretical construct used to explain behavior. It gives the reason for people’s actions, desires, and needs. Motivation can also be defined as one’s direction to behavior, or what causes a person to want to repeat a behavior and vice versa. A motive is what prompts the person to act in a certain way, or at least develop an inclination for specific behavior. According to Maehr and Meyer, “Motivation is a word that is part of the popular culture as few other psychological concepts are.”

    II. Creativity and Persuasiveness: Successful entrepreneurs have the creative capacity to recognize and pursue opportunities. They possess strong selling skills and are both persuasive and persistent. Are you willing to promote your business tirelessly and look for new ways to get the word out about your product or service? Meaning of Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and somehow valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a musical composition, or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a literary work, or a painting).

    III. Versatility: Company workers can usually rely on a staff or colleagues to provide service or support. As an entrepreneur, you’ll typically start out as a “Solo-entrepreneur,” meaning you will be on your own for a while. You may not have the luxury of hiring a support staff initially. Therefore, you will end up wearing several different hats, including secretary, bookkeeper and so on. You need to be mentally prepared to take on all these tasks at the beginning. Can you do that? Meaning of Versatility; ability to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities.

    IV. Superb Business Skills: Entrepreneurs are naturally capable of setting up the internal systems, procedures and processes necessary to operate a business. They are focused on cash flow, sales and revenue at all times. Successful entrepreneurs rely on their business skills, know-how and contacts. Evaluate your current talents and professional network. Will your skills, contacts and experience readily transfer to the business idea you want to pursue?

    V. Risk Tolerance: Launching any entrepreneurial venture is risky. Are you willing to assume that risk? You can reduce your risk by thoroughly researching your business concept, industry and market. You can also test your concept on a small scale. Can you get a letter of intent from prospective customers to purchase? If so, do you think customers would actually go through with their transaction?

    VI. Drive: As an entrepreneur, you are in the driver’s seat, so you must be proactive in your approaches to everything. Are you a doer — someone willing to take the reins — or would you rather someone else do things for you? Meaning of Drive; operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle. Propel or carry along by force in a specified direction.

    VII. Vision: One of your responsibilities as founder and head of your company is deciding where your business should go. That requires vision. Without it, your boat will be lost at sea. Are you the type of person who looks ahead and can see the big picture? Meaning of Vision; the faculty or state of being able to see. The ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. An experience of seeing someone or something in a dream or trance, or as a supernatural apparition.

    VIII. Flexibility and Open-Mindedness: While entrepreneurs need a steadfast vision and direction, they will face a lot of unknowns. You will need to be ready to tweak any initial plans and strategies. New and better ways of doing things may come along as well. Can you be open-minded and flexible in the face of change? Definition of Flexibility; The quality of bending easily without breaking.

    IX. Decisiveness: As an entrepreneur, you won’t have room for procrastination or indecision. Not only will these traits stall progress, but they can also cause you to miss crucial opportunities that could move you toward success. Can you make decisions quickly and seize the moment? Definition of Decisiveness; The ability to make decisions quickly and effectively. the conclusive nature of an issue that has been settled or a result that has been produced.

  • Personal Characteristics of the Entrepreneur

    Personal Characteristics of the Entrepreneur

    An entrepreneur is typically in control of a commercial undertaking, directing the factors of production – the human, financial and material resources that are required to exploit a business opportunity. They act as the manager and oversee the launch and growth of an enterprise. Entrepreneurship is the process by which an individual (or team) identifies a business opportunity and acquires and deploys the necessary resources required for its exploitation. The exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities may include actions such as developing a business plan, hiring the human resources, acquiring financial and material resources, providing leadership, and being responsible for the venture’s success or failure.

    How did Michael Dell come up with the idea of a “build it yourself” computer company? How did Dave Roberts, the founder of Pop Cap Games, figure out that there is a large and growing market for “casual” electronic games?

    Researchers have identified several characteristics that tend to make some people better at recognizing opportunities than others. Before we talk about them, there is an important yet subtle difference between two key terms pertaining to this topic. We’ve already defined an opportunity as a favorable set of circumstances that create the need for a new product, service, or business. But, the term opportunity recognition refers to the process of perceiving the possibility of a profitable new business or a new product or service. That is, an opportunity cannot be pursued until it’s recognized. Now let’s look at some Personal or specific characteristics shared by those who excel at recognizing an opportunity.

    Prior Experience

    Several studies show that prior experience in an industry helps entrepreneurs recognize business opportunities. For example, evidence over time about the founders of firms appearing on the Inc. 500 list shows that well over 40 percent of those studied got the idea for their new businesses while working as employees for companies in the same industries. This finding is consistent with the findings of research studies the National Federation of Independent Businesses’ group has completed over time. There are several explanations for these findings. By working in an industry, an individual may spot a market niche that is under-served. It is also possible that while working in a particular area, an individual builds a network of social contacts in that industry that may provide insights that lead to opportunities.

    Once an entrepreneur starts a firm, new venture opportunities become apparent. This is called the corridor principle, which states that once an entrepreneur starts a firm, he or she begins a journey down a path where “corridors” leading to new venture opportunities become apparent. The insight provided by this principle is simply that once someone starts a firm and becomes immersed in an industry, it’s much easier for that person to see new opportunities in the industry than it is for someone looking in from the outside.

    Cognitive Factors

    Opportunity recognition may be an innate skill or a cognitive process. There are some who think that entrepreneurs have a “sixth sense” that allows them to see opportunities that others miss. This sixth sense is called entrepreneurial alertness, which is formally defined as the ability to notice things without engaging in the deliberate search. Most entrepreneurs see themselves in this light, believing they are more “alert” than others. Alertness is largely a learned skill, and people who have more knowledge of an area tend to be more alert to opportunities in that area than others? A computer engineer, for example, would be more alert to needs and opportunities within the computer industry than a lawyer would be.

    The research findings on entrepreneurial alertness are mixed. Some researchers conclude that alertness goes beyond noticing things and involves a more purposeful effort. For example, one scholar believes that the crucial difference between opportunity finders (i.e., Entrepreneurs) and non-finders is their relative assessments of the marketplace. In other words, entrepreneurs may be better than others at sizing up the marketplace and inferring the likely implications.

    Social Networks

    The extent and depth of an individual’s social network affects opportunity recognition. People who build a substantial network of social and professional contacts will be exposed to more opportunities and ideas than people with sparse networks. This exposure can lead to new business

    starts. Research results over time consistently suggest that somewhere between 40 percent and 50 percent of those who start businesses got their ideas through social contacts. In a related study, the differences between solo entrepreneurs (those who identified their business ideas on their own) and network entrepreneurs (those who identified their ideas through social contacts) were examined. The researchers found that network entrepreneurs identified significantly more opportunities than solo entrepreneurs but were less likely to describe themselves as being particularly alert or creative.

    An important concept that sheds light on the importance of social networks to opportunity recognition is the differential impact of strong-tie versus weak-tie relationships. Relationships with other people are called “ties.” We all have ties. Strong-tie relationships are characterized by frequent interaction and ties between coworkers, friends, and spouses. Weak-tie relationships are characterized by infrequent interaction and ties between casual acquaintances. According to research in this area, it is more likely that an entrepreneur will get a new business idea through a weak-tie than a strong-tie relationship because strong-tie relationships, which typically form between like-minded individuals, tend to reinforce insights and ideas the individuals already have. Weak-tie relationships, on the other hand, which form between casual acquaintances, are not as apt to be between like-minded individuals, so one person may say something to another that sparks a completely new idea. An example might be an electrician explaining to a restaurant owner how he solved a business problem. After hearing the solution, the restaurant owner might say, “I would never have heard that solution from someone in my company or industry. That insight is completely new to me and just might help me solve my problem.”

    Creativity

    Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and somehow valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a musical composition, or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a literary work, or a painting).

    Scholarly interest in creativity involves many definitions and concepts pertaining to a number of disciplines: engineering, psychology, cognitive science, education, philosophy (particularly philosophy of science), technology, theology, sociology, linguistics, business studies, songwriting, and economics, covering the relations between creativity and general intelligence, mental and neurological processes, personality type and creative ability, creativity and mental health; the potential for fostering creativity through education and training, especially as augmented by technology; the maximization of creativity for national economic benefit, and the application of creative resources to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning.

    Creativity is the process of generating a novel or useful idea. Opportunity recognition may be, at least in part, a creative process. On an anecdotal basis, it is easy to see the creativity involved in forming many products, services, and businesses. Increasingly, teams of entrepreneurs working within a company are sources of creativity for their firm.