Entrepreneurs: Doers, Not Dreamers

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If you walk into Mountain Lakes High School’s room 222, you will find young entrepreneurs: students like you aspiring to create their own businesses. What’s the Entrepreneurship Program all about? Can you be an entrepreneur if you can’t spell it? Is it even English? As members of the Entrepreneurship Program have learned, an entrepreneur is “someone who organizes and manages any enterprise…with considerable initiative and risk.”

The Entrepreneurship Program at MLHS evolved from a club advised by current Acting Principal Mr. Frank Sánchez, then the Director of Curriculum. In the fall of 2017, he and Mr. Marc Lore, serial entrepreneur and Mountain Lakes resident, worked together with the support of the superintendent and ML Board of Education to introduce an in-school semester class called Introduction to Entrepreneurship.

This year, Mr. Paul Sidhu was the program’s first hired teacher. A few weeks ago, I sat down with him and asked him some questions about his role in the program. Mr. Sidhu told me that in class he talks to his students about how to use different leadership styles effectively. For example, he recently explained to his class the three main styles of running a workplace: autocratic, democratic, and free rein. His students also get to practice computer simulations, like managing sports stadiums and modeling pricing. He told me about the class business, U-Care, which gives parents a hassle-free opportunity to send their college-age children a variety of care packages during stressful college times. Mr. Sidhu described the business as a great way for students to get a hands-on, authentic experience in the world of business.

“Entrepreneurs are doers, not dreamers.”
– Mr. Paul Sidhu

In the club, now advised by Mr. Sidhu, students are given the chance to explore their business ideas, participate in business plan competitions, and listen to accomplished guest speakers. Recently, Mr. Lore gave a presentation to the club members about his experience in the field. In addition to telling MLHS’s aspiring business leaders about his own e-commerce company, Jet.com, and what it is like to work with Walmart, he also talked about his many other past business ventures and the risks involved.

“Ideas are easy to come by… it is all about the execution”
– Mr. Marc Lore

Lastly, before talking to Mr. Sidhu and watching Mr. Lore’s presentation, I sent a survey to the program’s students asking what their favorite parts of the club and the class are. Here is a summary of some of the most common responses out of the 38 that I received:

Learning business strategies and how to build a better business in depth before college
Working in groups and advancing your business
Watching funny commercials
Doing projects
Listening to guest speakers
Watching Shark Tank and The Profit
Feeling relaxed and welcomed
Competing
Being with your friends
Thinking in new and different ways
Participating in interactive activities

Ergo, there is a noticeable excitement among students and faculty watching MLHS’s Entrepreneurship Program come to fruition, as they await the achievements of its members.