You May Be Today’s New Face of Entrepreneurship - Part 1

The face of today’s new crop of ambitious entrepreneurs in Chicagoland is changing, and you may very well fit the profile. But before I paint that picture more clearly for you, let’s take a look at why the face of entrepreneurship here has changed dramatically in the first part of 2012.

People were ho-hum, had a sense of helplessness, and rightfully so in some cases. They were making decisions based more on desperation than information. Some, acting out of sheer want for work, took jobs they didn’t like or ones that paid a salary much less than what they previously earned. Uncertain financial times knocked many professionals’ compasses out of balance. 

But, the tide is turning, and I’m observing a shift in attitude and approach to the way Chicagoans are reclaiming their careers. They’ve tread water for long enough through an economic environment deep in recession, and screws have begun to turn. Displaced professionals are re-navigating the job market, finding ways to make ends meet that don’t involve climbing a corporate ladder. Those who don’t have jobs are finding an alternative way to personal gratification and professional development. Many are becoming their own boss, by way of becoming independent entrepreneurs. Others are investing in .

Next week, I'll be posting Part 2 of this discussion, presenting more detail about the way today's revitalized entrepreneurs are moving forward