How to Thrive During Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024

Learn to Thrive This Global Entrepreneurship Week

As we mark Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) from 18-24 November, it’s a timely moment to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship and the transformative power of ideas. GEW UK 2024 is a festival that shines a light on the achievements of entrepreneurs while inspiring aspiring business minds to seize opportunities. Whether you’re embarking on your entrepreneurial journey or looking to scale your current venture, this week is your reminder to dream big, stay resilient, and make it happen.

Lessons from Failure: The Regent Group Story

Entrepreneurship is a journey of persistence, creativity, and adaptability. My life and business partner, Tharshiny, and I launched Regent Group 25 years ago. But before we found our footing with Regent, we explored countless other business ideas—all of which failed. Despite the setbacks, we refused to quit.

Failure, it turns out, was a catalyst. It refined our ideas, strengthened our resolve, and sharpened our understanding of what it takes to succeed. Our eventual breakthrough—a private tuition business in northwest London—was born from our willingness to adapt and keep trying. From that single idea, Regent Group has expanded into a higher education college, vocational training institutions, investment ventures, and even real estate and tourism businesses.

The Power of Continuous Exploration

Entrepreneurship doesn’t end once you find your first successful idea. It’s a mindset of perpetual curiosity and exploration. That same spirit led me to establish ventures embracing cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). Whether it’s launching innovative projects like Ride21 and AIR, or identifying new ways to solve real-world problems, the entrepreneurial journey is one of continuous growth.

Key Principles for Thriving in Entrepreneurship

Over the years, lessons from educators like Professor Clay Christensen and Bob Proctor have profoundly influenced my entrepreneurial outlook. Their insights—bolstered by my executive education at Harvard and Stanford—helped shape a philosophy of life and business rooted in resilience, service, and opportunity. Here are the principles that have guided me:

1. Be Open to Opportunities

Opportunities are everywhere if you know how to look. Often, they’re hidden in plain sight, waiting for someone with the curiosity and vision to uncover them. Cultivate a mindset that actively seeks possibilities, and train yourself to recognize potential in every situation.

2. Serve Your Community

The best business ideas solve real problems and meet genuine needs. Entrepreneurship isn’t just about making profits; it’s about creating value. Whether you’re offering a product, a service, or a solution, focus on addressing pain points within your community or industry.

At Regent Group, service has always been at the core of our mission, and it remains the driving force behind our new initiatives. Ride21 and AIR, for instance, are rooted in using AI to solve pressing challenges, demonstrating that technology can amplify our ability to serve others.

Learning and Thriving

Thriving as an entrepreneur requires ongoing education and personal development. For those eager to deepen their understanding, I recommend exploring courses and books available through Regent’s Thinking into Character platform. Inspired by the works of thinkers like Napoleon Hill and Earl Nightingale, the platform offers actionable insights into unlocking your potential.

This Week, Make Entrepreneurship Your Reality

The theme for this year’s GEW—Entrepreneurs Thrive Here—is more than a slogan; it’s a call to action. If you’ve ever dreamed of starting your own business or taking your current venture to new heights, now is the time to act. The path may not always be easy, but with resilience, a mindset of service, and a commitment to continuous learning, success is within reach.

Take this week to reflect, plan, and ignite your entrepreneurial spirit. Learn from your failures, embrace the possibilities around you, and remember—you have the power to turn your vision into reality. Entrepreneurs thrive here. Why not make it happen for you?