[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The international youth-exchange “Mindful Entrepreneurship” was designed to enhance social entrepreneurship and the management of sustainable social initiatives by having a mindful approach.

Through a series of workshops, we wanted to empower current and future leaders of civil society with tools and competencies in the area of self-management and entrepreneurship, in order to support the creation of sustainable social initiatives. By bringing mindfulness practices in a business context,  we aimed to provide participants with some useful information and techniques to lower anxiety levels, cope with daily stress, have a better management of their emotions and, enhance productivity and attention. We did this through a 5 steps plan: Self-assessment, Soft skills, Ideas development, Hard skills and Ideas Validation.

In the first phase, Self-assessment, we offered some insights into Mindfulness and the benefits of it for the mental health. We did this by discovering and implementing as much as possible the 9 attitudes as described by John Kabat Zinn founder of MBSR (Mindfulness-based stress reduction) program.

In the 2nd phase,  Soft Skills, participants improved their communication, leadership, teamwork skills, deepened their emotional intelligence through non-formal learning methods.

In the 3rd phase, Ideas Development, participants used the creative thinking of both first days of self-analysis and came up with business ideas that would benefit the society.

In the 4th phase, Hard Skills, participants developed strategies, created a business model and researched what resources they needed to implement the idea. By providing technical tools and information, they got to have a better understanding of how to turn their ideas into reality.  

In the final phase, Ideas validation, the participants pitched their ideas to each other and to the public and got feedback about the ways of improving the idea.  In the following report, every step is deconstructed by describing the concept behind it and the activities used afterward. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][interactive_banner_2 banner_image=”id^6648|url^http://www.apvalusstalas.lt/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/4.png|caption^null|alt^null|title^4|description^null” banner_style=”style1″ image_opacity=”1″ image_opacity_on_hover=”1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

CONCEPT

We believe that Personal and Professional Development starts with Self-Assessment. This is a necessary step that allows people to run an internal diagnostic, feelings of empowerment and sense of control. Unfortunately, the majority of people aren’t inclined to spend much time on self-reflection, nor self-actualization, thus, sabotaging their self-management. Human beings are complex and diverse, so, to become more self-aware, we should develop an understanding of ourselves in many areas (personality traits, personal values, habits, emotions, and the psychological needs that drive our behaviors). For self-assessment, the main tool used in the youth exchange was – Mindfulness.

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODS

1.The session started with a short meditation for tuning in and bringing the focus to the present moment. For the first half of the session, we had an informative lesson on Mindfulness and discussed the 9 attitudes as described by John Kabat (Beginner’s Mind, Non-Judging., Acceptance, Letting Go, Trust, Patience, Non-Striving (Non-doing), Gratitude.

2. Participants were asked to reflect on the following questions:

-How can one cultivate creativity and intelligence through an innocent and open attitude? (Beginner’s Mind)

-How can one clearly discerns the situation outside of our own conditioning? (Non-judging)

-In which way resistance to the way things are is a major cause of mental and emotional suffering? (Accepting)

-How can one let go of being caught in desires for things to be different? (Letting go)

-How to build trust and confidence in yourself and in the world? (Trust)

– The art of doing nothing: how to act without trying to act? (Non-striving)

-How to bring more gratitude and generosity to your life? (Gratitude/ Generosity)

3. For 20 minutes, participants engaged in an open discussion debating the previous mentioned concepts and the use of it in the workspace.

4. In groups of 5, participants created the psychological portrait of a Mindful Social Entrepreneur and shared their vision with the other team. They were asked to depict the similarities and differences between the groups.

 

Duration: about 2h

Materials needed: Paper/ pen

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Books:

‘’Mindfulness for Beginners’’, John Kabat-Zin

‘’Wherever you go, there you are’’, John Kabat-Zin

Videos:

From Doing to Being with Jon Kabat Zinn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-2QoTYujNg

9 Attitudes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n7FOBFMvXg[/vc_column_text][interactive_banner_2 banner_image=”id^6649|url^http://www.apvalusstalas.lt/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/5.png|caption^null|alt^null|title^5|description^null” banner_style=”style1″ image_opacity=”1″ image_opacity_on_hover=”1″][vc_column_text]

CONCEPT

There is no hope for the development of successful businesses without strong entrepreneurs behind. Entrepreneurs are idea people. Their business begins with an idea; but to achieve business success, the business owner must learn to manage, expand, and lead the company. Often, the personal traits that help entrepreneurs launch their business shape organizational culture and build the unique companies in the later stages.

The concept of ‘Soft skills’ can be very broad and complex. We took a glance to analyze and develop our emotional intelligence as a core trait for managing people and yourself as well leadership itself.

DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODS

1. We start by writing on flipchart the words: SOFT SKILLS;

We to participants to brainstorm what’s their idea about it, and we write it down the (black)board (5/7 min). We put it apart and we start a game.

2. All the group will be divided in 6 teams of 5 ppl each, international teams. We will divide them by counting 1-2- 3-4- 5-6 (5 min.)

3. Once we formed the groups, we explain the game (5 min.) There is a raw egg for each team , and each team has at own disposal:

– a certain quantity of paper (can be old newspapers, magazines etc.). The smallest quantity possible to be given to the group

– a paper tape

– hemp twine ( just 1 mt.)

They also have at their disposals scissors and colors (the latter if they want to make it fancy), but they cannot use it in the casing structure, otherwise, they will be disqualified.

Each of the team, by cooperating together, alone and separated from the other groups, has to create a casing where to set the raw egg, by using only the materials given and they have 20/30 min.

The aim of the casing is to protect it from the final throwing. In fact, every of the group will throw the casing from the first floor of the accommodation place (or any other place). The others will be watching on the bottom. A referee will observe the throw and collect the casing. Nobody else has to do it.

4. Finally, each team will do a small presentation about the casing structure created to the rest of the group (2 min each team; 12 min in total).

5. At the end, the team throw the casing and, following the rules above mentioned. The referee will check if the casing succeed or not (2 min each team; 12 min in total).

6. At the end we show a definition of the soft skills: Soft skills are a set of productive sections of a personality that characterize relationships in an environment. These skills can include social skills, communication skills, language skills, personal habits, cognitive or emotional empathy, time management, group work, and leadership traits.

Food for thought during reflection:

– what happening during the workshop?

– how do you feel?

– what do they think about this definition?

– how do you connect it to the workshop just realized? 15 min.

 

Objective: The workshop aims to promote the sense of engagement among young people, equip participants with entrepreneurial tools, foster cooperation with others and create team-building attitudes and skills.

Duration: about 1.h 30 min

Materials needed:

– 6 raw eggs

– 6 paper tapes

– 6 mt of hemp twine ( 1 mt. each team)

– old newspapers, magazines,

– 6 scissors

– colors (spirit, pastel) etc.

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Books:

‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’  Dale Carnegie

‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change’ Stephen R. Covey

‘The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We do in Life and Business’ Charles Duhigg

‘The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness’ Jeff Olson

Ted Talks:

Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action http://go.ted.com/YxD

Seth Godin: The Tribes We Lead http://go.ted.com/Yxa

Simon Sinek: How Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe http://go.ted.com/Yxq[/vc_column_text][interactive_banner_2 banner_image=”id^6650|url^http://www.apvalusstalas.lt/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/6.png|caption^null|alt^null|title^6|description^null” banner_style=”style1″ image_opacity=”1″ image_opacity_on_hover=”1″][vc_column_text]

CONCEPT

Once you know your deep interests and problems you’d like to solve in the world it’s time get out there and talk to people about it. The best way to connect to people through the things really matter to them such as dreams or struggles. If you will be honest others most likely also open up and share what they stand for. Imagine, you found a bunch of amazing people that were thinking about the same issue and are determined to do something about it like to create a business. What’s next? Normally you should write a business to analyze the topic through different angles and to assess whether it can turn to real business or not. Good news are that at this stage there is no need to shut down all your enthusiasm with tones of documentation. There is a simple and visual way to do it – Business Canva Model.

The goal is to illustrate ideas, reflect on different business aspects such as target customer, value proposition, finances, etc. Also, originate an idea and go through the checkpoints to test its feasibility.

 

DESCRIPTION

The Business Model Canvas (BMC) gives you the structure of a business plan without the overhead and hustle. Together these elements provide a pretty coherent view of a business’ key drivers–

Customer Segments: Who are the customers? What do they think? See? Feel? Do?

Value Propositions: What’s compelling about the proposition? Why do customers buy, use?

Channels: How are these propositions promoted, sold and delivered? Why? Is it working?

Customer Relationships: How do you interact with the customer through their ‘journey’?

Revenue Streams: How does the business earn revenue from the value propositions?

Key Activities: What uniquely strategic things does the business do to deliver its proposition?

Key Resources: What unique strategic assets must the business have to compete?

Key Partnerships: What can the company not do so it can focus on its Key Activities?

Cost Structure: What are the business’ major cost drivers? How are they linked to revenue?

The Canvas is popular with entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs for business model innovation.

You can download the template here: https://goo.gl/oWHiYw

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Books:

‘Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers’ Alexander Osterwalder

Further readings:

Questions to take into consideration: https://goo.gl/jehFtk

Another great method for business ideas modeling – Design Thinking: https://goo.gl/MbQJrd[/vc_column_text][interactive_banner_2 banner_image=”id^6651|url^http://www.apvalusstalas.lt/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/7.png|caption^null|alt^null|title^7|description^null” banner_style=”style1″ image_opacity=”1″ image_opacity_on_hover=”1″][vc_column_text]

CONCEPT

Finally, things are getting very real. After designing and analyzing ideas now it’s time to get our hands dirty and build something. Not the whole business at the moment but imitation new product or website with sufficient features to satisfy early adopters. The final, complete set of features will be only designed and developed after considering feedback from the product’s initial users. So, at this stage it’s time to build MVP and come up with the ideas how to market it. The challenge is to do so with as little investment, time and efforts as possible.

DESCRIPTION

MINIMUM VIABLE PRODUCT. Interactive workshop on what is Minimum Viable Product with examples and ways on how to build it and use it.

Time needed: 30 min. for explanations, 30 min. for group work and 30 min. for exposition / reflection.

Outcome: The ability to flesh out a product that is ready for the market with the minimum possible investment.

Reflection: “Fail fast and fail cheap!”.

MARKETING. Description: Innovative ways on how to think and implement marketing ideas in order to ensure positive impact. Participants will have the chance to try ideas on real examples.

Time needed: 30 min. for explanations, 30 min. for group work and 30 min. for exposition / reflection.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Books:

‘The Lean Startup’ Eric Ries

‘Traction: Get A Grip On Your Business’ Gino Wickman

Further readings:

How to test MVP: https://goo.gl/1FbDqp

Small business marketing ideas: https://goo.gl/9RZ9RS[/vc_column_text][interactive_banner_2 banner_image=”id^6652|url^http://www.apvalusstalas.lt/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/8.png|caption^null|alt^null|title^8|description^null” banner_style=”style1″ image_opacity=”1″ image_opacity_on_hover=”1″][vc_column_text]

CONCEPT

One of the biggest problems for startupers is that they are working hard on developing an idea even without knowing whether their product/service is needed on the market.  Sometimes it can be misleading if you do a research in a wrong way. For example, ask your mom or friends about the product or service you want to build if they would be willing to use it. Of course, they are your supporters and want you to succeed and therefore might not be a good representation of the real market.

DESCRIPTION

ELEVATOR PITCH. An elevator pitch is simply a very short presentation that distills the idea into a short summary that takes only as long as a short elevator ride. Participants have 1h to discuss within their groups how to make an engaged pitch to their follows and convince that it is a valid idea to invest. Participants have their voice to give to one idea that they believe the most. The winner wins the ‘pot’ as a basement investment into their business. Questions to consider:

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Business validation ideas: https://goo.gl/4dL6LV

Examples of 9 entrepreneurs how they validated their ideas: https://goo.gl/1HAnLc  

Book ‘The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers and Learn If Your Business is a Good Idea’  by Rob Fitzpatrick[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]