Why do I need an entrepreneurial mindset?

The entrepreneurial mindset is the reason why entrepreneurs are successful. The important thing is that you don't have to be running your own business to gain the benefits of the entrepreneurial mindset. In truth, the mindset offers significant and valuable benefits to employees in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. It creates real value for individuals, organisations and societies. In a world that is increasingly complex and uncertain, if you want to have more control over your life and career, the entrepreneurial mindset is definitely a 'must have'.

How is the entrepreneurial mindset relevant to me?

Entrepreneurs enjoy success in life because of their behaviours i.e. the way they think and act. You can quickly learn to adopt these same behaviours and use them to help you to achieve your career and life goals. Your first thought might be that this entrepreneurial way of thinking is not relevant to you. However, the Entrepreneurial Mindset Network has created a common sense and practical definition that will fully convince you that the entrepreneurial mindset is not only highly relevant to you but can also bring you immediate and worthwhile benefits.

Is the mindset just a different way of thinking?

Our definition of the mindset was developed by examining research studies that explain what makes entrepreneurs successful e.g. their personalities, skills and behaviours.  In addition, we considered positive and also the negative perceptions of entrepreneurship i.e. the importance of ethical behaviour. The  definition we have created is both realistic and practical; the mindset has to be more than simple self-belief or wishful thinking. At the core of the definition, therefore, is the idea of you taking responsibility for the actions that can make your dreams come true.

How can I understand what the mindset is?

You can quickly understand the entrepreneurial mindset using our definition. It is easy to understand and quick to use.  What makes our definition distinctive is that it is based on seven essential entrepreneurial behaviours. As an aid to memory, 1 entrepreneurial behaviour is allocated to each of the 7 letters in the word MINDSET.

Who runs the Network?

Paul Coyle is the Founder and Director of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. He is an expert in the entrepreneurial mindset, higher education leadership and organisational transformation. Currently Paul is connected on LinkedIn to more than 12,000 professionals all over the world. The European Commission, the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions & Cities, and EIT Health have all made use of his expert advice.  To be notified of Paul’s regular posts about the entrepreneurial mindset, visit Paul's LinkedIn profile and press the Connect button. In 2024, Paul's 15 LinkedIn posts generated 32,516 impressions and 614 likes from people in 68 countries. Paul's research can be viewed on Google Scholar and his publications are available to read and download on Academia.

What does the Network offer?

The Network’s vision is that everybody can benefit from having an entrepreneurial mindset. It's mission  is to inspire you to make your unique contribution to the world through your use of the entrepreneurial mindset. We do this by providing a range of inspiring resources to help you to understand and apply the mindset. In addition, we provide specialist services to support student education, the personal development of higher education professionals, and the showcasing of entrepreneurial higher education organisations. The Network is a supporter of the annual European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. In 2025, the track 'Innovative Curriculum Design in Entrepreneurship Education Bridging Theory and Practice to Develop Entrepreneurial Competencies and Mindset' will be co-chaired by Paul Coyle.

EXPRESS is the eZINE published three times a year by the Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. Since 2018, the eZINE has showcased authors from 53 countries who have expressed their views about the entrepreneurial mindset and shared numerous inspiring examples. All 21 issues of the eZINE are available on the website Entrepreneurial Mindset Express.

The latest edition of the eZINE is Volume 8 Number 1. You can see the articles scrolling on the right. Click on any image to read the article on screen, or to download or print a PDF.

You can use the many ideas in these articles to find inspiration, reflect on your own practice and consider what  actions you can take to develop your own entrepreneurial mindset.

What is a Mindset Behaviour Analysis tool?

A Mindset Behaviour Analysis (MBA) is a FREE online tool designed to support higher education students, from any academic discipline. The MBA tool introduces the concept of the entrepreneurial mindset to students and is designed to stimulate reflective practice that will strengthen entrepreneurial behaviours. Students can apply these behaviours within their studies and in support of their career plans for employment or entrepreneurship.

What are the benefits of the Mindset Behaviour Analysis tool?

The MBA tool engages students in an active and personalised learning experience, that generates practical actions to improve their entrepreneurial behaviours. The MBA tool helps educators to achieve high levels of student engagement and satisfaction. Educators can also have access to an analysis of anonymised data from the MBA tool which provides evidence of student attainment and progression.

How are the MBA tools used in teaching and research?

The Entrepreneurial Mindset MBA website gives a more detailed introduction to the Mindset Behaviour Analysis tools, explains the use in teaching of the MBA tool for higher education students and the MBA tool for PhD students, describes the research being undertaken using an analysis of anonymised data from the MBA tools, and gives a summary of the very positive feedback from students and educators.

Reviews

Get your hands on this inspiring step-by-step guide today! It will equip you with the tools you need to achieve success in a rapidly changing world. Enikő Koppány, Hungary, 2023.

A well-written, hands-on book. The reflective questions at the end of each chapter are an excellent guide to help people change their way of thinking. Bob Bastian, Italy, 2022.

This clear, engaging book has made me look at my work with fresh eyes, giving me a new sense of purpose. Highly recommended. Carolyn Howitt, United Kingdom, 2020. 

A very helpful book that inspires the reader, stimulates his thought and excites his curiosity. Roberto Brambilla, Italy, 2020.

How to read the book

You can read the 3 introductory chapters of the book on screen for free on Google Play.

You can purchase the complete book for the equivalent of 7.99€ on Google Play.  This gives you access to 7 additional detailed chapters, 1 for each of the 7 entrepreneurial behaviours, and 140 self-reflection questions. You can read the full book in your web browser, and online or offline using the Google Play Books app for Android, iPhone and iPad. 

You can purchase a print copy for the equivalent of  12.99€ plus shipping costs.

All purchases are charged in the currency of your credit card.

How is the mindset used to enhance teaching?

Students of any academic discipline can benefit from developing an entrepreneurial mindset. The study of entrepreneurial ways of thinking and acting should not be confined to the business school. The entrepreneurial mindset has value in the study of the arts, law, economics, psychology, sociology, computing, engineering, media, medicine and health.

The mindset empowers students to pursue their career aspirations not just as entrepreneurs but as employees in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Employers want graduates with the right mindset and skills such as innovation, self-efficacy and leadership. The mindset emboldens students to want to make their unique contribution to the world.

How is the mindset used to enhance research?

Research students play a vital role in the creation of new knowledge and there is increasing emphasis in understanding and demonstrating the economic and social impact of this knowledge. The  mindset is a key topic in the investigation of business and entrepreneurship. It is also of value in many other applied research disciplines.

The entrepreneurial mindset helps researchers to reflect on the applied nature of their research, to improve their innovation skills, to act ethically whilst also daring to take risks, to improve their productivity and to manage their career ambitions, especially given the challenges of securing permanent academic jobs.

How can the mindset enhance leadership?

If students are going to develop an entrepreneurial mindset then educators themselves must have this same mindset. Also, their academic leaders must be able to inspire educators to use the entrepreneurial mindset in their teaching, research, commercialisation, knowledge exchange, and creation of economic, social and cultural value.

The mindset is of value to academics and also the professional services, including learning resources, careers, research and knowledge exchange. All  leaders in higher education can use the mindset to build an organisational culture that is fit-for-purpose, deliver excellent performance and secure long-term financial sustainability.