An Open Call for Newfound-preneurs "May you live in interesting times" is an English quote thought to have originated from a Chinese curse. It suggests that, while tumultuous times can be challenging, they are also the periods that offer great reward and promising opportunity. Over the last 520+ years, Newfoundlanders & Labradorians have certainly seen some interesting times. Our economic pendulum has swung from despair to hope to prosperity and back again on countless occasions. Each time our residents have adapted and made the best of their circumstances. We have
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learned from both poverty and wealth and have woven each experience into the tapestry of our daily lives. This has allowed us to create a distinct outlook that is neither too cocky nor too defeatist. As 2018 draws to a close, our province is being forced to adapt once again. Like our grandparents who took the future into their own hands on the sea, in the woods or from the land, we must now take control of our own destinies. While most of us won’t choose to work as fishermen or miners, we must all model ourselves after our ancestors’ spirit and become what I like to call Newfound-preneurs. A Newfound-preneur is a person who takes control of their skills, training and ingenuity to reap opportunity wherever it lies. They personalize their talents to meet a unique need within the local community. By finding product or service gaps they are able to create a full- or part-time job that supplements their income. Rather than waiting for someone else to post a job ad, these people create their own positions to make a living.
Aren’t you describing an Entrepreneur?
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Newfound-preneurs are indeed entrepreneurs…but with a twist. They are not necessarily business people that start new companies. Instead, they are individuals who may or may not have a full-time job and also create a small business to earn extra money. They may be welders, photographers, massage therapists, computer programmers or any other professionals who have a unique skill that is in demand by others. Most importantly, they understand the marketplace of Newfoundland and Labrador and are able to adapt their products and services to our unique culture. For example, a multimedia graphic design artist may work for a local magazine, but also launches a small business that develops ads for tourism companies at
JAMES LODER,
DIRECTOR, ACADEMY CANADA AND EASTERN ACADEMY
affordable rates. In another instance, a carpenter that works on rotation out west supplements her income by starting a small business that picks up residential fencing projects. These initiatives may remain part-time gigs or evolve into permanent companies that form the economic backbone of our province. As unemployment rates fluctuate and professional goals expand, we must be prepared to think outside the proverbial box. Our workers, both young and experienced, must be prepared to create opportunities. We must take the quality training offered by our colleges, work harder and become more innovative in order to build something special. Newfoundland and Labrador was founded by people who carved something out of a blank stone. In order to build a truly independent and prosperous future, we must follow in their footsteps. We must all become Newfound-preneurs … and we must do it now!
James Loder Director, Academy Canada jloder@academycanada.com (709) 682-4393
FALL: 2018
