What is next for the Irish Entrepreneur?
Everyone knows how many successful Irish Entrepreneurs sprung out due to Celtic Tiger. For the past ten years Ireland did enjoy a lavish and exuberant life. All its Irish Entrepreneurs living the lives of soccer celebrities with €150,000 Audi Q7s and €500,000 holiday homes in the Iveragh Peninsula, which is known as the Ring of Kerry. They were what the French would call “Nouveau Riche”, the new rich.
Then the recession hit the economy and it did hit hard. Affecting every single business in the country. It had no mercy. Most of whom had to face the horrors of shutting down and go into administration. What all did not realize is the number of International organizations closing their doors and letting go of hundreds of loyal employees into the streets. Ireland was considered as one of the worst affected countries in Europe. The government couldn’t do much as most of the unemployment was cuased by these multinational companies that they had no influence what so ever over, unlike the local companies. The country was quickly tumbling down back into the border line poverty it had known more than three decades ago, or so they think.
I once read not too long ago that Ireland topped as one on the most intelligent countries in the world, from individual geniuses point of view. If that is true then we are in for some major surprises in this little Island on the west coast of main land Europe. Every day you read depressing stories about how this company went bust and that factory laid off it 500 or so workforce. All focusing on the horrors of the situation and no one stopped to think how this might be of actual benefit to the country. I still can hear my father’s echoing voice in the ear saying “Necessity is the mother of all innovations”. What he meant by that and how it relates to the topic is simple, if you are sitting idle not busy with your normal every day working routine your mind will start wondering and grinding out innovative ideas. If you thought that entrepreneurship in Ireland is dying, think again. Irish Entrepreneurs are on the rise.
In the past six month I have witnessed a major attitude change within the business culture in Ireland. In the past few years I noticed there was an overall mindset of professionals for being content having a steady job with a descent salary. Entrepreneurs were actually hard to come by back then, but it surely not the case now. Almost every person in the past six months, especially the ones I know that have been laid off, are Starting a Business with ideas like inventions for saving fuel consumption in cars to a hot milk shakes shop. The eagerness to start on your own has flourished and is a growing fast. The question now is whether or not the government can realise that. More importantly, if they did notice it what will they do to support this great will to Startup a Business in Ireland.
The Irish government has always been very active in supporting international corporations setting up here. Take the great success stories everyone hears about at the IDA (Industrial Development Agency) and the investment opportunities it provided for the foreign companies. Ireland is in a turning point now with the produce of unbelievable local talent within many industries as one of the Post-Recession benefits. The time is now to take advantage of these talents and innovations by providing all the support and funding Ireland was always globally renowned for.
In the next few months many success stories of an Irish Entrepreneur developing new invention and another creating an exciting new concept, which will in turn help in the restabilisation of the country. Until then, best of luck to all the budding Irish Entrepreneurs out there and remember to never give up.