New Way of Thinking Believing in the value of what you’re selling plays a key role in developing a lasting business plan. But long-term success also depends on your mental approach. Provaznik and his advisors, such as Roland “Sandy” Wheeler, know from experience that you won’t get very far in business without forcing yourself to think outside the box. “When I got involved with the program, I just wanted to teach kids how to think differently,” said Wheeler, who is best known as the founder of Bowflex. “The best way I could get them to understand it is that owning a business is not a 9-to-5 job. “You have to know that there are going to be trials and tribulations—and also a lot of risk involved,” he added. “That’s why it’s so important to find something that drives you—that you love—because if you don’t, you will give up when times get tough.” Wheeler pointed to Mulinski as the prime example of a student who combined his CWU business knowledge with an unconventional business plan—on-location car detailing—to establish a niche in a competitive industry. “He’s doing exactly what he’s supposed to be doing today because he was able to think beyond the traditional business model and build things up over time,” Wheeler said. “Most of the students in the program go work for someone else for a few years before they really get started, but Jimmy had the passion and the expertise to make it happen right out of the box.” Mulinski said he owes a great deal of his success to the time he spent in the College of Business, around professors, mentors, and advisors who know what is needed to build a winning concept. “The program helped me find something I’m passionate about and then gave me the tools, the time, and the mentorship I needed to build my own business,” he said. “The more you put in, the more you will get out of it. But
if you can take constructive criticism and be honest with yourself, you can create something you’re really proud of.” Building a Foundation During the program’s first five years, more than 60 CWU students have started businesses, securing 35 business licenses from the state of Washington. Provaznik said many of the student-run businesses have either closed or are dormant, but that doesn’t mean his students haven’t been successful. He views the entrepreneurship program as the start of a long journey that may take years to produce a winning idea. “You just have to learn from the experience and build something new,” said Provaznik, who also leads the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I4IE). “It might be your second or third idea that really takes off. But you have to go through the process and make some mistakes. It can take a while, but our students leave here with the tools, the skills, and the mindset to be successful.” Another recent program graduate, Grant Lawson (’19), said working with Provaznik and lecturer Lawrence Danton for two years helped him develop an entirely new approach to his career than when he started as a finance major in 2014. While Lawson and his project partners chose not to pursue their business plan after graduation, he left Central with the knowledge and experience he will need if he ever returns to his small-business roots. “My mindset now is completely different than it was before, and I attribute most of that to the entrepreneurship program,” said Lawson, who works as a certified public accountant at Tieton Capital Management in Yakima. “Even though I didn’t continue with my business, I tried. And just by going through the process, I realized that many things we think of as being insurmountable—like starting a company, building a network, or hustling your way into a job—are actually not that difficult at all.”
39.4% saw new business opportunities during the pandemic. Opportunities related to digitalization, health and well- being, local vs. global business focus, sustainability, and new business models.
61% of entrepreneurs saw the existence of their significant decrease in trading activities, meaning the jobs of 3,162 entrepreneurs and their 41,578 employees are at risk. business under threat due to a
30.6% of businesses surveyed were well prepared for the pandemic by having online trading and/or delivery in place pre-COVID.
21% expanded into
68% of entrepreneurs
changed plans for their business in response to the pandemic.
online trading and/or delivery in response to the pandemic.
Entrepreneurship d
Source: King’s Business School, King’s College London research impact paper: Entrepreneurship during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey of more than 5,000 entrepreneurs in 23 countries that represent 3/4 of the world’s economic output. PHOTO BY CDC ON UNSPLASH
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