On the morning of 25 February 2012, after the scholarship award ceremony for under-privileged students of the University of Agriculture and Forestry, an open dialogue was organized between a number of entrepreneurs in the Saigon Entrepreneur club with nearly 500 students. The topic discussed was " From the start of a business idea to realizing a business dream."

Being an invited speaker on the panel, I had to paid special attention to the questions raised by the students and try to understand them so that I could give a quick response to address their concerns.

Why does the business project of the students often fail?”, “How to help students realize their dreams?";"How to keep and maintain the same burning passion for a project from start to finish?”;"Why successful people usually reflect about their hardships endured in the past, in comparison with what the youths are experiencing today?” “Are the youths of today going through less hardships as compared to their parents?”

Questions posed by the students to the panel showed that there is a need to close the gap of perception between the two generations.

Everyone  of us has gone through similar experiences, where you look back and contemplate on the "lessons in life" we had to go through. There are those who have overcome great difficulties, challenges and hardships to become stronger, more confident and successful. But there are also many people who were "deeply affected" and ended up in deep frustration, loss of self confidence and withdrew from society.

Many students do not know anything about certain industry or business but they write proposals for projects with an investment of tens of billion of Viet Nam Dong. They do not have any professional knowledge and yet they think that they did a great job. For example they do not know where to get funding for their projects. When they obtain a loan, they do not fulfill the obligation to repay the principal to the client. Then customer relationship will worsen and the trust and the confidence between the customer will be compromised.

Today’s young generation are very fortunate to have an opportunity to pursue a good educational with the support of a well-balanced family. They are better equipped with in tems of knowledge which molds them early for their role and responsibiities for the future.

To be successful is what everyone dreams and want to achieve. In human history, regardless of national leaders, businessmen, scientists or artists, most of them have experienced during their life time some hard times or even extreme difficulties. (APPLE’s Founder and late CEO, Steve Jobs is an example). What makes them so powerful and extraordinary to go from success to success? It’s the trials and tribulations which their have gone through which had molded and formed their purpose in life and given them a strong will and determination to pursue their dreams.

Successful people often recount their experience with the purpose of sharing their experiences with the next generation. They want the younger generation to understand that to be able to have a rich harvest, they must work hard – “working the plow”. The "plow" in any way should be dependent on the actual conditions of each era.

Nourished by the attitude of positive thinking is what each of us can learn, practice and hone to become a good habit.

NHQ