#entrepreneur #simd #scotland

When I started entrepreneur me I had a grand idea....
"Encouraging Ambition and Positive Attitudes for Social Change"

Social change meant alot to me, I could see we needed change and I saw entrepreneurship as a means to improve the lot of individuals and communities...

Initially I had resistance from my key customers "entrepreneurship" in schools , no thanks teachers would say, are you talking about turning all our young people into money grabbing capitalists !!!no thanks, school is not the place for that - we teach kids the important stuff (the curriculum)

Anyway The Scottish Government policy "Determined to Succeed" came along and schools bought into the message -- entrepreneurship is not only about business, learning entrepreneurial qualities like Positive Can Do Attitude, Ambition, Risk, Opportunity Spotting, Dreams/Desire, Resilience, Goals/Achievement etc matters

Well here we are 10 years on.....

- lots of young people have learned entrepreneurship from me (over 135,000 UK wide)and we have today the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation- terrible figures and tragic that here in Scotland this is happening...families living in unemployment,poverty, hopelessness, we are awash with alcohol and health issues including low mortality,we have high crime and prison numbers growing, we have the level of individual debt at a record high....

So have we failed, or have we tinkered at the edges ?

For me I put it in the failed category - it really is unacceptable that this is happening in a modern Scotland - so much still to be done and entrepreneurship is the answer

Beginning with the number 1 entrepreneur quality "Self Responsibility" - Let us remind ourselves for things to change we must change and for progress we need inspired young people and communities.

My vision is a better Scotland ....

Mountain People #attitude @frankdickcoach

There are two types of people in this world, valley people and mountain people.

Valley people seek the calm and comfortable ground of shelter, safety and security. They may talk about change but do not want to be involved in it, especially if this means breaking from the routine of what has worked okay up until now. Their concept of achievement is not losing, so playing for the draw to them is all that’s needed. Their concept of fitness is being fit to survive. They are the people you meet who sentences begin with; “I would have”, “I could have” or “I should have”. They are the almost people, who have many explanantions for not making it themselves but only one for those who have – LUCK. 

Mountain people have decided that valley life is not for them and seek to test ambition on the toughest climbs. They know that there is a rich satisfaction in reaching the top and the fight that is needed to get there. They live for the test of change and enjoy the resilience required to bounce back from the bumps and bruises that come with the mountain territory. They not only talk about change, they deliver it. They take the risk of winning because to them there is no such thing of a risk of losing. People can lose without training or practice, it comes quite naturally, so where is the risk in that? They know achievement is not always reflected in a gold medal but is always measured by the excitement of knowing just how much further their best shot takes them, when they take the risk of winning. Achievement is balanced on the finest of edges but they know that. Whatever the outcome of the contest, they are always accountable for the result. They are winners and they know it.

This has been written for mountain people, people like you. 

It is about people who succeed, who achieve, who win and who intend continuing to do so. Each of us has mountains to climb, they may not all be Mount Everest, but they are still your mountains. They can arise in our family and social life, in our business life and in our personal life. You know what yours are!

I wish you all the success you deserve, not only in climbing your next mountain but in climbing all the mountain ranges where your ambition and dreams will surely take you.

Extract from “Winning” by Frank Dick @frankdickcoach 

My work has been about encouraging Mountain people- or better yet to encourage others to join me on the mountain - certainly that's where the adventure is.....Matt

#attitude in #wishaw @Airdrie_FC

Just back from Coltness HS where I was starting Monday by giving £25 to a young person who over the last six weeks had been demonstrating a "Positive Attitude"

I met all of S5 pupils and had a giggle with them - I do like to mess with their brains, you know ask them.....

"who this morning is ready for action, fully focused on the day ahead and ready to achieve"

"who is thinking big today - forgot yesterday and is determined to succeed"

This is the first day back after holiday and well the reaction I got was like I had landed from Mars !!

Anyway, I gave £25 to Mark McRoberts who wrote a great Positive Attitude story....Mark is a goalkeeper who has not always had it easy - he has been released by clubs and keeps working hard on his game... at the moment he is playing at a good level and has plans and Ambition to go further......

Whilst there I learned from Mark that he plays with Airdrie FC (U17) - my local club and the team that many years ago I suggested could play European Football --- for me a great thought is success for Airdrie - the town and the football club.

I said to Mark that I look forward to seeing him between the sticks at Broomfield Stadium #attitudematters

           

Attitude Matters

A Primary school pupil aged about 10 drew this for me - A person with a positive attitude and and a person with a negative attitude - note the differences - I am working to stay as often as possible to be on the positive side!!

Fife,Scotland

The last two days Matt and Ena have been in Fife with two secondary schools helping with Transition - we have had brilliant events with over 350 young people attending and being entrepreneurs for the day.... lots of friendships made  ideas galore and even a little profit from the participating youngsters.

Please see photograghs from Lochgelly High and St Columbas High Dunfermline.....

And a favourite quote from a young boy aged 11 .....

Beeslack Story Winner

There is a young person with a great positive attitude, someone ambitious and going for it. This is their story.........


A couple of years ago I began assisting with dance classes on a Friday afternoon. It allowed me to become more confident, able to lead and be better at dancing.

There were more classes I began to help with, it was during this period of helping with Ballet, Tap and Modern dance I realised it was something I wanted to continue throughout my life.

My helping continued and a year ago I was offered to share a class with another assistant - so I was promoted to Student Teacher.

In recent months, the school had their dance show - which inspired me to dance more and more. Seeing our class perform on stage made me realise how much I want to continue dancing, also dancing with younger students inspired me.

I've been dancing since I was 2 and a half - Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Musical Theatre, it has always been part of me.

After our recent dance show I looked into dance college and studying dance - but this would mean not going to university and not being able to continue helping and teaching at my current dance school.

After a discussion with my dance principal she assured me that if I want I will be able to continue teaching and once I've completed my grade 8 Ballet I can undergo a teaching diploma with my current school.

I have decided that I will try to get into University and continue most of my current dancing and if I still require a degree to teach in dance then I can go and attend dance college.

The decision to do this allows me success in my job and my education. I will have to work hard for a balance - but for dancing and my education I am willing to do so.

Linda Johnston

Woodmill Transition Workshop

We had a really good two days last week with around 220 Primary Seven pupils fromthe primary schools associated with Woodmill High School in Dunfermline.

Silence at 9.30am when pupils didnt know each other then bedlam at 2.30pm when trading finished.

Pictured is our Enterprise Leaders from Upper School - great young people with definate Can Do attitudes....

Enterprise Leaders @ Woodmill

Aberdeenshire CPD

Aberdeenshire CPD, a set on Flickr.

Some Photograghs from out Teacher CPD DAY in Aberdeenshire

North Berwick High School

I am just back from visiting North Berwick High School, where I worked with around 160 young people making the Step Up to high school.

Our brief was simple -- use Enterprise to encourage the young people to get to know each other, practice their teamwork skills and learn about business and trade whilst having fun.

We had a great day with the young people quiet at the start and buzzing at the end of day -- lots of profit made and definitely new friendships started.

Thanks to North Berwick HS for asking us and to the young people of Law PS,Direlton PS, Aberlady PS and Gullane PS for being successful Can Do entrepreneurs.

Pictured are the profit winners along with the team that won the teamwork and quality award.

Profit Winners

Group



Teamwork and Quality Winners



Entrepreneurs in Banff

The other day I was in Banff at Banff Academy working with around 160 young people making the transition from Primary to Secondary school.



It was a brilliant day - the young people formed their business - got some start up money and started to trade - and trade and trade

They firstly went to the supply store and bought some goods......


Busy Store

They then took the raw materials back to their business and started Manufacturing.

Once the products were Quality Control checked they were ready for sale -- Time to meet the buyers..

Pleasant Buyers !!!

Once a sale had been agreed it was time to display all the products each company had made....


Lots of Goods Sold

Of course when you make a sale it's a happy time - we've got a cheque(yahoo) - Better take it to the Bank


Bankers

Lots of business done and lots of challenges overcome - and we even managed to make a profit - well done to all......

Profit Winners

And the Quality and Teamwork winners...



Teamwork and Quality Winners

Certificates for all.......

Thanks to Mr Dunn at Banff Academy and to the brilliant young