Entrepreneurship and how to make Career Decisions after Uni with Art of Smart Founder, Rowan Kunz
May 4, 2021
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Rowan Kunz, Founder of Art of Smart, talks about starting his business while in university, the importance of optionality in career decisions, and the realities of youth unemployment. The podcast also explores creating a platform for accessing educational videos, building optionality in your career, and the impact of entrepreneurship on employment rates.
Take risks and have the courage to pursue your own business or passion, as what may seem risky is often not as bad as it appears.
Instead of trying to specialize in one area, embrace optionality and develop a diverse skill set to maximize career possibilities and adaptability.
Address underemployment and mismatched skills by promoting entrepreneurship, supporting startups, and creating more job opportunities through government initiatives and incentives.
Deep dives
Be Bold and Take Risks
Have the courage to be bold in your career decisions and take risks. Often, what we perceive as risky may not be as bad as we think. Plan for the worst-case scenario and realize that it is usually not as scary as it seems. Don't be afraid to start your own business, pursue your passion, or take a different path. Be willing to fail and learn from your experiences.
Embrace Optionality and Diversify Skills
Instead of viewing optionality as a way to delay making decisions, see it as an opportunity to build a diverse skill set. Rather than becoming a specialist, consider becoming a generalist with expertise in multiple areas. Embrace hybrid roles and pursue a parallel pathway to gain experience and skills outside of traditional education. This will maximize career possibilities and enable you to adapt to a changing job market.
Focus on New Job Creation
Address the issue of underemployment and mismatched skills by promoting new job creation. Encourage entrepreneurship and support startups and small businesses. The government can allocate funds for infrastructure projects, provide grants and incentives for hiring, and foster an environment that allows for more business creation. Growing the number of new businesses and stimulating job growth will help address the imbalance in the labor market.
Recognize Mental Health Implications
Acknowledge the mental health implications of underemployment and the challenges young graduates face in finding full-time jobs. Highlight the importance of mental well-being and self-actualization beyond financial stability. It is essential to address the mental health aspect of the employment gap and support young people during this critical transition period.
Be Inspired by Historical Figures
Take inspiration from historical figures like Genghis Khan, who exemplify resilience, strategic thinking, and an ability to adapt. Study their leadership lessons and learn from their experiences to become a better leader and decision-maker. History offers valuable insights and stories that can provide guidance and inspiration in various aspects of life.
Rowan Kunz is the founder of education business Art of Smart, which does tutoring and mentoring for high-school students. Art of Smart has helped over 6,000 students with their high-school education, their transition to university and with career advice. Rowan was Australia's Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019. Previously, he also founded and sold two other educational businesses. Rowan studied Arts/Law at The University of Sydney.
We talked to him about how he made the decision to start Art of Smart whilst at uni instead of applying for Law clerkships, how uni students should think about optionality when making career decisions and the realities of youth unemployment.
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