Debunking the Myth of Overnight Success

The podcast discusses the misconception of overnight success in entrepreneurship and its impact on students. It explains how media portrayals and societal pressures perpetuate this misconception. The podcast suggests teaching strategies such as problem-based learning and experiential learning projects to guide students towards a more grounded understanding of entrepreneurship. It also provides two lesson plans that aim to cultivate critical thinking and reflection. The conversation with Mrs. Susie Byers, a senior HASS teacher, highlights the influence of media and social media on students' beliefs about entrepreneurship. It also mentions how youthful optimism and limited real-world experience contribute to this misconception. The importance of dispelling this misconception and fostering critical thinking is emphasized, along with the need to instill resilience and perseverance in students. Hello and welcome to today's episode of the EDS 4405 podcast series. I am Kiri Hammett, your host and a student of the Turn to Teaching program. I am enrolled in a Masters of Teaching and Learning Secondary and I am halfway through my first year. In today's episode we'll be delving into the world of business studies to explore a prevalent misconception that often misleads our senior secondary students. The glorification of entrepreneurship and overnight success. Join me as we uncover the roots of this misconception, its impact and how we can guide students towards a more informed perspective. But before we dive in, I want to acknowledge the practicing teacher who provided valuable feedback on the strategies and lesson plans discussed in this episode. Her insights have been instrumental in shaping my approach. Thank you, Mrs. Susie Byers. So let's start by addressing the elephant in the room, the misconception of overnight success in entrepreneurship. This fallacy leads students to believe that successful entrepreneurs effortlessly amass wealth and recognition in a short period. But in reality, building a thriving business takes time, effort and perseverance. This misconception is perpetuated by a convergence of media portrayals, idealised narratives and societal pressures for instant gratification. Now that we understand the origins of this misconception, let's explore its implications. Imagine students basing their career decisions on the assumption of swift success. This misguided perspective can divert them from pursuing sustainable business endeavours and deter them from the authentic, although more challenging, entrepreneurial path. Furthermore, this misconception can negatively impact students' mental health, fostering stress, anxiety and feelings of inadequacy if their success does not happen overnight. So how do we address this misconception and guide students towards a more grounded understanding of entrepreneurship? Well, it's all about effective teaching strategies. Let's explore some approaches that can be integrated into our pedagogical practices. From problem-based learning to experiential learning projects, business incubators to role-playing scenarios, these strategies encourage critical analysis, practical learning and first-hand exposure to the challenges of entrepreneurship. When it comes to teaching adolescents, the APST tells us that we need to know our students and how they learn. Adolescents are going through a period of rapid cognitive, emotional and social development, and incorporating relatable scenarios into their education has numerous benefits. During this time, adolescents can be more emotionally connected and motivated to learn. They begin to think more abstractly and many will already be working casual jobs and understand how the workforce operates. As their identity is forming, some may already view themselves as the boss or the worker or even an entrepreneur, and by tailoring education to incorporate real-life scenarios that resonate with those adolescents, educators can provide a more holistic and effective learning environment that supports their development and growth. Now, let's shift our focus to the classroom. I've developed two lesson plans that align seamlessly with Colin Jones's Entrepreneurial Education Theory, otherwise known as EE. These plans aim to cultivate critical thinking, reflection and a deeper appreciation for the challenges of entrepreneurship, as well as working alongside the already mentioned developmental changes and abilities of adolescents. In lesson one, students will dive into the misconception itself through group discussions and engaging activities. They will identify elements that contribute to the glamourisation of overnight success. Together, we will utilise Colin Jones's EE pedagogy to guide them towards understanding the challenges and complexities of building a successful business. Lesson two takes it a step further. Students will analyse real-life examples of being an entrepreneur and maybe one who faces setbacks and challenges on their journey to success. The students will actively engage in discussion and role-playing scenarios. They'll refine their critical thinking skills, drawing insights from real-world experiences. Mrs Susie Byers, a senior HASS teacher at Smithfield State High School, outlined her agreeance with the misconception and said that she has faced the glorification of entrepreneurship many times. Our conversation was deep and lasted over an hour, with Mrs Byers stating that media influence and social media is largely to blame. We discussed how this can also lead to algorithms on social media platforms catering content to the individual interests. Influencers encounter these stories more frequently, leading to a confirmation bias that reinforces the idea of instant success. Susie also mentioned that adolescents desire autonomy and seek the attention of the influencer impact. Influencers on social media often portray a glamorous lifestyle that appears easily attainable. This can further perpetuate the belief that success comes without struggle. However, one aspect which I had not considered was the youthful optimism, which Mrs Byers said is one of her favourite things about teaching high school students business. She believes adolescents are known for their optimism and sense of invincibility. This optimism, combined with limited real-world experience, can lead them to underestimate the challenges and complexities of entrepreneurship. The allure of entrepreneurship aligns with their desire for autonomy, making them believe that they too can achieve rapid success. As we discussed the lesson plan, Susie helped identify some areas where the class could go astray. For example, when we do role-playing, 15 and 16-year-old boys can get very carried away. As I get to know my students better, I will know which classes I can do this exercise with and which I can't. Mrs Byers summarised her thoughts by reaffirming that dispelling this misconception and fostering critical thinking are key to guiding our students towards success. Many of our students don't know what the real world is like, but are convinced that they do. And as teachers, it's our job to set them up for realistic expectations. As we wrap up this episode, I want to emphasise the importance of instilling resilience and perseverance in our students. By guiding them to critically analyse entrepreneurial success stories, we equip them with valuable skills to face challenges head-on, both in business and in life. Until next time, keep teaching, keep learning and keep challenging those misconceptions. Thank you for listening to this episode. If you found the content valuable, don't forget to share it with your colleagues and fellow educators. Stay tuned for more engaging discussions and insights in our upcoming episodes. And remember, teaching is a journey, let's make it an informed and impactful one.