5 Trends That Make Now the Best Time to Think Like an Entrepreneur

The world is changing fast. Jobs are shifting. College costs more than ever. Technology is evolving every second. The pace can feel relentless. With so much in flux, the future has never felt more unclear..

But here’s the good news: even when everything around you feels uncertain, you can control one thing — how you think. 

Enter the entrepreneurial mindset, which represents much more than wearing the perfect suit or building the next app. An entrepreneurial mindset guides how we approach the world, by:

• Seeing challenges as opportunities
• Taking initiative
• Thinking creatively
• Learning from failure
• Adapting to change
• Setting and pursuing goals

This mindset helps individuals to succeed in both business and life.

Welcome to the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). This global nonprofit uses entrepreneurship education to empower young people to build their futures. From classrooms to pitch competitions, NFTE equips nearly 70,000 young people with the tools to turn ideas into action and dreams into plans.

NFTE’s Entrepreneurship Trends Report tracks what’s changing in education, work, and innovation, and how teens are responding to these shifts. Check out the five major trends that show why thinking like an entrepreneur might just be the smartest move for your future.

1. More people want to be their own boss

Today, nearly half of young people say they’d prefer to be entrepreneurs rather than work for someone else, according to American Student Assistance (ASA), a national nonprofit that helps young people plan for their futures. This shift reflects an evolution in how many feel about work. Money is no longer the sole determining factor; equally important? The freedom, flexibility, and agency to shape your own future. 

“Entrepreneurial education helps young people acquire the necessary durable and business acumen skills they need to prepare for future success,” said Jean Eddy, president & CEO of ASA and NFTE national board member. “ASA has been honored to work with NFTE over the years to expand access to these invaluable experiences in schools, districts, and communities across the U.S.” 

Young people today aren’t waiting for opportunities; they’re creating them. From reselling sneakers to launching apps to starting tutoring businesses, this generation is forging its own path. For them, entrepreneurship represents more than a paycheck—it’s a way to take charge and shape their own futures.

2. Students want to learn real, practical skills 

It’s hard to care about coursework that feels disconnected from the real world, hence the appeal of hands-on, project-based learning. NFTE’s report highlights the growing demand for entrepreneurship education because it’s engaging, relevant, meaningful, and transferable. Students get to explore their own interests, build something meaningful, and gain skills that prepare them for the real world.

“The entrepreneurial mindset teaches students how to turn setbacks into comebacks, how to spot opportunities, and how to lead with purpose. These are life skills that extend beyond school,” said Ray Parris, digital media & entrepreneurship teacher at Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School in Florida.

For example, Baltimore seventh-grader Atman Patel launched Story Crafters after a classroom lesson sparked an idea to use artificial intelligence (AI) to customize digital children’s books and reignite a love of reading. He launched his business while participating in NFTE competitions, applying for grants, forming school partnerships, and eventually building a team to meet growing demand.

“What started as a spark turned into a mission and a real company,” said Deneen McDonald, Atman’s teacher at Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School.

Atman’s story exemplifies the magic of an entrepreneurial mindset. It transforms a class project into a purpose-driven venture and a student into a creative problem solver ready to take on the world. 

3. Employers are looking for mindset over memorization

The fastest-growing careers today demand more than textbook knowledge. Employers need people who can think critically, solve problems, and collaborate. The entrepreneurial mindset teaches students to lead projects, manage setbacks, and spot opportunities — skills that matter whether you run your own company or work for someone else.

“Students who take NFTE programs and learn to develop the entrepreneurial mindset become more financially literate, more thoughtful, and better prepared to adapt to a changing world,” said Luke Petro, English and entrepreneurship teacher at Chicago Hope Academy.

Memorizing facts might get you through a quiz. But learning how to adapt, communicate, and think like an entrepreneur can carry you through your entire career.

4. Big changes = big opportunities for young innovators

We live in a time of massive disruption, including technological and social change as well as economic uncertainty. And while that disruption can feel overwhelming, it also creates more space than ever for new voices, fresh ideas, and bold solutions, especially from young people who see the world differently.

And Gen Z is stepping up. NFTE students are designing businesses that tackle mental health, promote sustainability, reimagine education, and create more inclusive products. They’re not waiting for the world to return to “normal.” They’re building what’s next.

“When my mom lost her job, I thought I’d have to drop out of school. But NFTE helped me turn a class project into a basketball training business. Now it funds my education and serves hundreds of young people,” said Andres Cardona, NFTE alumnus and CEO of Elite Basketball Academy. 

Disruption doesn’t just shake things up. It creates the space for young people to lead.

5. Diverse youth are owning their future through entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is becoming a path to equity. Girls, students of color, and youth from under-resourced schools often experience the greatest growth in entrepreneurial mindset skills, ot because they had all the resources to start, but because, when given the opportunity, they rise. 

Take Roy, one of Petro’s students at Chicago Hope Academy. “He’s a great kid, but he’s the first to admit he wasn’t taking the class seriously at first,” said Petro. “He didn’t turn in assignments, kept changing his business idea, and wasn’t really engaged.” 

Everything shifted when Roy conceptualized a product that hit close to home: a protective toe cap to prolong the life of wrestling shoes. As a wrestler, he had experienced the problem firsthand. Suddenly, the work felt real. 

“From that moment on, he was completely locked in,” said Petro. “He poured his energy into developing a solid pitch, and you could see the shift in his focus and confidence. He went deep into the competition and was even a runner-up for NFTE's National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.”

Roy’s story is just one of many. For students who may not always thrive in traditional educational environments, entrepreneurship can be a game-changer. It meets them where they are, taps into their lived experiences, and helps them turn those experiences into something powerful.

The future isn’t waiting — why should you? 

If there’s one thing these trends clarify, it’s this: the world is rapidly changing,  and young people are already at the forefront of that change. 

Whether you want to start a business, make a positive impact in your community, or build a fulfilling life, the entrepreneurial mindset can help you get there. You don’t need to have everything figured out initially. You just need the tools, confidence, and a chance to start.

So, what’s your idea? What problem do you want to solve? What future do you want to create?

Begin thinking like an entrepreneur and take control of your future.

Learn more: Join a movement of young entrepreneurs

Want to explore entrepreneurship’s power to shape your future? Visit www.nfte.com to learn more about the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), access free resources, and get involved.

This fall, don’t miss your chance to be part of the World Series of Innovation (WSI) — NFTE’s global online challenge inviting young people ages 5–24 to tackle some of the world’s biggest issues and pitch bold business solutions. You’ll build skills, compete for cash prizes, and join a global community of changemakers.