Entrepreneurship – The Key to the Future?

Being the world’s super-powered country surely is a cool thing! I’d like to believe that beneath all the political talks of sugar-coated development goals, all countries basically have the same goal: trying to outdo each other and coming up top in this cutting-throat game. It’s a game that has been played even during the Biblical Old Testament period, but I want us today to shed a light to what has happened along this past century, and eventually to our current time with the future so uncertain in hindsight.

Surely we do remember the past feud between the US and Japan, evidenced with the Second World War’s Pearl Harbor horrifically tragic happening. I’m sure there must be a lot more than that – I only cited the most popular one ‘cause they even made a movie out of it! Japan, being the most technologically ambitious country in East Asia at the time, was ready to confront the US who undisputedly had the crown.

Japan came off as surprising because the other prominent players in both world wars are western-oriented. It was truly remarkable. However, today’s scene has changed in such an abrupt and dramatic fashion. China and South Korea have unexpectedly burst in and stolen the attention. While Japan is still growing strong, she isn’t quite the diva anymore. Who’s considered the US’s number one contender? China. What is the frenzied technological battle of the century? Apple from the US vs. Samsung from South Korea.

So, what changed? What is the kryptonite to Japan’s once super-powered state in Asia?

This writer came across an article in the International New York Times titled “Start-up spirit in a Japan craving rejuvenation”, by Martin Fackler. Pretty amazing piece of an art. I found the answer that I needed: entrepreneurship. The article described that Japan has for sometime experienced a “long malaise” of economy. I wasn’t aware of the fact other than it has been quite stagnant and quiet these days – not necessarily a good thing.

Japan has long depended on its standard of corporate gray suits. If you have a stable job, nice work environment, and ability to work wearing formal work clothes, you are considered successful. This is one of the reasons why entrepreneurship is not really encouraged. Hence, the lack of innovation to keep up with what Samsung and Apple do.

Thank God globalization comes through. A group of open-minded Japanese youths is now ready to change the stigma. Although, this is only the beginning of the battle between a long-held mindset and the aggressive wave of Internet revolution – entrepreneurs are viewed as too speculative in the money game with no tangible products, as they make most use of the Internet. Only time will tell the continuation of this tale.

What about Indonesia, our dear work-in-progress and increasingly democratic country?

The condition in Indonesia is often compared to that of the States in the 1950s, where democracy is still on a thin ice but the development is gradually better. Entrepreneurship had only gained appreciation in the early 2000s, right after the huge political reform in 1998 – our second president was forced to resign after 32 years of reigning! It was a dark time for free speech. The press was forced to conform to whatever the government wanted. Meanwhile, the government put pressure – to the point of homicide – to those who acted against the mainstream.

Entrepreneurship is deeply connected to the rise of democracy. Then, after a decade of the reform, the fruit finally has shown. BBC World's survey has revealed that Indonesia is the best place for entrepreneurship – its most suitable soil with the perfect nutrients, sunlight, and water supply. The US, Canada, India and Australia followed close behind. The survey was based on whether innovation is valued or not, and citizens’ appreciation for start-up businesses.

What does that mean?

Data has shown that a country that values innovation – the example being entrepreneurship – goes far in its development.

It’s a beginning for Indonesia. And I’ll be sitting here, waving my fist, and shouting “Go, INA!” - or not... Maybe I'll join the wave of young entrepreneurs. Who knows? A girl can dream, right?