Are you hearing the call of working and living abroad? It might be a smart career move if you want to be an entrepreneur.
I was a speaker at an event last Saturday in Dublin for the EXATEC community. The room was full of bright minds; many of them leading research on their fields; others bringing to life their business ideas or pursuing their passion to change the world. The one thing all of us shared was the fact that we boldly moved away from our homes to start over in a foreign land: a new life away from the support of our friends and families.
Living and working abroad is one of the most rewarding personal and professional experiences anyone can have.
It is challenging and it can be lonely but living and working abroad is one of the most rewarding personal and professional experiences anyone can have. I believe it molds a person to conquer anything they choose to. It makes you resilient.
Working in another country also has multiple proven benefits for those who want to start their own business ventures or if you are looking to progress quickly on your career. From your ability to adapt to boosting your potential to be more creative, here’s why working abroad makes you a better entrepreneur.
I believe it molds a person to conquer anything they choose to. It makes you resilient.
You become a more complex problem solver. When you go abroad, you’re surrounded by new experiences and your brain wants to adapt as quickly as possible. Try to cross a street in Vietnam and you will know what I am talking about! According to research from INSEAD, students in international MBA programs who sought out new cultural experiences were more likely to have “integratively complex” thinking patterns. The head researcher explains that people who have experience internationally are not only better problem solvers, but that they are more likely to create new businesses and products.
You develop valuable language skills. When you work abroad, don’t hang out with other expats! Immerse yourself in the culture and learn the language. Bilingualism is associated with being a top performer and it can also make you smarter. Over 31% of executives speak two languages, and another 20 percent speak three languages. There are also studies that show that bilingualism makes you better at solving complex problems.
You build confidence. It’s not easy to leave everything that you’ve known behind and do something completely new. It’s a big undertaking and it’s one that deserves a pat on the back. By looking for opportunities to work abroad, you build your confidence and become a better leader. Tackling the challenges of entrepreneurship are a lot easier when you know you’ve successfully navigated a cross-cultural move. The confidence you build working abroad can help you become a better entrepreneur.
You foster your creativity. By setting out on a new adventure, you experience things that you never dreamed possible, some tough and some wonderful. You get exposure to new ideas and myriads of new ways of solving problems. Your brain re-wires, it kicks into high gear and starts trying to find patterns that can make you a more creative thinker. A study from the University of Florida compared three groups in their performance on creative problem solving tasks. The students who had studied abroad performed better than those who were planning to study abroad and those that had no plans. Living abroad had a direct correlation to being able to adapt to challenges and think creatively, which is essential for entrepreneurial success.
You get exposure to new ideas and myriads of new ways of solving problems.
You can develop a network for global contacts. We live in a connected world. Although it’s easier than ever to reach out and connect with someone half a world away via Skype, there’s something special about building relationships in person. When you work abroad, you can make connections with people who may become lifelong friends, integral parts of your business or both. By working in another country you can expand your network and create stronger connections that you can leverage as you grow your business.
You can make connections with people who may become lifelong friends, integral parts of your business or both.
Traveling is inspiring, but staying longer and working abroad can increase and improve skills that directly correlate to your success as an entrepreneur. Look for opportunities to expand your horizons and have fun along the way!