The most important aspect of entrepreneurship is attitude, said Dr S. Gurushankar, Vice-Chairman, Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre, Madurai.

Delivering a lecture on entrepreneurship development at a Business Line Club meeting of the Department of Management Studies, Fatima College, here on Monday, he said all children have the qualities of entrepreneurship in them. As they grow, however, they are conditioned to think — like an elephant chained to a stone to believe that it cannot break from it — that acts of entrepreneurship are beyond their means and look for a secured settlement in life.

Taking the example of the late Dhirubhai Ambani, Dr Gurushankar said that whatever be the status of a person, attitude coupled with knowledge and skill will enable the person to emerge as an entrepreneur.

The event was sponsored by Tata Photon.

Dr Gurushankar said that an entrepreneur would see a market opportunity in every problem. He will not resign to fate but will work towards the goal with perseverance and self-belief until he succeeds in fulfilling the aspiration. Ambani, though working in the Licence Raj days, underscores the strength of determination to succeed, he said.

Quoting the late G. Venkataswamy of Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, Dr Gurushankar said that age is not a deterrent to become an entrepreneur.

With the aim of taking low-cost eye care to the masses, Venkataswamy developed a successful model after retiring from government service. It has been an envisioned social entrepreneurship, based not on monetary profit but service, he pointed out.

All dreams can come through if the person has the courage to pursue them, working hard relentlessly towards achieving the goal, said Dr Gurushankar. The attributes necessary are an interest, self-confidence, motivation, research and planning in execution to translate dreams into action. Problems and criticisms need to be viewed as part of the learning process. One may not be able to change the direction of the wind but one can surely learn to adjust and sail, he said.

Emerging as an entrepreneur in a Licence Raj is different from emerging as an entrepreneur in a liberalised scenario. Opportunities are abound now and one need to tap them, never taking ‘no' as an answer, Dr Gurushankar added.

Mr T. Murali, Regional General Manager, The Hindu , Madurai, explained the club activities. Dr P. Uma, Head, Department of Master of Business Administration, gave the presidential address.

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