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                                                      I am

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                                                      I am

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I am an experimenter
I am not afraid
I am a trailblazer
I am resourceful
I am eager for more
I am a problem-solver
I am resilient
I am endless opportunity
I am never giving up
I am exceptional
I am unlimited potential
I am ready

I am an                                e n t r e p r e n e u r

Written by: Shirley Abbelard

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                        Occupational therapists as entrepreneurs 

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                        Occupational therapists as entrepreneurs 

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What is an entrepreneur?
Entrepreneurship is the process of creating and operating a business, while assuming all risks (Baron, 2004, as cited in Anderson & Nelson, 2011). Those who begin the pursuit of entrepreneurship are known as entrepreneurs (Baron, 2004, as cited in Anderson & Nelson, 2011). Occupational therapists (OTs) are excellent entrepreneurs because of their passion for innovation.  In order to be an entrepreneur, one must create solutions to current problems. The foundation of the OT profession is to problem-solve and implement creative interventions to help clients perform functional tasks of everyday living (Anderson & Nelson, 2011). Entrepreneurs are individuals who are constantly paying attention to the world around them, looking for ways to create new opportunities. Occupational therapist have developed keen observation and problem-solving skills, two skills that give us OTs an advantage at being entrepreneurs.

This year, Bay Path University occupational therapy students had the honor of attending the 2019 Grinspoon & Garvey Young Entrepreneurship Initiative Conference in Springfield, Massachusetts. I participated in a wide variety of events for emerging entrepreneurs that focused on how to cultivate new business ideas, effective strategies for networking, and entrepreneurial advice from 3 female founders, pictured below from left to right: Sheilla Coon, Melissa Pacluli, Jada Freda

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Key Points from the 2019 Grinspoon & Garvey Young Entrepreneurship Initiative Conference include:
1. Market research is essential - it is important to know your target audience.
2. Always be curious and observant - ideas can come from anywhere - be observant of the world around you.
3. Don't be afraid to ask for help - you're not the only entrepreneur out there.
4. Talk to individuals from all different disciplines and walks of life in order to expand your mind.
5. Share any ideas with others to get opinions and better 'fine tune' your product.
6. There is no need to wait forever for the perfect opportunity to become an entrepreneur - the time is now!
7. There are many opportunities for mentorship through mentorship programs such as Women Innovators and Trailblazers or Valley Venture Mentors .
8. Compete for grant competitions such as the Drapers Competition that is hosted annually by Smith's College.
9.  Brainstorm, brainstorm, brainstorm - don't stay stuck on one idea, even if you feel like it may be the best idea out there.
10. Always remember TechSpring's 5 steps of entrepreneurship, pictured below:

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                                              gOTechniques 

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                                              gOTechniques 

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Since the Grinspoon Entrepreneurship Conference, I have been inspired to create a mobile healthcare application. Checkout the business pitch below:

"With all the technology and social media platforms that currently exist, it’s hard to believe that occupational therapists run into obstacles when trying to communicate. Today I’ll be introducing you to gOTechniques, a mobile phone application that connects occupational therapists with other occupational therapists. You may have not heard of this profession and that’s okay, because occupational therapy is a new and emerging profession - it’s only been around for about 100 years. In the United States alone, there are over 100,000 employed occupational therapists and this number is growing rapidly, given the growing rate of occupational therapy programs nationally. As of 2019, there are nearly 200 master’s level occupational therapy programs, each program containing anywhere from 30-100 students. With this growing rate of entry-level OTs, where do they new OT professionals go to for support with intervention ideas and techniques? Currently, they may turn to either turn to the internet or books. This is where gOTechinques comes in. With gOTechniques, licensed OTs can have an app in the palm of their hands that helps connect them with other OTs. Available on both the Apple and Andriod app store, all registered and licensed OTs can have access to gOTechniques to discuss all things OT-related."

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Anderson, K. M., & Nelson, D. L. (2011). The Issue Is—Wanted: Entrepreneurs in occupational therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65, 221–228. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2011.001628