Can I become an entrepreneur? Why theory alone is not enough

Over 20 years ago, I asked myself this question: As a civil servant, am I even suited to become an entrepreneur? Today, after more than 25 years of entrepreneurship, over 40 own start-ups, and more than 3,000 projects supported, I know the answer. And I do not know it from books – but from practical experience.

Perhaps you are asking yourself the same question. You are employed or a civil servant, have an idea – and are unsure whether you are really capable of doing it. This article shows you what entrepreneurship truly means, why a business administration degree alone does not make you an entrepreneur, and which steps will actually move you forward.

Contents

1. What universities teach you about entrepreneurship – and what they do not
2. Why business administration knowledge is not enough
3. The swimming principle: How you really become an entrepreneur
4. What you really need to learn as an entrepreneur
5. Your first concrete steps
6. When is larger-scale financing worthwhile?
7. Conclusion

What universities teach you about entrepreneurship – and what they do not

Some time ago, I sat together with several professors who openly admitted: Many university curricula are outdated. They are developed by one to three professors – and as long as these professors remain in office, the curriculum usually stays unchanged.

The result: You study modules, take exams and earn points – for what the examination board considers correct. However, scoring 100 points in theory does not mean you are able to run a business.

The crucial question: If you score 100 points in business administration – does that mean you are 100% able to found, run and develop a company?

The honest answer: No. And this is not a criticism of the education – it is simply a different skill set.

Why business administration knowledge is not enough

It is like swimming. You can theoretically know everything about swimming techniques, disciplines and rules – but until you jump into the water, you cannot swim.

It is the same with entrepreneurship. Theoretical knowledge of tax law, commercial law, legal forms or data protection is certainly useful and necessary. But it does not make you an entrepreneur.

On the other hand, there are countless successful entrepreneurs without a university degree. What they have is experience – the ability to act in reality, make mistakes, learn from them and keep going.

Important: You do not learn entrepreneurship from a professor who has never been an entrepreneur themselves. You learn it through context – through doing.

The swimming principle: How you really become an entrepreneur

Imagine the economy as a large swimming pool. Your task is to jump in – not only once you have understood everything in theory, but now, with the knowledge you already have.

This does not mean risking everything blindly. You can start at the edge, hold on, begin with armbands – that is, with minimal capital investment, small projects, and a good coach or advisor by your side.

What counts is practical experience: How do I get from point X to point Y? How do I solve a target group’s problem in such a way that people are willing to pay for it – whether 10, 50, 100 or 1,000 euros?

Precisely this – connecting problem and solution, service and willingness to pay – is the core of entrepreneurship. And it can be learned. Not in theory, but in practice.

What you really need to learn as an entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship follows the law of cause and effect. You do something – and an effect occurs. Finding out which causes produce which effects is difficult to learn in theory. It comes through iterative trial and error – like a golfer who approaches the hole stroke by stroke.

In practice, this means learning and doing these things in the right order:

Developing and testing ideas – What does the market really want? What are the real problems of your target group?

Analyse users and competitors – Who are your potential customers? What do competitors offer, and where are the gaps?

Check willingness to pay – Is anyone truly willing to pay for your solution? At what price?

Carry out a financial assessment – What are the costs of market entry, product development, and investments? Is the business model truly viable?

Act in the correct order – Many founders do not fail because of their idea, but because they take the right steps in the wrong order.

Your first concrete steps

You do not have to develop an MVP, build an app, or programme a portal straight away. The simplest and quickest way to start a business is often much more straightforward:

Step 1 – Forget pure theory. No one has learned to swim from a book. No entrepreneur has become successful through theory alone.

Step 2 – Start with a mini-project. Set yourself a starting capital of 100 euros. Try to turn it into 200 euros. If you can turn 1 euro into 2, you will also be able to turn 10,000 euros into 100,000 euros.

Step 3 – Become an intermediary or service provider. You do not have to invent anything. Bring existing products or services to a customer. Start where your strengths and your network lie.

Step 4 – Get support. A coach, mentor or consultant who is an entrepreneur themselves and knows the way is not a luxury – they are the fastest way to avoid mistakes and to learn the correct order of steps.

The first step is the hardest – but also the most important. The second, third and fourth steps will be much easier afterwards.

When is larger-scale financing worthwhile?

Only once you have shown that you can develop profitable projects from small ventures does it make sense to take on larger amounts of capital. There is no point borrowing 100,000 euros if you do not yet know how to create value from 1,000 euros.

But when you do have the big idea – the project for which it is worth investing 50,000, 100,000 or 200,000 euros – that is the time to seek professional support. Programmes such as the KfW ERP Start-up Loan are designed for exactly this purpose.

And this is exactly where we come in: translating your idea into figures and a business plan so that bankers understand why your project will work – and provide you with the capital you need.

👉 Book a free initial consultation now

Conclusion: Anyone can become an entrepreneur – but not through theory alone

Entrepreneurship is not a question of qualifications, background or title. It is a question of experience, sequence, and the courage to take the plunge.

Whether you are currently employed, a civil servant, a student or already self-employed – the most important step is the first one. Start small, learn by doing, and build from there.

And when you are ready to think bigger and need capital: we are here.

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