Bella Randle is flourishing in every sense of the word - since graduating from the entrepreneurship program at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (where she led the flagship business, The Leaning Eagle Coffee Bar), Bella has entered into an Entrepreneurship and Innovation major at West Virginia University and has woven her love of entrepreneurship with her love of theater through constantly seeking opportunity.

In this conversation, we explore how a firm foundation in the entrepreneurial mindset through a hands-on approach can set us for everything life can throw our way.

Some primary takeaways from our conversation:

1. Creativity is a key part of the entrepreneurial mindset

2. There is no "solo" part of entrepreneurship - it takes a team and it takes communication

3. Problem solving is a key skill and shows up everywhere

4. We need freedom, resources, and autonomy (but not too much) to flourish

5. Have a plan but hold it loosely

Understanding the true difference between cooperation and collaboration is key to getting to the heart of the transformative power of working together toward a shared goal. When we embrace true collaboration, we bring about critical thinking, adaptability, and innovation--skills that are essential for an entrepreneurial mindset.

Cooperation is often about individuals working side by side, independently, toward a shared goal, while collaboration is about individuals or groups working together in a deeply integrated way, co-creating solutions.

Let's move FROM cooperation TO collaboration!

We wouldn't plant seeds in a garden without ensuring the proper nutrients, water, and sun, so why would we attempt to plant the seeds of the entrepreneurial mindset in our students (and ourselves) without first ensuring we have the three necessary components?

We need to make sure that we have proper FREEDOM, AUTONOMY, and RESOURCES (but not to much of any of these) in order to bring about true flourishing for the entrepreneurial mindset.