Broadening the entrepreneurial mindset to meet sustainable goals – Introducing the 4-foci mindset

Abstract

In the field of entrepreneurship education, the subject matter has changed from a focus on venture creation to one that encourages the development of broader skills and attitudes that prompt students to live in an entrepreneurial way. The emphasis on an ‘entrepreneurial mindset’ (EM) is increasing. However, global issues, such as climate change and the mental health crisis, require a transformation in the way we think and act. Our external environment is increasingly seen as a manifestation of deeply held beliefs, values, attitudes, and perceptions of the world—the inner dimensions of sustainability. Thus, we must reflect on individual values, increase inner capacities, and achieve sustainable life skills prior to creating more sustainable ventures and futures-an overlooked perspective in the current definition of EM. This paper introduces a design perspective and the 4-Foci Mindset, which includes both an outer focus aimed at sustainable value creation and connections with others and with nature, as well as an inward orientation that achieves inner capacities related to ‘being’. The paper presents the implementation and evaluation of the 4-Foci Mindset framework in an educational setting, concentrating on the inner focus as the most radical new perspective in education. The results reveal the clear necessity and value of addressing ‘the inner focus’.