It used to be that a person could go to college, get a degree, find a decent paying job and, with that job, have some level of certainty and security. The job might also provide enough income for them to pay off their student loans in a decent amount of time. To get a promotion or a raise, you’d get another degree and expand your expertise. Companies would appreciate it and reciprocate some level of loyalty.

More recently, however, it has become more and more apparent that the days of relying on a company for financial security are over.

Technology is advancing at such a rapid pace that we’re now competing in a global work force instead of a local work force. The ever increasing conversations of “recession”, have revealed a growing unemployment rate, increased competition amongst those seeking new employment and the realization of many that their existing skill set is out-dated. Those who have worked for the same company for 10 or 15 years and were given laid-off are eager to learn and adapt to ensure their financial future.

So, it’s no surprise that the demand for entrepreneurial education and skill development is on the rise. The individuals who have woken up to the fact that self-reliance is the motto of the 21st century are developing their entrepreneurial skills, putting together business plans, starting businesses and creating opportunities for themselves.

Programs are popping up designed to teach former employees how to advance into the world of entrepreneurialism. A recent blog post by Adam O’Daniel of the Charlotte Business Journal, detailed his experience watching the participants in the FastTrac New Ventures Program, sponsored by the North Carolina governor’s job recovery initiative and The Kauffman Foundation, a celebrated entrepreneur’s group out of Kansas City. As Adam describes it, ” …regardless of their business acumen, all of them (the participants) displayed a fearless commitment to take a risk and give business ownership a fighting chance…They may have experienced failure or job loss in the past, but they refused to sit on the couch and give up.”

For individuals who possess drive and determination, and yes, who refuse to sit on the couch and give up, becoming an entrepreneur can help them gain the self-reliance and financial rewards they desire.

See the full blog post on the Charlotte Business Journal here.