When a seed is sown in the soil, what it will transform into will depend upon various factors in the surroundings like the availability of water, nutrients in the soil, and weather conditions. With the right environment, the seed will grow to its full potential and bear fruits as intended.

Like the seed, when the foetus becomes viable, its genetic coding allows it to eventually transform into a complete human. However, it is the brain that processes all the information and differentiates one human from another.

The two important factors that play a defining role in shaping a child’s personality are family and community. When a child is part of a healthy family and community, it shapes his self-image, thoughts, beliefs, actions, and eventually his reality.

A positive sense of self is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child and helps them develop into happy, productive people. — Parent.com

An individual’s persona is defined by his experiences which have been stored in the brain. How he chooses to interpret these experiences and these connections, shapes his perception of the world. Hence, we can have two individuals who are from the same environment, yet are unique in their own right.

The importance of a healthy community cannot be stressed enough; one where positive beliefs and healthy cultural practices are a way of life, one that does not spread toxicity, hatred, and practices that do not uplift humanity and believe in working together towards the greater good of the society.

Today, while you do have the choice of changing communities and with that your environment, it is also possible to transform yourself or your families — courtesy of an interconnected world through technology and books.

This may sound like a utopian world, but accomplishing even 10% of it or building your own community with these values are practical steps.

Leaders too can create communities to nurture specific qualities to achieve well-intended outcomes such as a community that nurtures entrepreneurial minds, supports ideas, and provides a cushion as a failsafe — something that we see in Silicon Valley today. Communities, thus formed with a strong agenda, will remain strong as the urge to fulfill individuals’ aspirations will be less outside this community. The intentions of such a community have to be based more on selfless rather than self-centeredness.

Communities, thus formed with a strong agenda, will remain strong as the urge to fulfill individuals’ aspirations will be less outside this community.

Leaders of the community should constantly check if the elements for sustaining the community are in proper proportion and evolve with the changes. This can be done through regular events, meetups, celebrations, transparency of information, and the likes. Think of how religions have survived the test of time; the religious books, stories fostering faith, regular celebrations, and practices have kept a check on outcasts. Religions have also faced the wrath of time. The ones that failed to evolve with change, have been forgotten and have made way for new reforms.

India is on the brink of being a superpower, the main reason being, it has a large youth population. In the youth, India sees new-age entrepreneurs, who through innovations and policy execution can find solutions for challenges like climate change, unemployment, economic growth and development.

To harness the dividend of this youth demography, communites with an entrepreneurial potential need to be tapped, political leaders and influencers must stand tall to build communities that promote entreprises focussing on wealth creation for all. The former could be an immediate step and necessary action must be initiated to unleash the hidden potential.

In the youth, India sees new-age entrepreneurs, who through innovations and policy execution can find solutions for challenges like climate change, unemployment, economic growth and development.

Take for example, Tier 2 cities like Mangaluru, which have 150+ IT companies. The recent acquisition of a homegrown company by the Japanese for 800+ cr goes to prove that the ecosystem exists; what is missing is the education that nurtures entrepreneurial mindset and leadership qualities to tap the next-gen to become entrepreneurs, leaders, and visionaries!

We are in need of a community where mentors and successful entrepreneurs are invested in spending time with next-gen entrepreneurs and business disciplines as well as practices are made available to the young impressionable minds from the school level itself. This will help tier 2 cities like Mangaluru and many other similar cities across India to contribute to India’s progress towards a 5 trillion dollar economy.