“It takes a special type of person to diverge from the norm and venture off on their own.”
Peace Corps Volunteers innately have a lot of the qualities required to be successful entrepreneurs and leaders. That’s why it’s no surprise to see returned Volunteers behind the helm of organizations small and large. From the infamous example of Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, to smaller organizations that I’ve had the pleasure of working with such as Chilombo Global Career Services, returned Peace Corps Volunteers make for great business leaders.
Below are some of the characteristics inherent to the success of both Peace Corps Volunteers and founders.
Great listener. It’s important to start both a business and any Peace Corps project based on a real need in the community. Founders need to be able to listen to and understand their audience.
Risk-taking ability. Joining the Peace Corps and taking two years off of earning a salary is still a fairly nontraditional path. It requires confidence in our ability to make up the “lost” earning time and faith that the skills we gain will be worth the return on the investment of our time. Starting a new business is riskier than getting a stable job with a guaranteed paycheck. It takes confidence, risk tolerance, and ideally, a safety net or a back up plan.
Passion. Your business needs to be based on something other than making money -- and no one joins the Peace Corps for the cash. If you’re not starting your venture because it’s something you’re truly passionate about, you likely won’t get very far.
Self-starter. Most Peace Corps Volunteers are responsible for your own days and activities. Likewise, as a founder, no one is going to tell you what to do. You’re the boss now. You need to find the motivation and drive from within to persist -- no one is going to be more passionate about your business than you.
An open mind. Peace Corps Volunteers need to enter their host country eager to learn about and respect the local culture and traditions. As a founder, you also need to be open to the opportunities around you -- or you’ll miss them.
Flexibility. Peace Corps Volunteers are constantly adapting to the circumstances and rolling with the inevitable punches. As a business owner, you’ll need to do the same thing. You have to be flexible and nimble to succeed.
Grit. Peace Corps service and starting a business are challenging. You have to go through iterations of trial and error. You have to overcome setbacks and failures to emerge with an effective business model.
Of course, not every Volunteer has all seven qualities -- nor does every entrepreneur. And not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur. It takes a special type of person to diverge from the norm and venture off on their own. And it takes much more than inherent abilities and talent to become an entrepreneur -- it often takes resources, connections, and guidance that not everyone is able to access.
If you’re a returned Peace Corps Volunteer with an organization or a side hustle (or you’re thinking about starting one), you can join my entrepreneur community on Slack for free here.
About the author:
Tasha Prados is the founder and CEO of Duraca Strategic, where she helps purpose-driven organizations maximize their impact through branding, business, and marketing strategy consulting. Tasha has 10 years of project management and communications experience with the world's leading brands, agencies, and organizations. Tasha has worked with U.S. and E.U. government agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and hundreds of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits. Prados is also a freelance writer, digital nomad, and returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Peru 2011–13, and was featured on the National Peace Corps Association’s inaugural 40 Under 40 list. Follow her on Instagram @duraca.strategic for business tips, or @t.prad for travel fun.
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