STYLISH WASTE SORTING: FROM PROBLEM TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Entrepreneurship is not always about having a clear dream of becoming self-employed. Sometimes, it arises as a response to a problem that needs solving. This was the case for Tenna Christiansen, founder of ReCollector. Driven by a burning desire to improve waste sorting, she founded the company ReCollector, and her journey shows that innovation often stems from everyday challenges.

A different approach to entrepreneurship

As an anthropologist, Tenna has a unique approach to entrepreneurship. She applies anthropological methods to understand people's waste habits and frustrations with existing waste sorting solutions. This led to the development of ReCollector, a stylish and user-friendly waste sorting solution that considers people's habits and addresses the everyday frustrations of waste management.

6 TIPS FOR BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR

Dreaming of starting your own business? Here are Tenna's tips for those aspiring to become entrepreneurs!

1) Faith, Hope, and Perseverance

In the early stages of ReCollector, this became my personal mantra and formed the cornerstones of my entrepreneurial journey. Believing in the idea's potential sparked the flame and gave me the courage to take the first step. The hope for success kept me moving forward, even through challenging times, and perseverance was the key to staying on course despite obstacles.

2) Be Passionate About What You Do

To succeed as an entrepreneur, it's essential to be passionate about your work. As an entrepreneur, it's not always about the hourly wage, and it's the joy of pursuing your dream or passion that drives you forward.

3) Be Flexible and Ready to Adapt

The path from dreams to reality can be unpredictable. Be willing to pivot and adjust your plans, and sometimes you need to "kill your darlings" to achieve success.

4) Stick to Your Core Values

It's crucial to hold on to your core values when facing challenges. For Tenna, one of the most important values is integrity; we must act with integrity in everything we do!

Identify the areas where you're unwilling to compromise, even if the road is tough. For ReCollector, this meant being patient in sourcing recycled plastic, even though it required harder work and a more time-consuming process (read more here).

"It's important to me personally that we produce as responsibly as possible."

By identifying your core values early in the entrepreneurial process, you can stay focused, especially when things move quickly, helping you achieve your long-term goals.

5) Don’t Be Afraid to Fail

In fact, you will fail, because mistakes are a natural and productive part of the entrepreneurial journey. Some of the most innovative solutions have come from failures.

"You should always do your best, but also remember that everything is a test."

See your mistakes as learning opportunities rather than failures.

6) Network, Network, Network

You never know when a casual conversation or a new connection might open the door to exciting opportunities. But business networks aren’t necessarily the most important. A strong personal network of friends, family, and supportive people can be invaluable during your entrepreneurial journey and critical to your success and well-being as an entrepreneur.

“For me, it has been especially important to have good people around me and a strong personal network of friends and family.”

Entrepreneurship is a journey filled with challenges, opportunities, growth, and innovation. Identify your core values, build a strong network, be flexible and persistent to achieve success. By remembering these principles and letting passion drive you, you'll be well-equipped to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams.

Best of luck from Tenna and ReCollector!