Mat From Chiggy's Skateboarding Teaches Entrepreneurism

Entrepreneurs can be truly inspirational, as they possess something few others do. As such, if you leave high school in Australia with a career plan to become one yourself, you need a passion that burns deep inside to succeed. Oz is a rich breeding ground for people of this ilk, and today, we take a look at one of the most inspirational - Mat Chigwidden of Chiggy's Skateboarding fame.

He's the epitome of entrepreneurial success and someone who turned his love for skateboarding into a thriving business that majorly contributes to society. Through Wandr, Mat Chigwidden teaches entrepreneurism to our students, but when he's not doing that, he's showing kids across Queensland how to do Ollies and Kickflips!

Mat's popular online, too, with @chiggysskateboarding having 17k+ followers and the company's Facebook page boasting another 4k. Through sheer determination and a will to succeed, this impressive entrepreneur now runs a business that offers skateboarding lessons, sells skateboarding equipment, and regularly sponsors national and local community events.

In this article, we look at what it means to be an entrepreneur and offer some excellent insight for young Australians wanting to follow the same path as Mat, who's shown resilience and passion to overcome many challenges and triumph.

So, Is Your Career Plan to Become a Young Entrepreneur?

If a careers counsellor or careers quiz has highlighted you as a potential future entrepreneurial star in Australia, you're part of a select club of innovators. Starting your own business out of high school is a bold move, and no mistake; it takes a unique mindset to achieve.

You might have a ground-breaking business idea already, but you’ll need more than that. The best piece of career advice we can give you in this sphere is to be sure that you have both the mettle and passion for the task ahead. You'll need resilience and confidence in equal measure when pursuing your vision.

The skills essential to this kind of work include:

• Adaptability - changing your strategy in the ever-changing business world is vital.
• Financial Management - you’ll need a firm grip on financial disciplines like budgeting, forecasting, and investment strategies.
• Leadership - the ability to motivate and inspire a team is key.
• Networking - to launch a successful enterprise, you must be able to build and maintain strong relationships with peers, customers, investors and customers.
• Problem-solving - problems with your strategy will occur, no matter how good your planning is, so being able to overcome them is vital.
• Sales & Marketing - most businesses involve selling products or services, meaning skills in marketing and sales are essential.
  

Unlike 9-5 jobs where most things are done for you, an entrepreneurial career plan very much involves going it alone and being driven by your purpose and passion. Are you willing to take that step and commit to a life with risk but also extraordinary potential?

The Passion Behind Mat Chigwidden's Work

Mat's own personal passion stems from his love of halfpipes, grinds, nollies and all things skateboarding, sure. However, it’s his desire to help the youth of Australia that has led him to hit the heights he has. Here’s a thought or two from the great man himself.

“What motivated you to begin mentoring kids in the way you do?”

I became motivated to mentor kids when I started teaching kids how to ride a skateboard as I realised there are a lot of children out there who needed this much like myself when I was a kid. I want to be able to mentor kids so that they feel confident and comfortable so that they can step out and aim for the goals that they dream about.

“What resources or tools have you found invaluable in facilitating non traditional learning?”

Being able to utilise our indoor skatepark, minibus and network.

“In what ways do you believe non-traditional education challenges or complements the current educational options?”

That's a good question. The kids in non-traditional learning are given opportunities they just wouldn't get in school in terms of dealing with real-life problems, unique work experience, and the opportunities to work towards their dreams. They get a lot more 1-to-1 mentoring, too.

"What career support and opportunities were you offered when you were Young?"

I was offered opportunities to go on skate trips, compete in competitions, receive sponsorships, and have a vert ramp and street course built in my backyard for three months, which ended up turning into ten years thanks to Billabong.

"What was your education journey from high school to today? How did it shape you?"

I dropped out of high school before I finished, and I went straight into the workforce and met a lot of cool mentors that taught me taught me a lot and got me to where I am today. When I look back, I realize that all the different jobs I had happened for a reason as there were skills that I learnt with them that I still use today to run my own business.

"What has been the most rewarding part of Unfollowing the herd and finding your own way?"

Being able to bring happiness to kids every single day and being paid to do what I love.

"Thanks for your time, Chiggy. What is your message to the young kids you mentor and beyond?"

Follow your dreams and never give up!

Mat's experience and drive to help the next generation place him perfectly to do important work as a careers counsellor and mentor. As such, when you start using the Wandr platform, you get access to wonderful career advice from him (and many top industry leaders like him) and insight that you simply wouldn't get anywhere else.

Get the Career Clarity Every High School Leaver Needs With Wandr

Careers quiz results are one thing, but actually working in the roles they point towards is another thing entirely. The Wandr learning platform gives you a relaxed space in which to make those important career choices you need to make. Packed with video-based courses delivered by industry experts, you get to try a wide range of professions for size.

The decisions you have to make about your professional future are crucial, so you don’t want to leave anything to chance. Our video-based, on-demand courses take all the uncertainty away and offer the best kind of career advice - from people who've been there, done it and bought the T-shirt!

Our training lets you try out roles in sectors that include:

• Graphic Design, Animation & FX
• Motion Graphs & Landscape Photography
• Social Media Influencing & Branding
• Animal Health & Well-being
• Business Management
• Fitness & Nutrition
• Tech & Cyber Security
• Beauty & Makeup
• Aged Care Work

While a career counsellor can give you a rough idea of what to do after high school, our courses give you laser-targeted information about the specifics of each role, letting you see what day-to-day life in the job is like. They're available for an affordable monthly cost and can be engaged with at your own pace.

Find Your Way With the Wandr Learning Platform.

The decisions you make when leaving high are too important to base on a hunch, which is why the Wandr platform is so popular. It was created to give young Australians the information they need to choose the right career paths. Complemented by 1-to-1 expert mentoring, you can hone in on your true calling and avoid spending years training for an ill-fitting job.

We totally understand how difficult it is to find the right career path when coming to the end of high school, and the Wandr team is here to take the stress out of the situation. Should you wish to learn more, visit Wandr.au today and download our FREE Wandr Guide.

Alternatively, if you'd prefer to have a relaxed chat with our team, just call 1300 611 404 or book a complimentary career call here. Alternatively, email support@wandr.au, and we'll get back to you as quickly as possible.