The survey, conducted by OnePoll in collaboration with Thinkific ahead of Amplify 2022, a virtual summit for digital entrepreneurs, revealed unique insights on people’s self-confidence when it comes to launching a business:
• More than half of Americans have a business idea they think would impress investors on Shark Tank, according to new research.
• A survey of 2,000 Americans found that 59% have considered quitting their current job to launch their own business.
• Nearly half of respondents admitted to feeling unmotivated by their current job (48%), and three in four are constantly looking for ways to feel more inspired by what they do every day (74%).
• Sixty percent of Americans already have a side hustle or are putting serious thought into launching one.
• It found that two-thirds of respondents expect they would be successful entrepreneurs.
• When asked what stops them from taking the leap, a third (32%) pointed to fear of failure, while 37% said it was because they lacked the financial means.
• Online content creation is the most popular type of business that people aspire to launch (51%), beating out selling products online (49%), providing services online (49%) or in-person (46%), and opening a brick and mortar store (39%).
• More than half of those surveyed said they’ve learned most of what they know online (54%). One in five Americans saying they learned their top skill from online learning/courses (18%), versus only 14% who say they learned it in school.
• Two-thirds of respondents have been more motivated to seek out online learning opportunities since the pandemic began because it allows more flexible timing (43%), is more accessible (38%) and they have the ability to go at their own pace (37%).
• Most Americans say they have a skill that can help them make money (71%) and that people would pay them to teach (70%).
• As many as three in five Americans (60%) have considered teaching their skill to make money with 65% citing that their greatest skill is not used at all at their current job.
“These unique survey findings point towards a new era in the Creator Economy. They paint a clear picture of the next wave of digital entrepreneurship that centers around creating online content,” said Thinkific Co-Founder and CEO Greg Smith. “More specifically, it reveals an unprecedented demand in the market for online learning and skill-building opportunities. This represents a critical moment for entrepreneurs to monetize their own expertise by launching an online learning business,” said Smith.
Survey methodology:
This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 Americans was commissioned by Thinkific between December 14 and December 17, 2021. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
