“My attitude has always been: I don’t want to leave anything on the table in this life,” says Dr. Steven Stovall, associate professor of management and entrepreneurship at Southeast Missouri State University. “I’m a risk taker. I want new experiences. And I see the same spirit in the current generation of students.”  

Stovall has started eight businesses, held executive positions in Fortune 500 companies and worked with hundreds of organizations throughout North, Central and South America as a management consultant.  

 While the entrepreneurial spirit will never leave him completely — as exemplified by his latest venture in starting a farm that grows hops for beer — his current focus is on teaching and mentorship at SEMO, where he believes his students are poised to follow in his self-starting footsteps.  

The Entrepreneurial Spirit: From Childhood Venture to Business Success

For Stovall, entrepreneurship was a calling. As a child who worked on his family’s farm and peddled candy in his spare time, he developed a strong work ethic and a sharp business instinct. His drive grew as he got older, fueled by a competitive nature and an eagerness to take on new challenges. While some people wait for the right business opportunity to come to them, Stovall sought his out, learning what it takes to build something from the ground up through hands-on experience. 

His first major business — a mystery shopping service — wasn’t part of a grand plan. It started as a college assignment but quickly grew into a thriving company, proving that the best ideas often emerge from unexpected places. Scaling the business required strategic thinking, adaptability and a willingness to take calculated risks — all skills that would define his approach to entrepreneurship.  

Whether he is launching new ventures or mentoring future business leaders, Stovall carries forward the same lesson: Success isn’t just about having a good idea, it’s also about having the determination to turn that idea into something real. 

The Difference Between Talking and Doing in Entrepreneurship

When it comes to lofty business aspirations, anyone can talk the talk. But actually executing on an opportunity? That’s a different story.  

Stovall believes the difference comes down to perseverance and risk tolerance. “Vision and passion are important, but they don’t mean much without action,” Stovall says. “Entrepreneurs don’t just have ideas. They commit to them, even when the risks are high and the outcome is uncertain.” 

Stovall points to the success of entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, who first imagined the future, and then built it, often betting everything to make it happen. That willingness to take on responsibility — whether it’s financial debt or ensuring employees can support their families — is what defines true entrepreneurship.  

Ultimately, entrepreneurial success requires resilience. The entrepreneurs who make an impact aren’t the ones who never fail — they’re the ones who get back up, adapt and keep moving forward. 

Guiding the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

For Stovall, entrepreneurship isn’t something theoretical — it’s something you do. That’s why his advice to aspiring business owners who take his classes at SEMO is simple: Start now.  

“Don’t wait for the ‘perfect’ idea or the ‘right’ moment, because those rarely exist,” he says. Instead, he encourages his students to focus on business opportunities that are scalable, profitable and driven by a sense of purpose. Then they need a strategy.  

Stovall emphasizes the importance of building a strong foundation. He advises his students to create a to-do list, surround themselves with a solid team and seek guidance from those who’ve been through it before. He knows firsthand that no one has all the answers, which is why continuous learning is key.  

Stovall applies this mindset in his own life, which is why he’s giving away his first harvest of hops to brewers to gather feedback before scaling up. As Stovall reminds his students, entrepreneurship is a process of constant growth, and the ones who succeed are those who are willing to evolve. 

Bringing Real-World Entrepreneurship to the Classroom

Stovall knows the best way to learn entrepreneurship is to experience it firsthand. That’s why he has transformed the curricula of the business courses he teaches at SEMO — including SEMO Online courses — to focus on real-world learning rather than just theory.  

Instead of memorizing business concepts, his students engage with successful entrepreneurs, tackle hands-on projects and build their own business plans from the ground up. Guest speakers bring the realities of entrepreneurship into the classroom, sharing hard-earned lessons that students won’t find in a textbook. Every assignment is designed to mirror what it’s actually like to launch and sustain a business.   

By working on everything from pitching ideas to solving real business challenges, Stovall’s students do more than study entrepreneurship — they practice it. They collaborate in teams to refine their business strategies, analyze case studies and receive feedback from industry professionals. By the time they leave their business program — whether that be Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation, Business Administration, Business Management or another program — they’ve built the confidence and skill set they need to take action.  

Stovall’s goal as he teaches entrepreneurship is to prepare his students to step into the world and make things happen. 

Shaping the Future of Business Leaders

Steven Stovall believes the way to become a successful entrepreneur is to think like an entrepreneur, no matter where you work. Today’s companies need problem-solvers, innovators and people who take action when opportunity knocks. Whether students want to launch their own ventures or rise as leaders within an organization, the ability to think strategically, adapt quickly and execute ideas is what sets SEMO graduates apart.  

At SEMO, Stovall and his colleagues are committed to helping their students develop those skills, ensuring that, when they graduate, they’ll be prepared for whatever path they choose. If you're ready to turn ideas into impact — whether as an entrepreneur or a business innovator — SEMO can help you take that next step.  

Learn more about SEMO’s on-campus business programs and online business programs today.