Some think “entrepreneur” means “unemployed”
Being an entrepreneur comes with many benefits and wonderful experiences, but it also comes with ample stereotypes – some of which are negative. While you undoubtedly have a lot on your plate already, the truth of the matter is that as an entrepreneur, you’ll have to deal with these negative stereotypes as you continue to focus on your entrepreneurial endeavors. What it comes down to is labels and what certain professions mean to those who you’ll come in contact with. And, unfortunately, being an entrepreneur is sometimes considered code for being unemployed.
Generally, when people think of an entrepreneur, they may translate that to mean that you’ve lost your job, have decided to be your own boss, and have given yourself a more complimentary label. While this is certainly the case for a select few, it doesn’t represent most entrepreneurs. Parts of society have not caught up to modern ideals on being an entrepreneur and owning your own business.
For starters, being an entrepreneur isn’t as easy as some people believe. It takes hard work, dedication, consistency, perseverance, and foresight. You don’t just get to sit at home and work at your leisure. Owning your own business is a lot of work. It can be fulfilling, but itis still work. And as an entrepreneur, it could be argued that your time is even more valuable now that you’re not working a normal, constricting 9-to-5 job, because you may be a one-man-show or wear multiple hats in the running of your company.
The “serial entrepreneur” label
Another label you may experience is the term “serial entrepreneur.” If you’ve been in the professional world for long, you know that it doesn’t have the best connotation. In many cases, it means that someone has a few failed business attempts their belt. Again, if you’re experienced in the business world, you know that this is common and it’s actually perfectly acceptable. It’s through trial and error, failed professional attempts, that successful businesses are created and maintained. It’s how the business world morphs and improves. Without these failed attempts, today’s businesses would be unilateral and quite boring, to be honest.
How to battle these labels
So, how do you brush off these negative professional labels? The first step is to not let it effect you emotionally or professionally. At the end of the day, no matter how hard you try to dissuade the negative beliefs about entrepreneurs, you’re still going to come in contact with people who refuse to modify their beliefs to reflect reality. So, brush it right off and focus on your work.
The second thing you can do is to educate the general public about what it takes to become an entrepreneur. After all, it’s not a cake walk, and it takes a special type of person to forego the security, safety, and reliability that comes with working for someone else. When it comes to educating others, you can talk to them one-on-one, write blogs or articles to dispel those beliefs, or find a way to speak on stage. Helping people understand what it takes to be a small business pro and entrepreneur is really the most realistic way to be more than a label.
