The calling to be an entrepreneur
People do not always understand what is driving them start a business, what it is that guides them to make one decision over another. We make statements like “there was this pull from deep inside” or “I was called to do this.” I’m not doubting those feelings existed, but they don’t explain why a person makes the jump into entrepreneurship.
Listen to their story next time you get the chance – it is truly amazing that what comes out pretty quickly is the deteriorating experience they had in a job(s). Whether they left the job, or were asked to leave, the stories have a familiar beat of feeling limited, unhappy, marginalized at work leaving them with a feeling of being less than who they are. Their self-esteem can start to go in to a downward spiral heading straight for being labeled a ‘bad employee’ … a box that is hard to climb out of.
The business then flounders
We take that story, that guilt, and that chip on our shoulder into our business and begin making decisions based on response instead of intelligence and direction. Then, guess what? The business struggles and most likely fails!
The strategist will say it is because they didn’t plan, or they just weren’t a business-minded individual and went about it incorrectly… well, they are right to some extent. But only because the person didn’t understand why they were making decisions in first place.
Where no entrepreneur’s mind should be on day one
Reactive is NOT the space in which to decide to start a business, even if you don’t have a job. The reason to start a business is because you WANT to be an entrepreneur, and you fully understand this is a lifestyle not a 9 to 5 position you get to walk away from each evening.
To be successful you need to understand the basics of business, and have a plan of attack as well as a plan for success. Be willing to drop your ego and learn the pieces you do not. Let go of all that crap you experienced in that job to begin believing in yourself 100 percent. No one else is going to if you don’t.
Remember, even if you were a ‘bad employee,’ that doesn’t mean you are automatically a great entrepreneur. Like every career path, there are some people more naturally suited than others, but you can learn to be a fantastic business owner, or you can find a partner to fill in the gaps. BUT – understand where your decisions are coming from.
Tinu
September 18, 2013 at 1:00 pm
Very true that bad employees don’t always make good entrepreneurs. I blame my parents but I became an entrepreneur because that’s the only economic model for an individual that ever made sense to me. I chose my field from extensive research, particularly market research.
I don’t necessarily think I’m happier because I own a small business. I approached it more like, “if there’s a chance that I’ll hate what I do, like most people do, I want to hate it on my own schedule and for as much money as I can fairly demand.”