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posted on December 18, 2010 11:21
I've been in the game of running a business for years. I also got into being a Entrepreneur Support Professional (ESP as I call us) before it was trendy. Now-a-days everyone is an Entrepreneur or Entrepreneurial or is an ESP. (I read the other day that one of the top 10 words used in resumes is Entrepreneurial. It's just cool.)
I'd like to offer up an interpretation of Entrepreneur and flavor it a bit like Jeff Foxworthy might if he were from Lansing instead of the deep south. :)
You know you are an Entrepreneur if:
- you can spell it properly every time
- you wake up at all hours writing up plans on how to market your business
- you wake up at all hours itching to talk with someone and can't because it's 2am so you write a book of an email to them instead, take a nap and then check your email at 6am hoping for a reply
- you've thrown up on the front lawn because you aren't sure if you will make payroll (and half of your employees you consider friends)
- you've moaned to your friends about not having enough business (working hard but no payoff)
- you've moaned to your friends about having too much business (working hard but can't keep up)
- you drive your car that has 210,000 miles on it (a few dents and scratches on it) to a business meeting and hope it doesn't convey "I'm not successful" but you know it's the right thing to NOT spend the money on a new car
These are just a few ways to know if you are an Entrepreneur. Like Foxworthy, I can pull a few out of my hat every time I do this routine. I don't distinguish between Entrepreneur and business owner as I work with people. If you say you are an Entrepreneur, then you are. It seems to have all become one for many of us ESPs and us Entrepreneurs (I still consider myself one of those too).
And a message to all those who get their panties in a bunch over someone declaring themselves an Entrepreneur when "they clearly are not", I say get over it and let's move on to the business of supporting growth in whatever venture it is, Entrepreneurial or not.
Cheers -- Miche
Saturday, December 18, 2010 9:26 PM
You know you are an entrepreneur when you have three blogs, one for your business, one for your politics, and one for your personal life.
Sunday, December 19, 2010 9:44 AM
It's not just the idea, its the implementation of the idea (ability to shoot the ball) - building a business: product development, marketing, operations, etc. all require long hard WORK!! We need to focus less on flashy presentations and trendy concepts, and more on actual results!!! Raising money is not success making the first sales and acceptance by customers is success!
Sunday, December 19, 2010 11:22 AM
Entrepreneurship is sometimes just thrust on you when you know you have a great product that can help many people AND save them lots of money. Thanks to you and many programs to help entrepreneurs businesses are succeeding, even though though the person had no idea what journey they were starting. Perhaps that was good. Please keep helping those of us who fell into this, by helping us stay on track. Sooner or later someone will realize we are not going away, and it is better to join in than to be left behind.....
Sunday, December 19, 2010 11:44 AM
Well, how about that - I'm an ENTREPRENEUR!! I think I have all the symptoms except throwing up on the lawn!
What's funny is that when I was in B school, most of my colleagues were talking about being entrepreneurs and I was saying "paycheck paycheck paycheck" - and yet here I am running my own business, sometimes scared, sometimes wondering what in the world am I doing? and mostly loving the freedom. the sense of accomplishment and knowing that I am offering a service that makes a huge difference for other business owners.
Maybe it's time to start a 3 am chat room for entrepreneurs!
Sunday, December 19, 2010 12:02 PM
McGelligot - you have a point .... you know you are an entrepreneur if you have a hard time focusing or, my interpretation, you can focus on a whole lot at once.
MI44 - Excellent thoughts! the sooner to getting customer capital the better. I'm so with you on that one.
Bestbrace - The most successful Entrepreneurs are those with high value to the customer such as your product, I think that's what you point is and what better way to figure out high value than to employ MI44's strategy!!
DChristein - hang in there ... the chat room (discussion forum) is coming!
Monday, December 20, 2010 6:16 AM
Yes! All of the above - and -
- when I wake up at 2am, the ideas are so compelling, I have to get up and get to work - it is just so much better than sleeping!
- you find yourself talking about your company all the time - "Yes, what a beautiful baby! Rather like the customer I met the other day..." Work-a-holic on steroids.
- non-entrepreneurs tell you how much work it is to start your own company. Ha! As if they have any idea!
- you feel like you are 27 again! Except for the times you feel like you are 87...