“I will need to start my own business to become an entrepreneur.” Do you resonate with this statement?
Yes?
Do you think that Entrepreneurship really means to start and run your own business?
You’re either running your own business – or you’re working in someone else’s business. Whatever it is, it has nothing to do with entrepreneurship.
One of my past colleagues, Jay, started his own business a few months ago to become his own boss. His thoughts were:
- My pay will not reach the top 1% if I continue doing my job;
- I won’t be able to choose my team autonomously at my job;
- Working for someone else is not cool;
- I will not be an entrepreneur if I don’t start my own business;
- and so on …
Jay’s decision was based on many “NOTs”. But today, after a few months of starting his own business, Jay wonders if he really is an entrepreneur.
Jay didn’t know this: You were born as an entrepreneur and you’re already an entrepreneur regardless of whether you run your own business or not.
How come?
Although it might not be easy, it’s simple.
Entrepreneurship is a mindset. It’s about making active and conscious choices and taking total ownership of the choices you make.
Some people work in a job as if they were doing their own business.
They just “own” things and make them happen. Let’s call them “Type I” entrepreneurs.
On the other hand, some people run their business as if they were just doing their job. Let’s call them “Type II” entrepreneurs.
While Type I entrepreneurs eliminate the distinction between their work and play, whatever they do, they do it with the best of their abilities and depth, Type II entrepreneurs are constrained.
They work for five days, no more than 6-7 hours a day.
Even if some of the important matters are resting on their desk undone, they still choose to call the day off to do something else, which they think will give them instant gratification. Spending more time with their neighbor’s cousin, watching cricket matches, playing mobile games…whatever.
Type II can be easily classified as victimized beings, they do something because they “have to”, whereas Type I, can be easily recognized as leaders beyond their titles, make things happen because they “want to”.
Type II represents escapism whereas Type I represents ownership.
Now, here’s the good news: each one of us can become Type I entrepreneur. Because it’s simple; because it is a choice.
Yes, Being an entrepreneur is just a choice. Easy to preach, hard to practice. Not impossible for sure.
