As I sit here waiting for a video interview to upload I began wondering about whether or not everybody and anybody is fit to be an entrepreneur. Most people would react harshly saying that it would be foolish to suggest that anybody can be an entrepreneur. Let’s be honest though and explore this question a little more. As far as I am concerned, the number one difference between an entrepreneur and an employed individual is the entrepreneur’s choice to no longer work for someone else. Granted, there are prerequisites to successfully entering entrepreneurship.
One of the primary prerequisites for becoming an entrepreneur is sufficient demand and a cash cushion that you can tap to support yourself for a period of time. Additionally, if you have childred and/or are married it will be much more difficult to pull it off but it is still possible. Many of the people that I surround myself with are entrepreneurial individuals. Some of them are more successful than others but ultimately one person after another that I know has decided to start working for themself. This has forced me to question whether or not anybody can do it. I don’t think that everybody wants to be an entrepreneur as most people are risk-adverse.
Given the right circumstance though, I think the majority of individuals would quit their job to go work for themself full-time. Entrepreneurship is ultimately a human desire that most people share. While I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a need that fits within Maslow’s hierarchy, I do believe that we are born with the entrepreneurial gene inside of us. At some point in our lives we either dismiss of embrace our entrepreneurial desires. Most people dismiss it but a little piece of their entrepreneurial desires will always remain and can be tapped at any point during their life.
I know this haven’t embraced scientific methodology to support my hypothesis but hey, I don’t need science to express something that I feel. Do you think we are all naturally entrepreneurial? Is it something that some of us are born with or is it something that we try to supress as we get older and acquire new responsibilities?
January 11th, 2008
14 Responses to “Are We Born Entrepreneurs?”
January 11th, 2008 at 1:01 am
The same question could be posed for a leader. Is someone born a leader. Having studied Entrepreneurship and Leadership, I truly believe that they are NOT born traits but learned traits anyone can obtain with the proper materials.
January 11th, 2008 at 7:39 am
“Given the right circumstance though, I think the majority of individuals would quit their job to go work for themself full-time.”
Neil, I’m not sure I’d call that entrepreneurship, I’d call that Daddy’s trust fund. Isn’t entrepreneurship equally about taking risk, not just working for yourself?
January 11th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I don’t think everyone is “born with the entrepreneurial gene” inside of them, but I’d say that many people are. And I don’t think everyone is born with entrepreneurial ambition, drive or a never-quit attitude, which (in my opinion) is a requirement to be a successful entrepreneur. One either has it or they don’t. Ambition, drive and determination can’t be taught. One can want and desire to be an entrepreneur, but if they lack ambition and drive, it will never materialize.
I also don’t think you have to quit your job to be an entrepreneur. I think there are many successful entrepreneurs within companies who create amazing products that we later come to love, but many of those products started out as a small project on the fringes by a small group within the company who had the vision, desire, drive, skills and an entrepreneurial spirit to see it through. I think those entrepreneurs just have a lower tolerance for risk and stay at the company to see their vision through, as opposed to breaking out on their own.
I do agree with you that given the right circumstances, the majority of people would quit their jobs and work for themselves. But, unfortunately, it’s the risk factor and fear that holds them back.
January 18th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
The only way to really know is to do it. When I quit my job three years ago at BigCo, I had a number of senior folks come to me and say, “I knew you’d do something like this, it is perfect for you.” Why didn’t they offer it up before? My guess is that you have to be ready for it on your own.
I also don’t think just about everyone would. Now that I’m back in BigCo after a recent exit, I can see quite clearly who has the skills and the risk propensity to consider it. I even understand a bit better why I won’t tell them they should, unless they ask.
February 17th, 2008 at 6:25 am
I agree with Laura. There is a difference between being available freelance labour for others and being an entrepreneur. The latter is forward looking, trend spotting, inventive and has the courage to take a lead.
So there is a strong overlap between leadership and entrepreneurship.
Jason These things can be learnt, but almost certainly over considerable time. They are ingrained in some people’s personalities and anathema to others. So for some of us becoming an habitual leader or entrepreneur might require a personality transplant – which frankly is a ridiculous waste of time, energy and existing talents.
February 19th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I believe both leadership and entrepreneurship are traits that come naturally to some. I also believe that most people can learn the skills to become a leader or entrepreneur.
Understanding that you can enhance the skills and traits you are born with may be one of the traits of successful entrepreneurs
March 18th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I think you are really talking about our innate need for freedom, Nicholas. Entrepreneurship is a form of freedom. And we all want freedom. But I do not believe all people can be entreprenurs.
Some are born to lead and some are born followers. A true leader is born, not educated into leading, although a leader needs an education.
I have met many who are not capable of running their own business and know that. Being an entrepreneur is not just “working for yourself”. It is so much more. And not everyone is born with the capability of running the show by themselves.
So to answer your question, no I do not believe we are all naturally entrepreneurial, but we do naturally want freedom. It is a basic need.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
“primary prerequisites for becoming an entrepreneur is sufficient demand and a cash cushion”
I Disagree. You dont need cash or demand to be an entrepreneur. Neither is required for your inner spirit to seek change, need to create, or allow curiosity to open a door
http://twitter.com/sigepjedi
October 30th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I do believe that anyone can become an entrepreneur. Maybe not necessarily inherently born with the skills to be successful, but it only takes a decision. A decision to take action to better yourself instead of your employer. Action is the ingredient to all successful entrepreneurs.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I’m not sure whether the entrepreneur-gene exists, but I do believe that ones upbringing and environment have a significant effect. My father-in-law, for example, worked most of his career for a very large company. My father, on the other hand, built his own business from the ground up. As you may have guessed, I’m an entrepreneur and my wife is not. It has been a struggle for us. She is very risk averse, while I’m enjoying the heck out of this experience. But we work hard to understand each other’s point of view.
I truly believe these differences between my wife and me have everything to do with our father’s choices. Incidently… My father-in-law does not approve, my Dad couldn’t be prouder, and both of these men’s fathers had career paths that were very similar to their sons and grandchildren, respectively.
January 10th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Great post, I agree with you deep inside (nature) everyone would like to be their own boss. But only a few have the guts to follow their instincts and their dreams. At the end only the entrepreneur control the world and the other just follow.
March 21st, 2009 at 4:51 pm
I guess I am born to be entrepreneur!
March 27th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
@Laura: exactly! it is (almost) all about risk! about taking uncertain paths, not knowing what will come out for sure…
@Jason: i agree with you — it’s not a born trait. it can be learned, as can most other things in life. i don’t know if this is a good example, but Hitler was a “make fun of” type of orator, and then (ironically) he was thought by a Jew how to speak. and the result, we all know… millions in trans after hearing him speak…
February 18th, 2010 at 2:45 am
Nah, most people are not born entrepreneurs. Now I’m not saying that someone who wants to be can’t be, just that it takes a certain attitude and a willingness to learn what’s necessary to be an entrepreneur. I’ve met many thousands of people in my lifetime and the ones who are entrepreneurial stand out.