What being an entrepreneur really means? Three alternatives to capture this crazy creature ;-)

Today a friend posted a question regarding what a true entrepreneur really is. He also suggested some possible answers, with A being when you raised your first round of capital, B when you generate revenue, C when you leave your job to go all in, and D being making an IPO. So what is the true answer? And are the alternatives even relevant? Let’s jump right into it, let’s jump into it the “entrepreneurial” way 😊

The “taught” MBA-way of entrepreneurship

Looking at the suggested alternatives I am positive there will be three divisions answering it. First the not-so-genuine-entrepreneur will answer B, or perhaps BC, because that is what you are taught in school and by the environment. Second the millennium “entrepreneurs” — curled by their parents and for years spoiled by the less stiff VC-companies — will say that BC means “Before Christ”, claiming it to be totally ancient and shouting that there are “new laws” of economy now.

If I would have been an MBA-teacher (yes I was) and adored to take quizzes, I would say the former is more true than the latter (or, at least, the latter needs to be followed by the former), probably complementing B with eventually making a profit.

The un-escapable way of entrepreneurship

For those of us who know true entrepreneurs, or are true entrepreneurs ourselves, we know that the real answer is by far none of the above. We know that “being” an entrepreneur can never be caught in “business” terms or work results — rather it is a state of mind, a personality trait that deviates remarkably from other (grown-up) people.

It is a way of life.

It is a way of life where your hearing is very bad (you cannot take “no” for an answer) and your eyes are even worse (you cannot “see” when people claim hurdles being too high). It is a way of life where being locked in is not an option (you don’t look within the box, you pathologically look outside the box), and your understanding of your mates sometimes non-existent (“comfort zone”, what do you mean?).

It is a way of life where alignment with society is not super clear (where are those clouds, I only see the rainbow?), and the empathy not always existent (what is the problem, I only see solutions?). It is a way of life when the learning journey differ (how can “grit” be something to learn, isn’t it like teaching the fish to swim?), and where you, like our best friend Ali, truly believe impossible is not a fact, it’s an opinion.

The success of entrepreneurship

It is a way of life that give you an energy far above the average people, an energy, creativity, responsibility discipline and persistence that, eventually, always makes you succeed with whatever you do. It is a “success” that might or might not coincide with the A-D recipe above, or however the society defines it, but being a true entrepreneur the term “success” is never ruled by what is taught by the MBA-classes or directed by the VC-companies.

The success is what your passion has been all about from the beginning, like solving a problem, helping a specific kind of people, innovating something new, making someone happy, i.e. making a difference in somebody’s life, making a difference in society.

The desirable of entrepreneurship

That is why investing in a true entrepreneur is always a true “risk”, and while it reflects a mindset that might be learned, it is as a true trait something totally impossible to be “taught”. And, from a business point of view, perhaps not even recommendable, as it may not always be optimal to destroy the obedient gears all companies and societies have in their large “machinery” :-O ;-)

While a wonderfully creative and stubborn child can be “broken down” to fit into society’s norms, the opposite is completely impossible

…or so it is? Is it that both are needed, and needs to be nurtured in the careful designing of your dream team to achieve a true magical success for a company or a country? Whatever the answer, while a wonderfully creative and stubborn child can be “broken down” to fit into society’s norms, the opposite is completely impossible. You cannot “teach” someone to become an entrepreneur, at least not a genuine one. Because it’s an integrated part of your personality. It is a way of life.

It is an absolutely wonderful way of life — not always a totally aligned way of life, not always a totally understood way of life, but always, always an absolutely wonderful way of life ;)

So let the fishes do the swimming. Sometimes help them find nourishment to grow, definitely help them to avoid the bait on other hooks, but never try to teach them how to swim.

And, by the way, if you’re a dean, president or parent — don’t try to teach the birds to swim either. We need them flying in the sky. Cause the sky is the limit.

…if there ever was one ;)