What is an Entrepreneur?
I had coffee the other week with a new friend who’s a business owner in town. We met at Starbucks and began to connect on a wide variety of topics, getting to know each other on things past, present and future. We chatted a little about our families as well.
My friend enthusiastically told me a story about his young daughter. His daughter, Abigail, was told by her grade 3 teacher they were going to have a career day in class. The students were instructed to write something about what they wanted to be when they grow up.
Abigail wants to be an entrepreneur.
When I was Abigail’s age I couldn’t even say the word let alone know what an entrepreneur was.
That’s not the case with Abigail though. She knows what an entrepreneur is and she knows that’s what she wants to be. My friend showed me a photo of the poster she put together for her presentation on entrepreneurship.
Her pencil crayon wisdom is profound – keep in mind, this was created by an 8 year old…
What is an entrepreneur?
An entrepreneur is someone who solves a problem that other people are willing to pay money for.
What skills do you need to have as an entrepreneur?
- You have to be passionate about your idea.
- You have to be very motivated.
- You have to think outside of the box.
- You cannot be afraid to fail.
- You have to be a good communicator and have good people skills.
Wow – Abigail understands the basic elements of being a successful entrepreneur:
- You have to create a product or service.
- Other people have to want your product or service and be willing to pay for it.
- Your passion will fuel your drive and your willingness to work hard.
- You have to be creative, take chances, and be willing to fail.
- You have to be able to effectively sell your idea, vision, product or service.
Entrepreneurs are wonderful people. They are continually coming up with ideas for how they can creatively provide solutions for problems people experience. Entrepreneurs are people of action. They are people of great enthusiasm and drive. They are not fazed by rejection or failure. They are hopelessly hopeful and defiantly driven. Against all odds they defy the odds again and again.
Entrepreneurs are fabulous people to hang around with. They are “can do”, “make it happen” kind of people. With an entrepreneur anything is possible – they will find a way, and then make that way.
Martin Luther King Jr. said, “There are those who look at what is and ask, ‘Why?’, while others dream of what could be and declare, ‘Why not!”
Entrepreneurs declare “Why not!” again and again. They are dreamers who put legs to their dreams. For entrepreneurs “can’t” is a swear word. They understand that every great achievement was once deemed impossible before it was accomplished.
Entrepreneurs also understand the roads to their greatest achievements will be lined with spectators telling them why it can’t be done. And that won’t faze them. Entrepreneurs are the heart and soul of our economy. They are the economic backbone of our communities.
Entrepreneurs are modern day pioneers who forge new territory for others to follow them and settle in to make a good life. They are the drivers, the driven, the restless and the relentless. They would rather disturb the comfortable than comfort the disturbed because they courageously take initiative and expect others to do the same. They are hard workers and masters of their own destinies who naturally expect others to follow their example and do likewise – they do not suffer slackers lightly.
Yes, entrepreneurs are amazing people who are fabulously motivating to be around. If you are an entrepreneur, well done! Keep going. Don’t give up. We need you. There is more than you at stake. Your work touches us all.
If you are not an entrepreneur, that’s not a problem – all pioneers need settlers to create growth. But take an opportunity this week to thank an entrepreneur whose initiative has impacted your life. Their risk benefits us all,
And Abigail – you go girl! We need more entrepreneurs, because when the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive everybody wins.
