Thoughts and ideas matter, it is thoughts and ideas that make the world go round.
The Entrepreneurial Mind Set
As a small business owner I surround myself with like minded people. Many of them are also business owners. Some have small and some have big. Most of them are like me, they love what they do. I am guessing you do too. That’s one of the compelling reasons most of us decided to go out on our own. We also like challenges and risks which bring out the artist within us. The opportunity to be creative is always there, and the possibility of shaping our own future. As I look closely on each of these colleagues of mine, though we all love what we are doing there are still differences from the way each other think and execute the same ideas.
I used to think that having a business is what makes someone an entrepreneur. Besides, being an entrepreneur means not being employed or having a boss. As I observe, business owners fall into two class—the self-employed and the entrepreneurs. What makes them different? It’s the mind set.
Self Employed
The self employed are those who have a skill or talent and they are sure that there are people who are willing to pay them for their time, product or service. So they quit their day job and employ themselves. They get calling cards, a website, possibly an office. They start marketing what they have to offer and after quite some time they have customers. One day, they find themselves working too many hours, consistently doing everything to fill the pipeline with new leads, and sometimes wondering if they have bought themselves a “dream job”. They cannot take too much time off because without them there is no business nor money will come. Even franchisees, which are running through a proven system, might see themselves fit in this category. Surely a lot of consultants and coaches, home based businesses, and service professionals end up on this list as well. We’re talking about talented professionals—people who, like you, work hard and deserve success! Unfortunately, a majority of business owners fall into this category.
The type of business the self employed is running is what Michael Gerber – Author of The E-Myth, revisited, called “Employee-Driven Business”, businesses that slowly dies together with its owner.
The Entrepreneurs
On the other hand, the entrepreneurs are the business owners who seem to have the ability to grow their businesses almost effortlessly, and maintain a steady growth. You talk to them and although they work hard, they may be off for a week or two, enjoying time with their family and loved ones somewhere or probably golfing .While their businesses are running and earning. They donate in charities and participate in activities with their kids. What do they know that the self employed do not?
They have gained the Entrepreneurial mind set. An entrepreneur is a master and a good strategist. Very good at getting others excited about helping them grow their business. He lays his eggs in different nests, not just one or two, he don’t just look for opportunities he also create opportunities. He creates systems that run the business and not him running it. That needs careful strategizing and planning, measuring outcomes versus expectations and re-adjusting when needed. It means facing calculated risks and learning from the ideas that fail—and there will always be ideas that fail.
Again quoting Michael Gerber, this type of business is an “entrepreneur-driven business”, a business that is not afraid of risks and changes. Once this Mind Set is cultivated, small business will grow spontaneously
Decide Now!
If you feel that you don’t have the time to put up plans and strategies you need to have this mind set, try to think about where you’ll be a two to five years from now. You will see it very obvious where you’ll be—self-employed.
Be determined to think like an entrepreneur.
Michael Gerber’s Books are Available in Amazon
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
List Price: $18.99
The E Myth: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do about It
