Have you ever been asked this question? Have you ever wondered yourself about this question?
To be frank, I have.
And the answer I get is the same as "Why dont I become a zoologist?" or "Why dont I become a cricketer?"
I am not entirely convinced that that is what I want to be doing.
I am not saying that I wont start a company of my own - all I am saying is that I dont know if I will, I dont know when and I dont know how. The things that are needed for me to be an entrepreneur (whatever they may be) havent yet taken place in my life.
I am yet to get an idea that excites me. I am yet to get the inspiration to act on an idea. I am yet to get enough guts to start doing something on my own. And last but not the least - I am still not convinced why "entrepreneurship" is the right option for me. Heck, I am an MBA and I dont even know how that degree is going to help me yet.
But all of this apart,
What I dont understand is, why do people give entrepreneurship such a high regard?
I hear sentences like
1) Entrepreneurs control their life and they have a complete rein over what they want to do (they can come to office when they want to, go when the want to, do what they want etc)
2) Entrepreneurs are wealthy
3) Entrepreneurs can hire anyone
4) Entrepreneurs are famous
Well, I do agree that Entrepreneurship is an exciting career option and many at some point of time in their career have always wanted to have a company of their own. It has been like this little dream in almost everybodys heart to own their own company and provide job opportunities. But that doesnt mean that Entrepreneurship is the end all of life. If you are not an entrepreneur then so be it. There are so many professions out there - and each come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. There is no one career option that can be "best". The "best" career option is the one where you are enjoying your work. Thats it.
If by chance - your career and your passion match - then you can consider yourself lucky. If per chance - you happen to enjoy painting - but are a software developer - then you can always paint in your spare time - but be a developer for your living.
Entrepreneurship has its own advantages, namely
1) The feeling of self satisfaction
2) Best possible way of getting paid what you are actually worth
3) Its a service - you provide job opportunity to so many
4) Fame. A lot of people look up to you
But it comes with its baggage
1) Risk Factors. Competition, changing technology, changing needs etc. Any of these can put an end to the business.
2) Ability to spend time for personal life
3) Stress
4) Success Factors are low in many cases
The above mentioned are hard aspects. But there is one very critical baggage which this career option brings - which is
With success in entrepreneurship comes the difficulty in managing success. There is nothing that people like to see - more than to see someone high up - fall down. You always want Australia to lose a cricket match. You always prefer a Tata to a Reliance group. You always prefer an AR Rahman to any other musician. You prefer Tendulkar to Ponting. You prefer a Narayanamurthy to Azim Premji. You prefer a Kalam to any other politician.
Why?
The way these companies, teams, individuals manage success.
With success in entrepreneurship - comes the great responsibility of managing it right.
People always love to hear a scandal more than anything and it is human nature. A simple mistake on part of an entrepreneur is enough to put at risk the personal and professional relations.
Some qualities which look bad on a CEO or Entrepreneur are
1) Arrogance
2) Negligence
3) Disrespect for others
4) Show of wealth/power/fame
I am not saying that they would impact the CEO personally. It is just that others love to see such persons fail - and it is always not a good feeling to have for a CEO.
People always love a Warren Buffet to a Richard Branson.
Both are successful. But I enjoy to see Buffet successful while I think "man - God has been kind to this Branson"
What I think does not matter to Branson. But I would personally want to be a Buffet and not a Branson.
2 comments:
This post argues about entrepreneurship from the wrong end and a bit too simplistic.
Entrepreneurship "creates wealth". More appropriately, it invents new ways to make wealth - not only for themselves but for the ecosystem. To be sure, modern economy owes its continued existence to inventors and entrepreneurs.
So, while it is true that an individual may choose between walking the treaded path, or making a new path - there is something noble about the question - "Why dont you start a company of your own"
You see - true entrepreneurs while no less focussed on making money - really answer to an itch inside themselves that seeks to express - making an idea sell. So, I dont think they sit and think about the economic and social factors as you describe, when they start. To them, more likely these are attendant questions which they also have to answer.
That itch also manifests itself as acumen, focus, attention, passion and everything else associated with an entrepreneur.
IMO, you have it or you dont - and that question gets answered very early in your life more often than not - much much before you get that MBA
Hmmm - sounds like Anonymous has just finished reading one of Ayn Rands novels :)...I am reminded of Fountainhead :)
You seem to have given me the right example I needed.
"To be sure, modern economy owes its continued existence to inventors and entrepreneurs. "
Setting apart the question of what you mean by "modern",
Society owes its improvement not just to inventors and entrepreneurs but to that cobbler who is doing his job right and to the doctor who does his job right and to the pilot who does his job right and to that politician who does his job right
Every job in the world - is important - and is no less important than any other - if entrepreneurship were lets say for symbology (since it involves thought) - the brain - then a doctor may be the heart, the pilot the feet and so on.
Without these organs the body is not what it is.
When you say "There is something noble about the question - "Why dont you start a company of your own""
There is something noble about the question "Why dont you join the army" , "Why dont you be an archaeologist" and so on....
So all I was trying to say was "whatever you do - do it well. It does not matter if you are not an entrepreneur"
Cheers
cb
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