Comments on: What makes an entrepreneur? http://www.smallbizpod.co.uk/blog/2008/03/14/what-makes-an-entrepreneur/ The small business blog of SmallBizPod - inspiration and practical advice for entrepreneurs Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:57:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Gavin Ingham http://www.smallbizpod.co.uk/blog/2008/03/14/what-makes-an-entrepreneur/#comment-127197 Gavin Ingham Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:25:22 +0000 http://www.smallbizpod.co.uk/blog/2008/03/14/what-makes-an-entrepreneur/#comment-127197 Great points. Passion and a willingness to take a risk are essential for being a good entrepreneur however, and with many businesses failing in the first year, perhaps the better question is not, "What makes an entrepreneur?" but "What makes a successful entrepreneur?" At that point I would add that a successful entrepreneur also needs the ability to see the bigger picture, to be able to forumulate a viable plan and to take consistent action in that direction. Great points. Passion and a willingness to take a risk are essential for being a good entrepreneur however, and with many businesses failing in the first year, perhaps the better question is not, “What makes an entrepreneur?” but “What makes a successful entrepreneur?”

At that point I would add that a successful entrepreneur also needs the ability to see the bigger picture, to be able to forumulate a viable plan and to take consistent action in that direction.

]]> By: Phin Wenlock http://www.smallbizpod.co.uk/blog/2008/03/14/what-makes-an-entrepreneur/#comment-126310 Phin Wenlock Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:14:19 +0000 http://www.smallbizpod.co.uk/blog/2008/03/14/what-makes-an-entrepreneur/#comment-126310 Sherry, your comment about passion is supported by the masses! We recently surveyed our users (online business support service VentureNavigator) to find out what drove them to start businesses and ‘financial reward’ came a distant third (6.9%), behind ‘passionate about the idea’ (41.4%) in top position. Sherry, your comment about passion is supported by the masses! We recently surveyed our users (online business support service VentureNavigator) to find out what drove them to start businesses and ‘financial reward’ came a distant third (6.9%), behind ‘passionate about the idea’ (41.4%) in top position.

]]> By: Alastair Campbell http://www.smallbizpod.co.uk/blog/2008/03/14/what-makes-an-entrepreneur/#comment-124778 Alastair Campbell Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:01:27 +0000 http://www.smallbizpod.co.uk/blog/2008/03/14/what-makes-an-entrepreneur/#comment-124778 I must admit that setting up my own business was very scary but 5 years on it has been the best thing sI've ever done. I wouldn't have done it if a good friend of mine hadn't already run a company for a few years which made me think - if he can do it so can I I must admit that setting up my own business was very scary but 5 years on it has been the best thing sI’ve ever done. I wouldn’t have done it if a good friend of mine hadn’t already run a company for a few years which made me think - if he can do it so can I

]]> By: Alex Bellinger http://www.smallbizpod.co.uk/blog/2008/03/14/what-makes-an-entrepreneur/#comment-124522 Alex Bellinger Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:49:35 +0000 http://www.smallbizpod.co.uk/blog/2008/03/14/what-makes-an-entrepreneur/#comment-124522 Will, I couldn't agree with you more. It seems to me that the risks and stresses have been underplayed by the home-working lobby and turned into surreal pantomime by Alan Sugar and Dragon's Den. The reality is as you describe. With stress and fear, though, comes counter-balancing excitement and hope. I think entrepreneurship is a little bi-polar in that way! Will, I couldn’t agree with you more. It seems to me that the risks and stresses have been underplayed by the home-working lobby and turned into surreal pantomime by Alan Sugar and Dragon’s Den. The reality is as you describe.
With stress and fear, though, comes counter-balancing excitement and hope. I think entrepreneurship is a little bi-polar in that way!

]]> By: Will - ArenaFlowers.com http://www.smallbizpod.co.uk/blog/2008/03/14/what-makes-an-entrepreneur/#comment-124409 Will - ArenaFlowers.com Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:51:16 +0000 http://www.smallbizpod.co.uk/blog/2008/03/14/what-makes-an-entrepreneur/#comment-124409 Being an entrepreneur means losing all your hair through stress! Haha. I'm 18 months in and I've got half what I started with! I'm joking of course but the one thing that no-one ever prepares you for is the stress levels, that's for sure. But that slight terror of it all going wrong and having to go back to the old 9-5 job is part of what makes it so fun! Being an entrepreneur means losing all your hair through stress! Haha. I’m 18 months in and I’ve got half what I started with! I’m joking of course but the one thing that no-one ever prepares you for is the stress levels, that’s for sure. But that slight terror of it all going wrong and having to go back to the old 9-5 job is part of what makes it so fun!

]]> By: Sherry Borzo http://www.smallbizpod.co.uk/blog/2008/03/14/what-makes-an-entrepreneur/#comment-122416 Sherry Borzo Sat, 15 Mar 2008 08:25:14 +0000 http://www.smallbizpod.co.uk/blog/2008/03/14/what-makes-an-entrepreneur/#comment-122416 Hey Sara, Great post. It lured me in because I've been on a mission to figure out what the heck it REALLY means to be an entrepreneur for about the past year or so. The journey came out of my own desire to be one and feeling like I was such a fraud, fraud, fraud. Anyhow, I've been interviewing them on my podcast and I would say one thing successful entrepreneurs do well is delegate. That isn't to say that there are not those forced into "do it myself" slavery initially but those who succeed, the really "cool entrepreneurs" who go around in their jeans and a cup of coffee perpetually in their hands, and don't act frantically rushed every time they speak to anyone, have aligned and collaborate with others and let pieces of their business be done by others. Another really big quality I've noted is that those who are doing well seem driven more by passion first then letting money come through that drive. Personally I like that a lot. If I see dollar signs as the carrot I know my attention span may be short but if I feel I have a mission, a purpose, I'm excited. As for me a year later into this journey I'm still in the myself-chains but I feel less like a fraud and am definitely on a mission to be sustainable. Hey Sara, Great post. It lured me in because I’ve been on a mission to figure out what the heck it REALLY means to be an entrepreneur for about the past year or so. The journey came out of my own desire to be one and feeling like I was such a fraud, fraud, fraud.

Anyhow, I’ve been interviewing them on my podcast and I would say one thing successful entrepreneurs do well is delegate. That isn’t to say that there are not those forced into “do it myself” slavery initially but those who succeed, the really “cool entrepreneurs” who go around in their jeans and a cup of coffee perpetually in their hands, and don’t act frantically rushed every time they speak to anyone, have aligned and collaborate with others and let pieces of their business be done by others.

Another really big quality I’ve noted is that those who are doing well seem driven more by passion first then letting money come through that drive. Personally I like that a lot. If I see dollar signs as the carrot I know my attention span may be short but if I feel I have a mission, a purpose, I’m excited.

As for me a year later into this journey I’m still in the myself-chains but I feel less like a fraud and am definitely on a mission to be sustainable.

]]>