Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

For many years the debate has raged as to whether entrepreneurs are born or made.

Some argue entrepreneurs are born.

Others argue that entrepreneurs are made.

And some argue that entrepreneurs are born — then made.

But here’s the thing…Does it really matter?

I guess it does if you’re writing an academic paper that could earn you a few extra letters after your name.

However, as entrepreneurs building businesses and creating the life we want, does it really matter either way?

After all, this is the life we chose, right – whether we were born with what we need or not?

And since we’re entrepreneurs by choice, surely our focus and energy should be on achieving the goal/s we set when we decided to walk this less trodden path?

Even if for no other reason than to make all the people who doubted us — or tried to sabotage our dreams — green with envy.

That said…

Like you, I have an opinion. And here’s where I stand on the whole ‘entrepreneurs born or made’ debate…

Although some of us may have been born entrepreneurs, throughout our lives every entrepreneur has to develop the skills, mindset and character that make us the entrepreneurs we are.

And in order to become the entrepreneurs we want to be tomorrow, we must continue developing those qualities today.

Which is what really matters, right?

What do you think?

Ok I`ll bite, although I may live to regret it LOL:)
I think entrepreneurs (damn french words) are a product of environment, in fact not born.
unless you consider the birth position, I imagine most of the (french word) are either first born (more naturally inclined to be out front) or last born (only children are both) where they have a clear path of expectations set down by the older siblings.
Now if a person was to grow up in a (french word +al) household all bets are off, but it is still environmental.
I`ll pose another question how many are first born, last born or other? and how many grew up in (french word) homes?

LOL - nice one Stan

I think it does matter, because I think people succeed by first having a solid grasp of reality. If an entrepreneur is born, then developed through life and environment, then it follows that not all people are going to be successful entrepreneurs.

So? Not everyone is born a musician, artist, mathematician, or whatever else. The key is to know that your strengths lie in different talent areas.

Countless people are brilliant inventors, but can`t get a handle on the entrepreneurial viewpoint. So they partner with someone who`s a skilled entrepreneur, but who`s looking for a product.

I also would argue that many people doom themselves to misery, pain, depression, and anxiety because they`re not natural entrepreneurs, but feel they should be. They feel they`re failures because they have to work tremendously hard to even understand some of the things necessary to the entrepreneurial world.

Some valid insights Craig.

And surely it doesn`t really matter either way, for the following reasons:

1. If I`m born an entrepreneur, I do what comes naturally.
2. If I`m an entrepreneur as a result of my environment, experiences, etc, then I do what I have learned over time.

Either way, I`m still an entrepreneur, right?

Ade Shokoya - founder http://www.itsanentrepreneursworld.com/

I think this would be a good reason why it wouldn`t matter. We are entrepreneurs by choice so it wouldn`t matter whether we were born one or made one. If we choose to be entrepreneurs, it is because we like the perks, independence and self-made success that comes with it. It that respect, it doesn`t matter whether we were born one or made one, nor do I think we could really ever know for sure.

That said, I think entrepreneurs are both born and made--some people have a natural skill for entrepreneurship, others learn the skill. But by believing that both are true, that would suggest (to me at least) that it doesn`t really matter why one becomes an entrepreneur. The most important thing is that you became one and you are working for your own success.


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Motivation for Entrepreneurs
Entre-Propel.com

Okay, at the logical level you`re right: it doesn`t matter if you`re an entrepreneur, what caused you to be the entrepreneur. It doesn`t matter whether 1+4=5 or 4+1=5, both equal 5.

The problem is that human beings aren`t algebra formulas. If someone believes that entrepreneurship is genetic and they`re not successful in a startup business, they might give up, assuming it`s not in their genes.

If someone isn`t successful in their venture and believes entrepreneurs are trained, they might give up because they feel they didn`t have the right background.

In other words, it`s all well and good to try an assign a single cause to something that involves many people and their lives, but too often the simplification ends up creating unnecessary obstacles for people who`d like to try and start a business.

Great point Matt. You beat me to it

Because my next questions was - "how do you prove it either way?"

Good point. And because it`s impossible to assign a single cause to anything that involves people, surely that`s why the whole entrepreneur nature-nuture debate is pointless?

Also, doesn`t over-complicating things have the same -- if not worse -- result?

And by the same arguement, surely someone who believes themselves to be genetically disposed to entrepreneurship -- whether true or not -- might persist and succeed where others would give up and submit to failure?

And isn`t it also possible that someone who isn`t successful in their venture and believes entrepreneurs are trained might go away and learn new skills so they can be successful?

I agree, all good points. To the topic, yes I think it`s pointless to have a simplistic assessment of whether or not entrepreneurs are born or made. But that`s the nature of today`s culture. We want "fix-in-a-pill" solutions, instant gratification and whatnot.

I`d toss into the mix that much of what`s taking place today is part of a natural correction of imbalance. A basic part of the imbalance, I think, rests on the concept of deliberate intention---not quite the same thing as "Think and Grow Rich"----but along the same lines.

We`ve become so lazy about the real world that I think Nature is producing a set of conditions that require we all become more alert. We need to think more about what we`re doing, examine the details, and most importantly, re-develop critical analysis.

Anyone can wake up one morning and say, "I think I`m gonna turn into an entrepreneur." But to then expect immediate success, brilliance, ideas, and creative problem-solving to magically show up is ridiculous.

Most of these types of scholarly debates, I think are ways for people to make money by playing on other people`s fantasies and wishful thinking. The danger lies in whole populations coming to accept that unfounded arguments actually are true, or real science. :-)