Why be an entrepreneur?
April 25th, 2005
0 votes
In a recent entry, we asked you why you’d choose to work at a big company–basically, why you’d rather by employed rather than be an entrepreneur.
We got some really thoughtful responses and we appreciate it "BIG"time! but now, let’s go "small"time. Let’s talk about why you chose the entrepreneur’s path.
Why did you start up?
What’s it like?
Would you do it differently if you had the chance?
And what advice wouldyou give someone thinking about making the leap to start up?
April 26th, 2005 at 4:13 pm
Don’t know if I’ve been around the block enough times to transcend the Q, but I’m a 3rd gen entrepreneur and have started 4 co’s. I’ve worked for a handful of Fortune 1000 firms, but this is what I know (and like) the best.
I would attribute the proverbial "entrepreneurial spirit" to the following characteristics:
1 - an insatiable curiousity,
2 - the unfailing belief that "it" can be done better, faster, and/or cheaper,
3 - a high threshold for risk,
4 - a dollop of authority and control issues,
5 - a smattering of ADHD, and
6 - top it off with a chutney of near-stubborn resolve.
April 26th, 2005 at 9:35 pm
dean, you’re addicted, man! what were the four companies (what kinds of companies)?
clearly one of those was related to foods… ‘dollop,’ ’smattering,’ and ‘chutney’ being the clues to someone who has ‘menu’ lingo…
have you been successful? what’s your definition of success?
for us (as you’ll read in our book), it’s about having freedom, being surrounded by family, and the fulfillment of working hard every day toward a meaningful goal.
April 27th, 2005 at 1:42 am
I started off working in small companies in the area of accounting. I decided that enough was enough. I quit my job nearly three years ago and started my business, QuasiCo Graphics Studio. I quit for several reasons (in no particular order):
1. Too much bureaucracy, ego and politics in the regular work place. I like collaboration and that is how I run my business. None of this hierarchy stuff. I like it flat.
2. I had a good network and could easily start my business.
3. Accounting just wasn’t for me anymore I decided to pursue my love of design and advertising.
4. I figure since I have an MBA I should put it to the best use possible and be an entrepreneur.
5. I take pride in my business savvy so which naturally translates to working hard for a job I can never get fired from.
That’s pretty much my laundry list of reasons.
April 28th, 2005 at 7:10 pm
I started my own business because I was topped out in my area of expertise AND not pursuing my passion. I realized that the things I did as a volunteer in my spare time could be turned into a business. I teach dance and cheerleading to kids. Not the typical business- but its working and I LOVE IT!
April 30th, 2005 at 4:14 pm
I started my business because of the lack of control I had at the company I was with even though I was in an executive position. I realized it wasnt just the company I was with, but the only way I could truely control my future was to own and run my own business.
That was 15 years ago and I have never regretted one minute of it.
May 3rd, 2005 at 11:16 pm
I had a major event happen in my life, I realized we only have a number of years to make an impression on this earth. I decided to travel the world, then purse entrepreneurship. I was fed up with the corporate insanity and bureaucracy in a big Fortune 500. What I am now realizing is that you can never escape "the corporation", its everywhere. I guess its better to be free and work for #1. Not to discourage bright people, but its been alot tougher than I had planned. Make sure you have a warchest of money to last you 4x as long as you think it will take to find a great business model. I think what best describes me as a person would be highly creative, a huge risk taker, innovative and very stubborn. You must listen to yourself the most, everyone else has an opinion, follow your research and go for it. Try many things until one hits it big, and never give up hope.
May 4th, 2005 at 10:22 am
I was on the other side of the desk and frustrated with a service I needed that no one seemed to provide.
I was impatient with the red tape of large companies who took so much time to decide to engage that they typically lost the opportunity.
I love the non-stop challenge of surpassing the expectations of our clients in ways they haven’t even imagined.
I love the pace, the intensity, the risk, the challenge, and the ability to make happen anything I set my mind to accomplish — the ability to apply creative solutions to other organizations’ business challenges is incredibly fulfilling.
Advice: Jump in with both feet or don’t do it. If you don’t personally have it all "the ability to see the big picture, the ability to do sales, the ability to handle the minutia, then select trusted individuals with good business sense to help you in those areas.
(P.S. the URL box won’t except ours: http://www.hradvan.com)
May 4th, 2005 at 4:08 pm
[c]>>dean, you’re addicted, man! what were the four companies (what kinds of companies)?
[gray]—————————————[/gray][/c]
Yes, I’m touched with The Curse — you know the one.
1st was a pet store, when I was 11. My sister & I collected bugs and put them in jars out by the street. That’s where I learned "Adapting to the Market." The first guy that stopped (after he choked back the gag reflex) said, "I thought you were selling lemonade. I ran inside and poured him a glass of Kool-Aid for 25-cents. The Pet Store merged with Lemonade Stand.
2nd was in colleage, a window washing company. Learned "Do What Others Don’t." Was just going to be a summer job, but when I made enough to pay for school and buy a car it from 2 guys to 3 small crews.
3rd was wireless software applications for Bluetooth. After working for (wildly) successful startup from 1995 - 2000, I decided I was ready to launch my own startup. We closed the doors 14 mos later and it was my Hands-On MBA program. Learned 1) make sure early/founding employees have diverse skillsets, 2) focus on technology available now and not in the future, 3) sometimes it’s necessary to be the Bad Guy.
Current is software & data services for home entertainment industry. We’ve been in development for 2-yrs, have 14 pats-pending and 550 int’l sales requests. We’ll launch this summer in US/Canada, expand overseas in 2Q’06.
[c]>>have you been successful? what’s your definition of success?
[gray]—————————————[/gray][/c]
No, haven’t always been successful and have the scars to prove it. Some you can’t even see. But I don’t know anything different.
Your def’s are good. I’d have to add continuing to learn. Part of the reason and thrill, for me, is the fact that I’m always filling my brain with new info.
Now… where did I put my keys this time?
May 4th, 2005 at 4:20 pm
I should clarify. The first 2 weren’t real companies.
The others were 1) a real estate consulting group (CAD, general contracting, investments), and 2) a small DVD rental shop, which I still own. I opened it in 2002 to start learning the caveats & idiosyncrasies of the home entertainment industry.
Sorry for making it so confusing. #5 is obviously in full effect today. (grin)