If love is all around, as
the song says…then so
are entrepreneurs. And they have been
with us since us humans started to interact and trade commercially.
One can almost imagine the
brighter cave man a few million years ago realizing that as the most competent
fire maker he could sell that skill to other caves…and get
all the cave woman he wanted without having to club one over the head. (This
skill is still evident in some pubs in Joburg…but I digress)
Wherever there has been
supply and demand, there have been entrepreneurs, looking for the gap to make
something from nothing, to add value, to take advantage of a fear or a greed.
Do you realize, virtually every
commercial product & service that you consume or use has its origins with
an individual entrepreneur somewhere
in the past, either recent or distant.
Sound far-fetched…name a
service...say retail, Pick n Pay…Raymond Ackerman, your telephone…Alexander
Graham Bell, motor cars…Karl Benz,
electricity…Thomas
Edison; all now represented by huge organizations, but started by individual
people.
Yes they had assistance,
backing, teams of people but what they, as individual people had most was the
single minded vision and drive to achieve their dreams against any and all
odds.
“Entrepreneur” is defined
as “one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or
enterprise” (Meriam Webster) It's a word borrowed from French, and is derived
from Old French, from the word “entreprendre” , or to
undertake.
It's a great derivation…to undertake or to set about; it came into broad use in the 1850’s and
is today commonly seen as a business leader and
innovator of new ideas, but in truth its anyone who embarks on a journey to achieve
an objective
There are, and have been entrepreneurs in every sector of society, from
every age group, from trading, entertainment, technology, energy, design,
health and retail. They are inventors, designers, accountants and lawyers,
engineers, male and female and from every ethnic group on earth.
Whether ancient or very recent, and whether you accept the
interpretation above, one thing you can agree with is that entrepreneurs have
been and are greatly admired. They are originators,
founders, creators; without them the world would stagnate, and we surely
wouldn’t have the world which we inhabit.
Many books have been written on what makes a great entrepreneur; the
Kersners, Bransons, Packers, Gates and Jobs of this world are held up for
inspection & interrogation. Entertainers such as Beiber, Cruise, Spielberg,
are case studies unfolding in the media daily.
For the small businessperson this is a great source of inspiration; they
all have common factors that have made them successful, they are an awesome
bunch. Driven, focused and mostly big,
big dreamers.
But can I, a small businessperson, actually apply some of this
knowledge?
What if I just want to make a success of my local (fill in anything you
choose) business, do these factors apply? What if I don't want to conquer the
world, or even the country or province, I just want to pay for my kids to get a
decent education?
We are inspired yes, by reading and hearing of these people; we admire
and even may envy their abilities, but can we ever hope to emulate them?
Well, you can, as long as you have one factor very firmly in hand, its
not complicated and its intensely personal, and may require a little
introspection; it's a first yet vital step.
That critical factor is “Purpose”… the reason for why you get out of bed in the
morning, the fire in your belly, the drive you may have. Every time you fail, its purpose that
rekindles your desires.
It's a tough one; many people will answer if asked this question with,
“survival”, “money”, “children”, “family”. All totally valid but not quite answering the
question; these are outcomes and results, they don't tell you the full picture.
Deep in your awareness is that one reason you do what you do (or should
have or want to do) It may be to help people, entertain them, educate them,
make the world a better, organized place…its your way of contributing.
Find that, be painfully honest with yourself and when
you see it you will recognize it. You
may still be following it, or you may have abandoned it, it could be anything
but it will be yours.
Invalidate it at your peril, embrace it & rekindle your energy and
drive.
Some relief may even wash over
you…its is only in the failure of having, believing and following our
purposes that we succumb to the acceptance & justification of our
shortcomings.