It’s kind of odd when the English language lets you down at the first and most important part of a story, the headline. One of the most spoken languages in the world uses the words entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship but no corresponding verb. However, when English fails as a lingua franca, the French comes to help. Entreprend means to undertake or start something, but how do you know if you’re cut for it?
They say entrepreneurs are born….hmm
When children are asked what they want to be when they grow up most of them start with the classical super hero, astronaut, teacher, and pop star. Some others prefer options like inventors, presidents, programmers, writers, scientists and even beta testers. Yet, it’s rare to hear a kid saying that he or she will be an entrepreneur, even if most of the aforementioned professions are entrepreneurship at its purest form.
What’s an entrepreneur?
The Oxford dictionary definition of the entrepreneur as a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit sounds passionless. The entrepreneur must carry the skills of the super hero, teacher, inventor, leader and pop star in order to ‘save the world’, mentor, innovate, guide and inspire others.
Be like David Bowie
First of all an entrepreneur is an innovator. He or she must be like David Bowie was to music. Bowie had a passion for novelty and expressed it not only with his vocal style and lyrics, but also with technology and digital tools, appearance and fashion. Long story short, Bowie was a statement of identity, experimentation and authenticity that continues to inspire millions. He knew what he wanted to do and he did it. He was malleable, a rebel and gleeful.
Who’s not cut for entrepreneurship?
Just think about Apple’s Think Different or the crazy ones commercial.
““Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
And here’s to the common ones or the people that aren’t cut for entrepreneurship. They don’t step outside their comfort zone and feel good this way. To them the world seems flawless and nothing needs to be improved. They go along with anyone, while some studies have confirmed that most entrepreneurs belong to the antisocial species. On the other hand, they don’t like to make friends with people that are different. They’re lazy and can easily follow orders. They don’t like having to make decisions.
In order to be an entrepreneur, you have to be malleable. This means that you can cultivate skills with hard work, dedication, and passion and said in David Bowie songs you can pass from absolute beginners to heroes. The Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition helps you to take the first steps into entrepreneurship by sharing experiences and attending free online courses.
