The title of entrepreneur has never sat well with me. The other night a family member introduced me as an entrepreneur. I have never been inclined to call myself by this title and hadn’t stopped to consider why before, but this prompted me to do so.
I realised that my definition of an entrepreneur is someone with a track record over a sustained period of time of conceiving, starting and growing business ventures – with at least a few successes thrown in the mix. I don’t meet my own definition of an entrepreneur… yet.
The definition of an entrepreneur is open to interpretation. Most dictionary definitions are along the lines of:
Who chooses to call themselves an entrepreneur and whether or not they should do so, is neither here nor there. In most cases it’ll be someone that’s having a red hot crack at doing something they enjoy – and that’s what matters the most.
It is, for now however, not a word I will use to describe myself.
Are you an entrepreneur?
It’s a funny question, hey. It always wind me up when I see guys working as a freelancer that has given up on their own project, still boasting the title Entrepreneur.
I hadn’t ever considered that someone who doesn’t work for a company the founded as an entrepreneur, but interestingly this is still widely spread for people being the driving force behind a new company.
Being involved in so many different projects in my own right, I have reluctantly taken to using the word in a string of ‘what I do’ words – as I can’t think of anything better that work.
On your part Ryan, I’d say you should proudly wear that badge, so to speak. Having set-up one successful company, setting-up another and supporting others who are doing the same, you should certainly not feel shy about it.
Thanks for your thoughts James. Yes there’s certainly a range of applications for the title of entrepreneur. Maybe I don’t use it because I have such a hard time spelling it!