What’s does “Entrepreneur” Mean?
Is an entrepreneur a businessman? Is there a difference between an entrepreneur and someone who runs a business? These are questions that have probably run through your head at some point. I’ll share my take with you and in return ask for your opinions and thoughts on the matter.
An entrepreneur isn’t necessarily a businessman in the sense that he or she likes business and runs a company either as a founder or CEO; an entrepreneur is more than that. An entrepreneur has something inside him or her that transcends the businessman.
Entrepreneurship isn’t only about creating a company and making wads of cash – it’s simply not that pragmatic. Entrepreneurship is about helping others as much as you possibly can, making a positive impact on people, changing the world, finding solutions, and being as innovative as possible to create something everlasting. To me, those are elements that define the entrepreneur.
On the other hand, a businessman doesn’t really need to have those qualities. A businessman can be the CEO, COO, CFO, etc… of a company, not care about changing the world, not care about helping people, and not care too much about innovating and moving forward… he or she may simply be there for the hefty check.
To a businessman, life can be looked upon in more of a cause-and-effect sense: “I come to work, crunch some numbers, talk to a few people, extend the bottom line of the company, and go home. Wakeup and do it all over again.” A businessman lives a linear life, not a dynamic one filled with twists and curves as the entrepreneur.
At the end of the day, I firmly believe that it all comes down to intentions and motivations. Our ambitions are what defines us and what people will remember us for. Only you know what you are.
What do you think?
4 Comments
Aaron K
September 15th, 2006 at 12:43 pm
Here’s the definition and history of the word entrepreneur. I thought this might be interesting. I got the definition from
http://www.m-w.com
entrepreneur
Etymology: French, from Old French, from entreprendre - one who takes on
: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
David Askaripour
September 15th, 2006 at 5:36 pm
Interesting definition, but I don’t think it gives the word justice, ya know?
Entrepreneurship is within, and I think you know when you have it or not. Cheesy as it sounds, it really comes down to that feeling inside of you when you are creating, helping, changing, and innovating, for the good. It simply can’t be explained. Let alone the feelings that you get from when you excel — amazing!
Aaron K
September 16th, 2006 at 12:46 am
I agree that there is more to the word but I thought that having a little understanding of the background and factual definition would be interesting.
astrobal silverio
September 30th, 2006 at 7:02 am
Entrepreneur and businessman are 2 different and distinct individuals. a businessman is more concerned on the profit he will gain from introducing a new product while an entrepreneur has main concern on how people can be satisfied from that product and monetary is just his 2nd concern
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