Why Every Employee Should Become an Entrepreneur

Could you be an entrepreneur? I have come across tons of people who are tired of the way companies and their bosses have treated them. I say, “Don’t put up with it!” It is time all employees-YOU- become an entrepreneur. The people I have talked to are concerned about and fed up with:

• Toxic workplaces
• No choice in the workplace setting (hybrid, office, remote)
• Bad bosses
• Constant unending, mindless change
• Little recognition
• Personal abuse
• Minimal pay increases
• No bonus
• Benefit cuts
• Layoffs

Author Judith McQuown encourages everyone to Inc. Yourself, in her best-selling book. Whether or not you start your own business, you are in business for yourself. All employees need to think that way and have a sense of urgency about it. For example, while companies have been sitting on record cash, millions of the jobs lost in the great recession are gone forever. Too many companies treat employees poorly and say one thing and do another. (See my earlier post, ‘7 Fairy Tales Companies Tell Employees’.)

Today, your only security is YOUR competence, creativity, courage, and commitment. Jeremy Rifkin, author, and advisor to world leaders on the impact of technology and social change, says the vertical companies are in peril and dinosauric. In his book, The Zero Marginal Cost Society, he describes a new kind of economy where value is driven by collaboration not capitalism. Companies would benefit tremendously if they fostered entrepreneurialism within, but most will not. Consequently, do not wait on them. The future world economy and wealth is about entrepreneurs. Become one today! An employee entrepreneur is one who seizes opportunities while merging preparation and risk. Consider these quality actions for preparation and a personal breakthrough.

6 Qualities of an Entrepreneur

Initiate

In Russia there is a saying, “No initiative goes unpunished.” That is what most companies want from you–do not rock the boat. Entrepreneurialism is the opposite–sink or get out of the boat and create a better way to travel. So, do not wait for your boss to come to you. See a problem and manage it. Seek an opportunity and take it. That is how you learn and excel. While it is risky, you will grow and stand out from the crowd.

Learn

Your status quo must be learning and relearning as an entrepreneur. Like an Olympic athlete that trains year-round to improve and beat the competition, engage yourself in all the self-discovery, training, and education you can. Your new knowledge will help inspire your thoughts and vision. Always be reading a new book, attending Webinars, and participating in 4-6 experiential programs a year. Check out Daniel Priestley’s book for further development on becoming an entrepreneur.

Innovate

What is your strength? Expand it. For example, if it is writing, start a blog. If you like woodworking, take pictures of your work and put them on Facebook and Pinterest. Do you like speaking and presentations? Set up a YouTube channel and join Toastmasters. Others have already done things like this to start businesses, particularly on the Internet. One day these activities may lead you to your next career–as an expert in your field. Numerous entrepreneurs start this way. Richard Branson said, “My biggest innovation? Just to keep challenging myself. I see life like one long university education that I never had – every day I am learning something new.”

Dream

Seek the next job even if you like the one you have. Ask for more responsibility. Get involved. Be the person who others count on to get things done. Experiment-you can start small and begin an online business. Yet, a successful entrepreneur that I interviewed stated this. “My biggest mistake is that I didn’t think big enough.”

Persist

My business partner and I started our consulting firm over twenty-five years ago. We faced countless challenges and difficulties, mostly from our unwillingness to change. With persistence, we learned to embrace it and thrive. So, can you. Certainly, persistence means a firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action despite the difficulty or opposition. Are you up to it?

Interconnect

In your current job, make a commitment to meet people. It opens you to innovative ideas and jobs. Connect to others inside your company, and out. Build your social reach. Bill Gates predicts, “The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.” Ramp up your social media presence. Why? All of these and others are good for your writing skills, presentations skills and networking. Attend conferences and roundtables. In all these activities–engage others. If you want to stay with your current company, excellent. Gain all you can until you decide to leave on your terms. Do not wait to start, your company could ask you to leave in a heartbeat. In summary, get prepared by doing all the above and more while having as much fun as you can.

Pulling It All Together as an Entrepreneur

In conclusion, being an entrepreneur is about the difference you make and your dreams, not someone else’s. What could be more exciting than that? Steve Jobs admonished us all, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Do not be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Do not let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. Most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

Also, do you want more success as a potential entrepreneur in life? See this complimentary guide and assessment called Success Practices. 

In addition, go here for our RealTime Learning and Training leadership and personal development website. Prepare for your dreams with micro-learning–at your fingertips!