Leader versus Entrepreneur
You are a self starter. You like being in a team and dream of setting one up all by yourself.
You see a group of colleagues rejoicing and notice the team lead more than the others.
You like to take the lead and see the results at the end of the tunnel.
All the above mentioned traits are common for a leader and an entrepreneur! Beware of mixing them up.
I am a leader before I was an entrepreneur. I put the time frames because I can clearly distinguish the perspectives adopted for being a leader versus the perspectives adopted for being an entrepreneur!
In a broad term, Entrepreneur is an umbrella term encompassing the traits of a leader plus having other traits. Due to this, leadership traits may not the traits for which the entrepreneur would be known for.
Steve Jobs
The well renowned late Apple CEO Steve Jobs has changed the way we look at electronic screens by inventing different varieties of Apple products. He has changed the way technology is perceived and assimilated in everyday life.
But, how many times have you heard him leading the pack of Apple employees? I am sure the frequency of him being called a leader is less than the frequency of him being called an innovator. An innovator means he was above people, above the technological constraints and staring right into the future and forging a path ahead not just for the people but his company tangible and intangible components. Sure, he was a leader but he was not just a leader of people.
A leader can lead the way with focus on people and processes and the remaining on the vision however, it is not necessary that the leader would have dirtied his hands in doing everything by himself/herself. He/she might have a platform from which he/she can start the leadership process.
However the entrepreneur, has a wider focus and has to put on different hats in order to lead the people, set forth the processes, dirtying his/her own hands at running the processes successfully right from scratch.
Notably, the most important interesting anecdote about the disadvantage of entrepreneurship happened at home. My mom who was and is still hopeful of my remarriage told me one day, “What is this drama of entrepreneurship, you are working all day and still you remain tense. Plus, you don't earn as much too. Leave entrepreneurship and join a respectable corporate job and based on your savings, you shall be able to get married to a nice Indian girl.” Well, the whole point of marriage seemed to hinge on a fat salary and my inability to get married without it.
Even though this conversation might seem funny to you but when you are back after a hard day of work and still know that the client is not happy, such a conversation can bring about different emotions.
Now, my main point of the entire post is that all over the world, there is an encouraging narration towards entrepreneurship. However, in my opinion, i feel entrepreneurship is not for everyone. Entrepreneurship depends on a host of factors such as the vision of the entrepreneur, interpersonal skills, knowledge of the work involved, resilience under pressure, and finally, the amount of patience!
In my 3+ years of the entrepreneurial journey, I have seen months when revenues dry up, clients default on payments, work processes take a hit due to unforeseen circumstances, dealing with draining employees’ issues.
I have seen many entrepreneurs around me, fall from a high during their respective entrepreneurial journey. Believe me, those falls weren’t good at all!
Part of the reason was that entrepreneurship brings about a certain level of independent thinking which proves as a mental block while applying for a job after entrepreneurship.
How well do you know me: https://socialbuzz.org.in/team/ambujsaxena/
I am neck deep in to entrepreneurship and my team is small yet good to take on most of the challenges that Digital Marketing offers however, with the entrepreneurial journeys around me, I would advice anyone to think twice before they plan to leave a nice job and start something on their own.
So, if anyone says “Start something of your own, earn money for yourself and live life on your terms”, just tell them, “Hey wait, I need to know your entrepreneurial journey first”.
