My boss told me the other day that I have a head for business. She also mentioned how she gets the idea that I had probably never even fathomed the thought before.
She’s right.
I didn’t know I had a head for business until AFTER college. Believe me, if I had known I probably would have majored in something else (although I do love English!)
But sometimes life works out that way. It’s not until we’re put in a situation (in my case six months of unemployment) that we realize our potential.
And it’s not really our faults either. I mean, we’re conditioned most of our lives to believe that we have to work for someone else or some big ass corporation. The 401k is a sign of professional success. Health insurance is damn near impossible to afford if your employer isn’t helping (not necessarily true although a major pain in the ass). The corner office is our ultimate professional goal.
That’s all fine and dandy, but some of us find ourselves thinking, “Ok, and then what? What comes after the corner office? Is that it?
Some of us have a drive for more and you might too. Below you’ll find a few signs that you may be an entrepreneur at heart.
1. The thought of spending 8 hours a day in a cubicle makes you cringe (and you actually try to do something about it).
This applies to more than just entrepreneurs, but entrepreneurs seem to be the only ones who ever even try to do something about it. Maybe you make jewelery on the side, maybe you enjoy blogging, maybe you have dreams of teaching yoga. Whatever the case may be, entrepreneurs always have ideas of how to achieve life OUTSIDE of the cubicle. And little by little, the entrepreneurial spirit works toward these goals on the side of their day job (Shout out to Cordelia Calls It Quits! Check out the interview if you haven’t already). Some may even be doing this and not even realize it.
2. You find yourself possessing crazy energy, drive and motivation when working on a project.
Entrepreneurs get excited about their work. Maybe you don’t necessarily have the “work” part yet, but you do have something that excites you. Something that quite possibly could help you create a living if looked at from a different perspective.
3. You have a natural inclination toward bettering the business.
This is something you’ll notice at your job. The entrepreneurial spirit is the one with the ideas on how to land more clients and customers. It’s the spirit that has ideas on how to market or better the processes of the current structure. Most of all, this stuff actually interests you!
4. You’re willing to make some sacrifices.
Entrepreneurship comes with sacrifice…especially at first. The entrepreneurial spirit understands that some sacrifice now will benefit them later on as they build their career. If you have a good understanding of this and know what it takes then you may just be an entrepreneur at heart!
And lost but not least, I really couldn’t resist posting this…
I think this is in interesting because unlike many others in my age demographic, I haven’t actually worked in a cubicle before but, unlike others, I never met anyone who did. I’ve met tons of people who had office jobs, who worked in the food and beverage industry, who worked in retail – but most people I have met preferred office work because comparatively, retail is really hard, and in the corporate world the pay is considerably better. And currently, I’m on the look-out for a comfy office job while I do things on the side. But I suppose, most people don’t have a problem with a cushy job, they have a problem with a cushy mentality.
From your list, I don’t really have the skills or emotional responses of a budding entrepreneur. : / OH WELL. >:3
Tatiana recently posted..Who Provides Customer Service ?
You always have some of the most insightful comments!
I think it’s all about personal preference and in many cases personality types. I interview people everyday who would rather work in retail sales or primarily outside sales because they love the challenge and love people. They are typically much more outgoing. Others completely cringe at the thought of this.
I also meet people who think corporate office job equates to stability. Unfortunately, these days nothing really equates to stability and sure, you may have a salary and a benefits package, but you’re working longer hours than ever for the same amount of money. In fact, I have some people come in here who are actually AFRAID of a salaried jobs because they feel like they’re going to be abused on the sole basis that they are salaried.
So really it just all depends on what you find to be important in your career.
You’re right about the cushy mentality thing though – unfortunately many people don’t realize it’s just that, mentality. They think that’s just the way it is.
Hah, thanks!!
Ugh, sales! *runs away* No thank you. I always feel lazy because I don’t find certain types of challenges very thrilling. But I guess it’s like you said: personality. Yes. I find corporate job to be more stable when we’re talking about hours. Having varied hours, like in retail, is very frustrating for me and it’s difficult to really plan. And while I haven’t worked extensively (or at all!) in corporate USA, in retail it’s difficult to control your hours and while managers try to be helpful in creating your schedule, sometimes they just do it by seniority WHICH SUCKS. Because the same people are always opening or working mid day and you’re stuck closing all the time. I hate it. Whereas my idea about corporate work is that you work from 9 to 5, maybe you will stay late but generally you can plan for other activities in the evenings and on the weekends (unlike retail where it’s really random).
But again, another preference. Some people seem to enjoy that and I don’t. I like knowing my paycheck is pretty much going to be the same every two weeks (salaried sounds nice right about now!) and I looove knowing what my hours are. I don’t have this kind of stability now and it sucks. But, I understand what you mean – stability in the sense of permanence. I know in my previous jobs, they’ve had At- Will agreements, meaning they can just fire you whenever they want for no reason. This is what the concept is but how much employers use it is debatable. What I’ve seen the most is people quitting without notice or just refusing to show up whereas employers only seem to fire people when they’ve made repeated offenses. I don’t know how much they use the At- Will agreement. : /
Tatiana recently posted..Who Provides Customer Service ?
First off, great article!
My first job was in retail, and I swore I would never go back…and I haven’t
. I couldn’t stand the rude customers or the ever-changing schedule. I have worked in the legal field on and off for the past 10 years, and my current job is my first salaried position. Salary definitely has its perks, i.e., I always know what my paycheck is going to be. I have been in positions where I came in early or worked late, but our office manager is really good at crediting our paid time off; however, I don’t have a benefits package, and my salary is below par. In my case, “stability” means a paycheck twice a month and specific hours with a designated lunch hour. I don’t sit in a cubicle per se, but I do have an office with no door and no windows. (Actually, my office is the only one in the building without any windows.) I’ve had to come up with some creative ways to organize my files and office supplies so that I don’t drown in paperwork every day. I work in an “At Will” state, and I agree with Tatiana that most employees are the ones who take advantage of this agreement, quitting with little to zero notice, or just refusing to show up to work.
While this is certainly not my dream job, I am constantly looking for new/better opportunities. I am trying to get back into writing (ideally full-time), and have taken “breaks” at work to peruse various opportunities online. I have been fortunate enough to come across two social media sites that enjoy my writing enough to keep assigning me work. They aren’t paid gigs, but they’re something upon which I can build a portfolio, which will hopefully lead to paid gigs in the future.
Ashley recently posted..Don’t Forget Why They’re Here
Good for you for working your passions on the side! You may just be an entrepreneur! Don’t worry – unpaid gigs will turn into paid gigs before you know it
Thanks, Amanda! I have tried posting writing/editing/proofreading services online, but I live in a small town, so there aren’t too many bites. I’m still toying with how to market that better. I found a couple more writing gigs online that I have inquired about. Only one out of four is advertised as a paying gig, but, as you said, it’ll happen eventually!
Ashley recently posted..Why blog?
Well the great thing about online entrepreneurship is that borders don’t really matter. I’ve had clients from Australia to New York. In fact, very rarely have I had clients from my own city (though it does happen sometimes).
As for inquiries, it’s all a numbers game (as our most things in life lol). Try focusing on just paid ones and see who bites. Eventually you’ll be able to totally brand yourself out of one nucleus like I do with Grad Meets World – that way clients start coming to you.
Feel free to shoot me an email if you have any questions or need some guidance
The one time I was working in retail and I asked the manager if I could use the restroom and he said NO!
Right then and there I knew that I needed t control more of my life and that I didn’t want to deal with any of that anymore. So, I knew in my head that I wanted to have the opportunity of working for myself and controlling my life in different areas. I really don’t like the idea of doing that entire process of having a headache about work before I even come to work. So, today I focus on trying to be a better entrepreneur and really just be consistent with my life.
Entrepreneurship is easy if you don’t b.s. around but if you’re lazy and don’t understand time management then your not going to make it.
Great post.
Justice Wordlaw IV recently posted..Learn How to Make $3,000 in 3 Days with Benjamin Jacques
I completely agree with you as far as time management. But, how would you suggest someone go about being an entrepreneur when they have limited funds? Times are hard, and not many people can just quit their day job to pursue what they love. Thoughts?
Ashley recently posted..Why blog?
One of the great things about being an online entrepreneur is that a lot of the marketing tools you need are free. Facebook and Twitter are great places to build your audience, make connections and establish your authority.
Great post!
Number one is great – so many people have ideas but don’t act on them. As you point out “Some may even be doing this and not even realize it.” I think what separates an entrepreneur from a hobbyist is the willingness to take risk. People are usually bad judges of risk, however, thinking something is riskier than it actually is.
Number 2 is called flow – it’s magical when you are so focused on something, hours can seem like minutes.
Number 3 is why so many people hate the corporate life – managers don’t seem to listen to your ideas. It’s frustrating.
And number 4 is what so many people lack – the big picture view as you point out “some sacrifice now will benefit them later on.”
The hard part for me is picking one idea and sticking with it.