Employee vs entrepreneur – it’s not that simple

“If you don’t build your dream someone will hire you to help build theirs” – Tony Gaskins

At first glance it is that simple. When you are an employee you work to build the employers dream, so why not build yours. But is it that simple? I am involved in a project in Galati County, courses for entrepreneurs. Most of the participants want to make the transition from employee to entrepreneur in order to become their own boss. But when you take on this journey you go from one boss to all your clients becoming your bosses. You go for being responsible for your part in the mechanism to being responsible for the big picture. So what do we choose? “Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.”

            What is the most important thing you have to understand when undertaking the change? That thing is you need to change yourself first. You change the way you think, how you handle different situations and so on. Change the mindset if you want. You start looking at the bigger picture, not just the assigned chapter but the whole book.

No one can make the changes for you. No one but you knows exactly what changes you require and how. So I am not going to write about how you can do it, I am going to try and show the mindset changes needed before making the switch in your life from “worry free” employee to “stressed out” entrepreneur. In case you already have the right mindset, all you have to do is act according.

1. 1.      You are the only one responsible. As an employee you are responsible for the job you are asked to do. The decisions are someone else’s. As an entrepreneur you are responsible for everything, good or bad. Opportunities come and go, you decide when and how to act on them. Remember that you have no one to blame or point fingers at.
2. 2.      Enjoy living outside your comfort zone. When you have job, after a while you build a comfort routine. You know your schedule, what you have to do and what is asked from you. On the other side of the table, every day brings something new. You take risks, adapt and courageously take on every challenge.
3. 3.      Start subjectively but analyze objectively. It is your business and it is natural to take it personal but you have to look at it objectively. Take one step and back and stop working as an employee focusing only on the job at hand. You know how to do it the best but work “on” not “in” your business.
4. Rules can be bent or broken. Every organization will have their rules. When you work in that organization you have to follow rules and the chain of command. As an entrepreneur, as long as you are responsible for the outcome you decide when and how you can bend or broke the rules. And also, you make some of those rules.
5. It’s more than just about you. When you work in a company you work for yourself, for a paycheck or for appreciation. When you start a business you want to influence or help the people around you. A business built only on the idea of making profit and improving the entrepreneurs’ life will only have one client.
6. Fixed or variable income. A salary will give you some monthly comfort but it is decided by your boss, negotiation, skills and so one. When you work on your own business you don’t get fixed income, on the other hand there is no limitation to your income, as it will be related to the success of your actions.
7. Stop procrastinating. Start now, you don’t have to respect someone else’s deadlines. You don’t have to give the report on Friday and thus start on Thursday. The faster you start, the faster you see results. Remember that it takes time, you don’t become entrepreneur over night and every delay could reduce your trust and motivation.

The way you think and how you react to challenges defines your path. Starting as an entrepreneur is not an easy choice and most important is not for everyone. The wrong mindset will increase the already high rate of failure in start ups. Start with you, be objective and start after filtering the above mindset changes.

*Mihai Chiratcu is an opportunity creator, trainer and free man. After 10 years experience in sales and business development, he is using the knowledge gathered trying to bring a new approach in training and business consultancy. He brings you every Thursday special information and gives advices through the section “Business Opinions”. For more information, you can find Mihai at chiratcumihai@gmail.com.