Have you ever considered yourself an entrepreneur?
Ask most worker bees floating around from office to office, and you’ll typically get a resounding “no.”
When people picture that title holder, they might imagine a finely dressed C-suite relaying directions.
But are they really the only individuals in our workforce currently dreaming big?
You may answer, “Sure, I’m dreaming big but there’s (insert excuse here).”
It’s not my aim to single anyone out, as I shared your mindset for two decades.
But let’s look at another course you can chart…
What Is an Entrepreneurial Mindset?
Skipping all the normal definitions, here’s the sweet spot if you’re currently employed.
According to Investopedia, “Entrepreneurs play a key role in any economy, using the skills and initiative necessary to anticipate needs and bring good new ideas to market.”
Replace the word “economy” with “company” in the above definition. And voila!
There YOU are.
And here’s how your work output will improve when you start acting like one:
- Adapt quicker to a fluctuating job market
- Rebound sooner from mistakes
Certain employees are well suited for receiving daily tasks and executing well. We need those types to keep our economy going strong.
But what would happen if more of these same folks adopted the mindset of their boss or the company owner?
- Improved chance the company dominates the market
- Employees would have more bargaining power
- Company events at Disneyworld instead of Boomers
That last one is just for fun, but you get the idea.
Most hourly employees receive a small raise after their annual review. But does 30, 40, or 50 cents really cause one to immediately go buy a steak dinner?
Okay I’m guilty of doing that in the past, but the answer for most people who aren’t me is no.
Instead, imagine a role change from receptionist to front office lead. Although a slight step up, you’ll start gaining momentum and confidence with each passing day.
And eventually you won’t hesitate to take your loved one to that steakhouse!
Obviously the benefits don’t end at steak, and we’ll look at more next.
Entrepreneurial Mindset Benefits
Besides making you hungry to grill something, I’ve hopefully started wetting your appetite (pun intended) for something more.
More perks of taking calculated risks:
- Greater chance of promotion
- Increased autonomy
- Boost in overall value to the company
- A belief you CAN start a “side hustle”
Surely you can think of more to add to this list, but it gives you a good start.
Life is full of risks, but there aren’t many worth discussing for this topic. That is unless you demand a promotion after one day of trying this out.
I don’t recommend that.
Steady income is something to be thankful for, and most books on going solo recommend sticking with those sources at least initially.
Once your side business is generating enough regular income, it’s easy to justify giving your 2 weeks notice. Who knows? Maybe a coworker or even your boss will want to invest in your new venture!
The biggest obstacle to enjoying these extra rewards and job satisfaction is one’s mental state.
Getting past those voices that say it’s “too risky” or “not in you” isn’t easy. Believe me, I can totally relate to that hurdle.
But did you know going over physical hurdles actually strengthens the leg muscles of world class sprinters. In your case these muscles are centered in your brain, but the analogy still rings true.
Maybe it’s time you see what heights you can achieve when you’re driven by desire instead of necessity.
What do you say? Will you accept this challenge?
Employee to Entrepreneur
This is about your path to the life of an entrepreneur, not mine. But I want to share a condensed version of my journey to provide a real life example.
I’ve written a blog that delves into my rough start in healthcare from the patient side. Eventually I’d join the medical community as a professional and devote 10 years to the hurting.
While finishing my degree, a dream developed to educate patients through digital marketing.
Starting off writing for a healthcare client, the agency I worked with soon shifted focus to insurance and contractors. “I’ll just circle back at some point,” I reassured myself.
But then…life happened. Situations outside of my control led me to a crossroads.
Continue pressing into the tough job market, or take a different path?
After picking the brains of my marketing mentors, reading Start Your Own Freelance Writing Business, and making a reasonable financial investment…
Today I’m a small business owner serving the healthcare community through online marketing.
Elijah Wordsmith content writing started as an idea, and is now fully operational.
Okay, enough about me. You’re the reason I am typing here so let’s refocus on that pursuit.
What’s Stopping You From Becoming an Entrepreneur?
By now, you’ve entertained the prospect that this whole entrepreneur thing perhaps isn’t as unimaginable as before.
I’d like to leave you with a few challenges:
- Recognize your value
- Learn to back it up with hard evidence
- Position yourself for that promotion
But what if you determine the company you’re presently with doesn’t feel the same way about your value?
Find someone that does and implement the above for an accelerated rise!
If you have any questions about how to take this step, I’m happy to offer any advice I can. Contact me today!