If you’re here, it means you want to be an entrepreneur, right? That’s what the very title implied.
Well, you can’t. Sorry.
Confused? Maybe I’m not being clear. You can’t want to be an entrepreneur. Either you are, or you aren’t. Get it?
The very title of this article is what people don’t understand about being an entrepreneur. There are couple things that happen when you realize you are an entrepreneur. It’s inherent in your personality, your aspirations, your goals, and sometimes, you can’t control it.
First: wanting to be an entrepreneur and actually being an entrepreneur are two very different things. You might aspire to be one, but until you start to actually do the work, you’re not one. The best way to become something is to do something. Sell, sell, sell. Understand what it takes to provide value to somebody. Learn how to communicate your value proposition enough so that it registers with your ‘customer’, allowing for you to accomplish what you’ve set out to do.
Two: if you have a full time job, you are not an entrepreneur. If you’re a true entrepreneur, you can’t survive having a normal job. If you’re not out there making it happen and running a business, you’re not an entrepreneur, you’re a person with entrepreneurial tendencies. Now that’s fine. As long as you’re happy that’s what matters. But if you truly feel like you need to be an entrepreneur, you can’t be working for someone else.
If I were still an aspiring entrepreneur, I would go out and hustle my face off in any way possible. Find mentors. Go work for free and under people that can show you the ropes and serve as that point of contact when you need it. Learn the hustle and taste the game. Put yourself in the position to win. You can read as many books as you’d like, but they’re not going to make you an entrepreneur. The only way to become something is through doing.
And by the way, this applies to all sorts of aspirations someone might have. If you want to be an artist, make art. Stop saying you want to do it and make the work happen. Want to open a pizza place? Great. Figure out exactly what you need to do that and then start on those steps immediately. Stop waiting for defining moments or for Mashable to magically write about your app. Do the hard work.
Bottom line is this: start hustling. Start doing whatever it takes. Even if that means selling the very shirt off your back.
Thanks for reading! If your Facebook feed is clogged with friends pitching their new startups, you owe it to them to share this out.
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