I promote “EntrepreNOship.” Before you accuse me of trying to turn people away from starting a business, hear me out. “EntrepreNOship” isn’t about telling people they’re wrong for wanting to start a business. ‘EntrepreNOship” is about telling the right person to start the right business at the right time. If your gut reaction to that is, “There is no right person, business, or time,” then you, my friend, are a “romantic” and part of the problem. Please read on.
I’m not talking about the kind of “romantic” that likes “Rom Coms.” I’m talking about the kind that came into prevalence during the Age of Enlightenment–the kind that puts: 1) feelings above reasoning, 2) values above facts, and 3) individuals above the collective. Now, “Romanticism” has its merits as a philosophy, but the misinterpreted hype it’s become does not. Sure, there’s value in seeing positives in negatives, but we’re at “Stockholm Syndrome” levels at this point.
We’ve become so accustomed to turning bad things into good things, we think the bad things are necessary, that good things can only come after bad things. “No pain, no gain.” Admit it. You’ve said that. It probably imbues you with defiant pride, so you echo with, “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.” But. That’s. Not. Always. True. The guy who wrote the 90’s TMNT cartoon theme song (oh, and created “The Big Bang Theory”)–Chuck Lorre–said it best . . .
“What doesn’t kill us makes us bitter.”
What’s this have to do with “EntrepreNOship”? You know entrepreneurship is overly romanticized when there’s a “hustle to FAIL” culture, yet ~5 million new businesses are registered each year. We’re obsessed with failure and we’re certain success will come out of it. But. That’s. Not. Always. True. Does that mean you shouldn’t try? NO! It means we should set aside confidence, purpose, and ourselves in favor of reason, facts, and others. What’s that actually look like?
It starts right where you are now, taking accountability by exploring the ETI (rather than assuming you’ll “figure it out”), plotting your course based on market data (rather than setting a destination regardless of the obstacles), and most of all, avoiding failure, by seeking out mentorships (rather than insist on making mistakes yourself). Can I guarantee your business will succeed? NO! But there’s even less of a guarantee going the traditional route, especially if you never acknowledge the unbridled romanticism surrounding entrepreneurship.