Maybe You're Not Really An Entrepreneur (Mitch Joel)

How would you define an entrepreneur? I have always broken it down like this: An entrepreneur is someone who has a vision for a specific industry that does not yet exist, and has the ability to bring that business to market successfully. Yes, it leaves plenty of room for interpretation. Yes, it is not all-encompassing. I was once asked to judge an awards program for entrepreneurs. A lot of the businesses were second or third generation owners. I discounted them. I got in trouble for doing so. The argument - on the other side - was that these individuals really took the business to the next level, another level or a whole other space. Fantastic. I agree that these individuals are highly successful and talented, but I also felt like they were entrepreneurial... but not the entrepreneurs. One of the nuances (for me), is that the entrepreneur has the initial idea to start a business, and takes on the risk and leverage involved in taking this idea to market (and growing it). Everything after that is entrepreneurial. (twistimage.com)