What It Means To Be An Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship is a fancy word that means managing a business or a task with initiative, care, and a little risk. These three elements are not only definitive of entrepreneurs, but also of regular people, like you and me. It may seem daunting at first, especially for those who have no interest in becoming a business owner, but when broken down, its meaning can change the way we see and do things.

Initiative

Taking initiative means doing something independently, without having to be told. It is one simple and easy way of changing your life. Instead of waiting for someone to delegate a task to you, be it at work or in your daily life, you recognize and do what needs to be done. In any area of life or in any task that you face, this is an essential skill. In turn, taking initiative says a lot about the type of person that you are. It shows that you are analytical and observant, that you are present-minded when in the given situation, and also that you are goal-oriented.

Care

Taking initiative is one thing – doing something with care is another. You may do something because you recognize that it needs to be done, but the way in which you do it is also extremely important. When you care about something, a vast majority of the time, you will perform whatever task is necessary much better than you would do something that you don’t care about. The types of tasks can range from doing something as simple as washing up the dishes at home, or asking (and genuinely caring) about how someone’s day is – no matter what, when you care about something, it shows, and your passion and genuinity won’t go unnoticed.

Risk

Risk-taking is an important element of entrepreneurship, because it means that you recognize what has already been accomplished, but you also are able to see the potential for growth. This element of entrepreneurship works alongside both initiative and care, because you have to weigh the pros and cons, observe the situation, and make the decision that you feel is best, in order to attain the end goal. Without taking risks, at work and even in your daily life, things are less likely to evolve, whereby leaving you (or your business/current situation) at a standstill with no forward movement.
A balance of all these elements – initiative, care, and risk - is what entrepreneurship is all about. They are three of the crucial traits that successful business owners and humans alike all possess. They are not only useful in helping you to become more successful at work, but in your journey towards a happier and more fulfilling life.

So… all of this leads up to my next point: Come out to the Entrepreneur Expo. There will be some awesome guest speakers who will talk about their experiences and journeys on becoming entrepreneurs. You don’t have to be a management or a business student to benefit from this event. All you have to do is be open-minded and listen to how these select people have gotten to where they are today and how they plan on getting to where they want to be in the future. See you there!

- Lauren