Why Entrepreneurs are Like God

jeteye's picture

As I go from network meeting to network meeting during these very uncertain times, I notice two types of people. One type is hoping, praying, and desperately searching for a job. The other type is looking to start a new endeavor or more precisely create their “own” job.

More at: http://macromental.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-entrepreneurs-are-like-god.html

Comments

NY2TX's picture

I disagree with your

I disagree with your premise.

Perhaps G-d gives the entrepreneur the spark of the idea, perhaps there is also the will to succeed (or as David McClelland wrote, the "need to achieve")...

However, there is no consistent pattern or set of rules for entrepreneurship. Each, while having some commonality, is also quite different. That "one" can succeed in one area, does not offer the gold key to success in another.

Entrepreneurs are not godly...they are possessed, driven, and focused...they sacrifice, they have vision...Well, good for you :)

To accomplish great things "one" must be willing to try things that no one has ever done before, or things that others think are impossible.

jeteye's picture

I see your point, but my

I see your point, but my point was about the "creation" aspect of companies.

NY2TX's picture

If you see my point, then I

If you see my point, then I believe that the premise was at best an exaggeration (and perhaps from the old movie, "The Gods Must be Crazy").

I am not godly by creating something from nothing. Even if my company eventually succeeds, and specifically, creates one or two on-going revenue streams from what were initially federally funded patents, it might make me "visionary," or simply someone who understood the value of intellectual property in the raw state and was somehow able to convert it to a product (or maybe someone who was very lucky). But it will not make me godly (even in the Greek Mythological sense because...I AM ZEUS!).

jeteye's picture

You are entitled to your

You are entitled to your opinion, but I still feel entrepreneurs are the closest thing to God on earth as I can find!

NY2TX's picture

I'd keep looking.

I'd keep looking.

jeteye's picture

Hum, regarding creating

Hum, regarding creating things, not generally anything else, BTW.

NY2TX's picture

Are entrepreneurs fallible?

Are entrepreneurs fallible?

jeteye's picture

Yes as God is. He created

Yes as God is. He created man didn't he?

matt's picture

Personally, I've never made

Personally, I've never made a mistake [that I didn't pay for].

NY2TX's picture

I AM ZEUS! the entrepreneur.

I AM ZEUS! the entrepreneur. But contrary to the premise of entrepreneurial godliness, there is human frailty and faillibility. I made a mistake ("very rare") recently that I might try to explain away as having been caused by exhaustion, fatigue and a small dose of sloppiness. Still, as a perfectionist, I don't make mistakes (at least not like the one I recently made). Its been repaired.

Bottom line is that entrepreneurs, even those who create something out of nothing, are not godly...we are all frail and human. We can do our best, we can persist, we can lead, we can attempt to achieve greatness.

I AM ZEUS!

jeteye's picture

God makes mistakes too! He

God makes mistakes too! He just does not have anyone to call him on the floor for them!

NY2TX's picture

I made a mistake and pay for

I made a mistake and pay for it to this moment. It will pass and be overcome. Some of the signs of an entrepreneur is to be able to overcome obstacles, to find solutions where no one else sees them, and to continue to persist in spite of all odds.

jeteye's picture

You are absolutely correct

You are absolutely correct and thanks for your perspectives!

NY2TX's picture

Ergo, an entrepreneur is

Ergo, an entrepreneur is human.

jeteye's picture

and at the same time, divine.

and at the same time, divine.

threew's picture

I am not touching this one

I am not touching this one ;~)

NY2TX?

William W. (Woody) Williams
Project Management Consultant
| Blog | Twitter |
w3src Consulting

NY2TX's picture

What? I wasn't going to

What? I wasn't going to (touch it).

jeteye's picture

Funny!

Funny!

threew's picture

A nice headline -- one

A nice headline -- one likely to attract readers.

A bit of a stretch in the analogy department but a worthy premise for the post.

However (you knew it was coming ;~) the analogy is one-sided, lacking a needed piece of definition / clarification.

In the description of god-like qualities, it is obviously only the successful entrepreneurs who possess them. In other words, the successful creation of something new qualifies but not the unsuccessful.

Given the analogy, where do unsuccessful entrepreneurs fit in the cosmic scheme? Gods who fail to make the grade are usually assigned to some nether region ;~)

If we try five or ten times without success and then finally succeed on the 11th attempt, are we god-like or are we instead sullied by our past demons... Entering the sacred chamber still carrying a whiff of those nether regions without enough brownie points to ascend the throne?

Looking for my scepter and crown,

William W. (Woody) Williams
Project Management Consultant
| Blog | Twitter |
w3src Consulting

jeteye's picture

Hey, how else do you explain

Hey, how else do you explain evolution? God likes making things, then destroying things. Uh oh, getting into Theological sciences now, got to be careful!

Hey, God is still working on me, and boy am I fallible!