"I Am Not An Entrepreneur": My Biggest Discovery After Seven Years of Entrepreneurship

After seven years of being a founder and director of Centre de l'entrepreneuriat BRIDGES TO THE FUTURE , I've come to a surprising realization: I am not an entrepreneur. Instead, I have discovered that I am what's considered 'self-employed.'

To not create any confusion with solo entrepreneurs, we will use in this article the following term "Nucleus Business Owner".

Understanding the Difference: Entrepreneurs and the Self-Employed

Many people, including myself for a long time, conflate being an entrepreneur with being self-employed. Yet, there are critical differences.?

Entrepreneurship and self-employment are two concepts often used interchangeably, though they carry significant differences that underpin unique professional journeys. Understanding these differences can provide clarity and direction to aspiring business leaders and support the development of a balanced business ecosystem.

Entrepreneurs build businesses that are bigger than themselves. establish businesses with a vision of growth and scalability. They focus on orchestrating the business's trajectory rather than immersing themselves in the day-to-day tasks. They create systems, delegate tasks, and their businesses can continue to run and grow even in their absence.

On the other hand, self-employed individuals, while they also run their own businesses, are the primary or sole operators that are integral to their operation. They may have employees, but their active involvement is necessary for the business's functioning and success.

My Personal Revelation

Throughout my career, I believed I was an entrepreneur, yet I found myself at the heart of my business operations. Every aspect required my personal touch, and without my involvement, operations would grind to a halt.

This is a common scenario in sectors like consulting and training, where "Nucleus Business Owner" tends to be the norm for various reasons. The founder's expertise becomes a critical business asset, and clients often expect to work directly with the founder.

In such sectors, transitioning from "Nucleus Business" to entrepreneurship can present unique challenges, but it's not an impossible feat. It requires working on scalable models, systematizing knowledge, building a competent team, honing leadership skills, and investing in branding, among other strategies.

However, an important question to ponder is: Is it necessary or desirable to transition from self-employment to entrepreneurship?

Self-Employment vs. Entrepreneurship: There's No Right or Wrong

Let me be clear: being a "Nucleus Business Owner" is not a lesser form of entrepreneurship. It has its advantages.

As a Nucleus Business Owner, you gain control over your work, enjoy flexible hours, and foster direct client relationships. Despite these perks, your growth is typically tied to personal work capacity, which can blur work-life boundaries and heighten financial risk.

Entrepreneurship, while offering larger financial prospects and scalability, also carries challenges and risks. It demands skills in team management, task delegation, and market navigation, and maintaining growth can exert significant pressure.

The distinction between being a Nucleus Business Owner and an entrepreneur varies across sectors. In fields like consulting or personal services, operating as a Nucleus Business Owner may be most advantageous. Therefore, individual aspirations and industry dynamics play a key role in determining one's path.

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Beyond Employment: The Transition from Self-Employment to Entrepreneurship

Contrary to common belief, simply employing others doesn't make a self-employed individual an entrepreneur. The transition involves creating systems that can function without the owner's constant input.

This shift means learning to delegate tasks effectively, standardizing their knowledge and processes, hiring employees or outsourcing tasks, and gradually removing themselves from the day-to-day operations of the business.

However, for some "Nucleus Business Owners", such as artists or craftsmen, where the value of their business is intimately tied to their personal skills, style, or reputation, transitioning to an entrepreneurial role might be more challenging. They can still become entrepreneurs by perhaps starting an art school or a workshop business teaching others their craft, but the path might not be as straightforward.

Cultivating a Balanced Business Ecosystem: Balancing "Nucleus Business" and Entrepreneurship

Balancing "Nucleus Business" and entrepreneurship is vital for a resilient, dynamic, and inclusive local economy. While Nucleus Business Owners catalyze job creation, innovate, and adapt to economic shocks with their services, entrepreneurs drive large-scale economic growth through scalable businesses.

Nucleus Business Owners excel at identifying niche markets, meeting specific demands, and driving creativity within their domains. Concurrently, entrepreneurs introduce innovative products or services, attract investments, and stimulate widespread economic progress.

However, an ecosystem with a surplus of self-employment may limit expansive job growth and substantial economic upliftment. So, while Nucleus Business creates individual opportunities, entrepreneurship drives significant economic growth and job creation. Therefore, entrepreneurship, while riskier, has the potential to generate more jobs, and revenue, and inspire a culture of innovation.

Nevertheless, achieving a balance doesn't mean neglecting one for the other. Policies and programs should encourage both self-employment and entrepreneurship. After all, many successful entrepreneurs begin their journeys as self-employed individuals.

Fostering an environment where both "Nucleus Business" and entrepreneurship can flourish paves the way for diverse economic participation and a prosperous business ecosystem.

Takeaways

Recognizing the differences between "Nucleus Business" and entrepreneurship allows us to better understand our own professional journeys and ambitions. It helps us select the path that aligns best with our personal aspirations, lifestyle, and business goals.

Furthermore, a broader understanding of these concepts is critical in shaping effective policies and support programs that foster a balanced and dynamic business ecosystem. By tailoring our support for these different paths, we can encourage a vibrant, resilient, and inclusive economy that offers a variety of opportunities for all.

In our upcoming articles, we will delve deeper into the unique support programs and strategies needed for both self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs. We will explore how these mechanisms can be leveraged to foster a thriving business ecosystem, so stay tuned!