Issue #15: The Entrepreneuring Employee

Tag: Personal Development, Employee Motivations

In this issue:

• Differences between entrepreneurs and 9-6 employees
• Observed traits of successful entrepreneurs
• What those traits could look like if 9-6 employees embodied them
• How to become the Entrepreneuring Employee?

Entrepreneurship and the 9-6

Two words that do not normally go together.

At least not in the first instance.

Entrepreneurship, in essence, is about running your own show. Setting up a business from ideation to execution. Fundraising to revenue collection.

As 9-6 employees, we are often payroll-ed to support one or more parts of that process. We are specialists in our domains, and focus on delivering outcomes specific to the roles in which we are hired for.

That may have been the ideal once upon a time,

However with the exponential rate at which businesses are expected to pivot in this volatile climate, what with technology disrupting our ways of working,

I believe there needs to be a fundamental shift in the mindset of the 9-6 employee.

But first, how different is the Entrepreneur from the 9-6 Employee?

Entrepreneur vs 9-6 Employee

Jokes aside, here are the top entrepreneur traits I have observed after speaking to 20+ successful entrepreneurs this year:

1. OWNERSHIP > They take ownership of what they do (successes or failures), because there is no one else to delegate that to.
2. RESILIENCE > Because they have to own all their successes and failures, they learn to take them with stride.
3. ENERGY > More often than not, the energy they bring to the work they do translates into business opportunities, which translates into value creation. We are often attracted to people with similar energy levels
4. POSITIVITY > Our emotions has a direct impact on the quality of outcomes (be it interpersonal interactions, or ideas and problems solved). Entrepreneurs understand that how they feel on the inside has direct impact on what they can deliver on the outside.
5. PURPOSE > Entrepreneurs are driven by their inner purpose. In the darkest of times, that is the flame that continues to burn bright.

A First Look

What if we took those best traits of successful entrepreneurs, and modelled it in the 9-6 employee?

How could that look like?

1. OWNERSHIP

An employee that take ownership of their own personal and career development will not find excuses for themselves. They will seek different ways to perform better. Embrace both successes and failures in how it allows them to move forward.

2. RESILIENCE

A resilient employee understands that hardship is but one phase in their journey. They do not shy from doing the hard work, neither do they avoid the paths that appear to be more uncertain or treacherous. Instead, a resilient employee centers within themselves, to deliver their best self regardless of circumstance.

3. ENERGY

An energetic employee radiates and energizes the room. They bring “life” to workplace discussions, generating unique ideas and ways of working. Their energy is infectious, and their teams get energized as a result.

4. POSITIVITY

A positive employee is unbreakable. They view setbacks as opportunities, and criticisms as feedback for improvement. They balance toxic work cultures, and dare to dream of a workplace that can win for everyone.

5. PURPOSE

A purpose-driven employee takes pride in the work they deliver. They seek to contribute in a meaningful way, and to drive true value for organizations.

Becoming THAT Entrepreneuring employee

“Wow! How can I be like that?”

You don’t have to look far. As an employee, start by first THINKING like an entrepreneur.

KNOWLEDGE

If this was YOUR business, how would you run it?

What are the things that you would do better? Why?

Start with that, and then corroborate.

For example, an engineer may think that “raising purchase orders” should be procurement or finance’s roles. Start by talking to your procurement and finance guys. Understand what their perspective is, where the gaps in knowledge/ information are.

Best case scenario? You find someone else who would take ownership to do this work well.

The “worst” that could happen? You gain an appreciation for why this process is important.

The more we do this, the greater appreciation we have for the business beyond our job scopes, and that allows for collaboration and synergy when the need arises.

DEVELOPMENT

Do you own your personal and career development? Why? Why not?

As 9-6 employees, the biggest mistake we can make is when we “cede” ownership of our personal and career development to the companies we work for.

I cannot tell you the number of times I have heard an employee say this with regards to personal or career development initiatives:

“If the company doesn’t care, then why should I?”

Of course you should!

Investing in your own development helps to grow your individual entity. Even if the company fails to see the value in investing in your growth, we should not allow that to hinder our personal growth.

Start investing in courses, knowledge, inner work that helps you to develop your unique self both in work and in life. Hire coaches, trainers, teachers to unblock what hinders you so that you level up. This investment is something you can carry with you regardless of which jobs you end up in.

RELATIONSHIPS

I am a convert when it comes to relationships.

Once upon a time, I used to think that relationship-building were for those who were incompetent, where they needed to rely on something other than their own capabilities to get ahead.

All that changed when I emerged from a bubble of entitled connections and into the world beyond my company and job.

Meeting and talking to entrepreneurs throughout the year further solidified that mindset shift.

When we are alone, we can go fast. But to go far? We need to go at it together.

Our career journey is one that is intertwined with many others around us. Bosses, mentors, subordinates, associates, partners, suppliers, customers, acquaintances.

As we move through it, we need to understand that others are moving through their own unique journeys as well.

Being able to show empathy, genuine care and concern for the people around us, and to embrace an abundant mindset in which we can all possibly win together? Those are traits that will allow us to go far.

Where we do not see our network and connections as stepping stones to move ahead, but as companions with whom we sail together, each one bringing their unique strengths and attributes to the table.

Be open to seeking for help or mentorship, but always ask yourself: what value can you give back to them, so that this relationship can be made more meaningful?

Too hard to answer?

Ask the other party instead.

How can I help you? How can I support you?

The answers that come back may often surprise you.

The Entrepreneuring Employee

The entrepreneuring employee will be a gamechanger that will allow organizations to flourish despite the increasingly volatile economic climate.

That said, they still remain a rare breed today.

Why do you think that is so?

What is the “umpff” that 9-6 employees need to start looking beyond their current job scope?

What is the role bosses and managers can play to develop these entrepreneuring employees and in turn nurture a more engaged and empathetic Future of Work?

Why am I writing this?

Hey guys, I am Jevon (Jiehan) Yang, a coach and finance professional with 10+ years of experience working in various MNCs! Many corporate employees like me have a love-hate relationship with their workplaces; there are some perks we enjoy about it, others not so much.

That said, I believe the key to thriving in our workplaces lie in how we take ownership of our work-life narrative.

As individuals, how do we care more for the organizations we work for, and own our shared values beyond the job titles we hold?

As people managers, how can we do the best for our people beyond their performance at the workplace?

As corporate leaders, how do we construct a Future of Work that individuals and managers can both be proud to call their own?

The Monday Playbook holds these conversations, and more.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts about it too!

Yours Truly,

Jevon