Is Religion a form of Entrepreneurship or is Entrepreneurship a Religion?
Religion & Entrepreneurship
Religion dates back to a time where the idea of the unknown intrigued the minds of politicians and paupers alike. Those that guided the masses to the presence of the unknown were called leaders and chiefs. As time went on, the unknown powers became known as omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent Gods.
Religion, like entrepreneurship, addresses the market needs of its potential or existing customer base through tactics involving the mongering of fear (of being left behind or losing your prized possessions) or greed (wanting to have much more from what they have today). Religion typically has an emotional, parental, or social bond to change the world, while entrepreneurship has the “driven energy” bond to create products or services that transform the world. Both require consistent marketing & sales; hence I say Entrepreneurship is a religion and entrepreneurs are like religion or spiritual leaders of their cult.
The religion leader is an entrepreneur. He has a mission, a team, and must create cash flow. His product are his teachings, whose mass market acceptance is critical to the growth of the institution. The customers of the religion are its followers, who must pay to keep the organization alive. There are niche marketed religion or religious leaders, as well as those that are mass marketed, nationally or globally, like a business. Religions have headquarters and distribution channels (churches, temples etc.) along with satellite offices, local management and extremely loyal customers. Lasting religion constantly provides effective solutions to the ever changing needs of its disciples or followers. Like entrepreneurship, religion is creative; each faction taking advantage of their differential values to entice its desired client base through promises of a better overall life.
Through a series of articles hereinafter, it is my intent to share with you, my assessment, research and the commonality between Religion and Entrepreneurship, with only different words and language to attract and create the growth of disciples or customer base.