Are you an Entrepreneur?
Gareth Sear
Business Engagement, Economic Development, Programme Manager, Stakeholder Management, Project Manager, Leader with a passion for Innovation, Micro, Small & Medium Businesses, start-ups and life long learning.
Time and time again I get told that people don’t identify themselves as ‘Entrepreneurs’. That is for the Dysons, the Bransons, and the Sugars of this world. The question is, how do people who start their own business identify themselves?
Doing some very rough and ready Twitter based research (OK, so I asked a question), the feedback came, quite clearly that people who start a business tend to refer to themselves as ‘someone who has started a business’.
At the University I speak to numerous students about business start-up, entrepreneurship and enterprise and the language I use with them is important too.
Here is an example from a student studying English. As he passed our stand at a careers fair I asked if he had thought about starting his own business. He said no, he wants to be a freelance writer. Questioned further about being self-employed he quite clearly said no, he will be freelance.
This was very interesting, he wants to freelance, not have his own business, which relates directly to the current trend of the gig economy. There is a lot of information on the internet on the gig economy. Interesting articles from The Guardian, The FT and The Telegraph state that the self-employed (freelancers?) in the country are numbering nearly as many as public sector workers. This student, when he graduates, wants to be a self-employed Freelancer, working the ‘gig economy’ – short term assignments, contracting in to other organisations. But he isn’t starting a business and sure isn’t an entrepreneur.
When I market the business services that the University offers I need to think carefully about the language I intend to use. Especially when I am targeting students. Are they an entrepreneur? Are they starting a business? Or are they freelancers, professional artists, theatre companies, coaches, therapists or, just plain and simply, trying to make some cash to help them through Uni?
There are numerous customer segments for the business support that is provided at the University of Chichester. Making sure that I understand them and how they identify themselves is crucial to the success of delivering the support. Because there are so many customer segments then quite clearly and demonstrably, the answer to my question is that they identify themselves in many different ways. Time to rethink my marketing.
If you have started a business how do you identify yourself? Are you an Entrepreneur? A Freelancer? a Business Founder? Self Employed? Someone who runs their own business? Let me know in the comments, it would be great to hear your thoughts.
Owner of South Coast Mermaids
5 年I think I’m a small business owner... entrepreneur will come when I really create something new and something no-one has ever seen before! My business is fairly niche but it is not unique - how I teach and what I do is different to anyone else but I don’t feel like an entrepreneur! I have plans though....
International Officer | UK Higher Education
6 年Interesting. I think the amount of money coming in effects my language. Until developments start taking place in my business venture I feel I am simply 'a person who started a business'.
Embracing opportunities to innovate in sustainability and business strategy
7 年I absolutely agree that words have power and I find it also matters in the sense of the story we are telling ourselves, not just our customers. When I was employed I was regularly told I was an 'intrapreneur', ie being creative within the organisation, so it came a little more naturally to think of myself as an entrepreneur when I started Catalicity. I don't like to refer to myself as a consultant though because I have carefully designed methods that are different and are much closer to coaching. Interestingly as more people are getting involved with the business I feel less like I work 'for myself' as the business is developing its own personality so I'm working 'with my colleagues and associates' as opposed to working for anyone but that might be to do with the kind of business I'm building. How would you market to me? Well you're a friend of the business, a guide for my journey, a trusted critic, a friendly mentor... but again they may well be words that say more about my personality in business than about you. I have been working with Felipe on customer profiles and found that a very useful exercise and each will need a different voice from us, I wonder what profiles you would have and how that would influence the words you choose
Experienced Business Consultant | Expert in Growth, Marketing, Implementation, Operations, and Strategy
7 年I think for some the word entrepreneur may have a certain stigma or at least a association to some in a way that is similar to term 'Sales'. I think starting a business and realising that you are sales, marketing, accounts, IT, customer service plus the director or CEO it is a lot simpler and I think you deserve to call yourself an entrepreneur. Though if it is to my clients then perhaps I am an ecommerce specialist focusing on omnichannel, digital marketing and growth.
Business & Higher Education Strategist / Creative Thinker / Climber & Boulderer
8 年interesting questions and whilst I have and do consider myself to be very entrepreneurial I have never refer to myself as an entrepreneur. Yes, I know what it means and understand all the characteristics of one, but I've always considered myself as a company director and/or business founder and where appropriate as a freelance consultant.