Entrepreneurs are not the same as employees; they  tick in very different ways. Entrepreneurs have their own unique wiring, they change the rules and they approach the world with a fresh perspective. So what makes an entrepreneur different from an employee and how do they differ from all the other hardworking people out there? 

Employees are threatened by smarter people, entrepreneurs hire them.

Employees see someone who knows more than them and might worry they might be replaced. They become territorial but an entrepreneur loves those people. They understand that having smart people around them drives their vision so they hire up. They pick up new ways of thinking and take no issue with others knowing more than them. In fact, they capitalize on that.

Entrepreneurs believe in seasons, employees believe in balance

In 1923, Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company, said, "I do not believe a man can ever leave his business. He ought to think of it by day and dream of it by night." Here he is showing how for an entrepreneur, home and work become blurred. Big dreams don’t keep office hours and to bring an idea to life, you need to work very hard at it for a very long time. Employees, albeit extremely hard working, prefer to keep working hours. They dream of work-life balance. Driven by salary and KPIs rather than vision and ideas. An entrepreneur on the other hand understands that balance is seasonal and aspects of their personal lives may need to suffer for their dreams to become a reality.

Entrepreneurs challenge status quo, employees go with the flow

Setbacks in business are an absolute certainty. But most employees shy away from corporate adversity, while entrepreneurs thrive on it. They see it as an opportunity as opposed to a setback. It provides the possibility to think differently which is vital to an entrepreneur’s thinking. 

Entrepreneurs are risky, employees play it safe

You’ve heard the saying “The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward”. This was written with entrepreneurs in mind. Challenging the status quo and taking risks is core to how they think. Often thriving on the ride of risk and reward. Employees on the other hand might prefer to play it safe – needing to rely on their salary, pension and peace of mind.  

Entrepreneurs see mistakes as opportunities, employees see mistakes as failure.

Entrepreneurs understand that even Steve Jobs and Warren Buffet made mistakes. And that these mistakes were essential for learning and developing their ideas. What makes an entrepreneur different from an employee is that they don’t shy away from mistakes. They make them boldly, own them and learn from them.

Entrepreneurs ask around, employees ask up.

Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely road. So consulting with peers is an essential component of the job. They need advice like anyone else does. They keep an open mind and trust other people’s opinions. This is often where they will cross-reference ideas and play out scenarios. An employee on the other hand might have a ‘what is protocol’ type of approach. Doing what they’re told rather than seeking advice to widen their thinking.

Entrepreneurs see far, employees focus up close

Richard Branson said "Entrepreneurs can inspire new movements, create new jobs and stimulate economies. They can encourage people to be more entrepreneurial and sow the seeds for the next generation of job creators and innovators." Entrepreneurs think big. They don’t accept the reality in front of them. They are more than ideas people but are doers as well. The alchemy of this combination is extremely special and can produce great things. An employee might embrace someone else’s vision and help them create it. An equally important component but a very different one, none-the-less.

Entrepreneurs say “No”, employees are all about the “Yes”

Employees never say no to an opportunity for fear that it might interfere with their big break. Entrepreneurs on the other hand flex their ‘No’ muscle all the time. This helps them focus on what really matters. As Warren Buffet said “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”

The bottom line

Every successful business requires a balance of hard working employees and an entrepreneur at the helm in order to help it fly. These dynamics often come down to how people are wired, how they approach risk and what gets their juices flowing. At Merchant Capital we celebrate you, the entrepreneur, for taking the road less travelled. In fact our products are tailored to support your fast decisions and flexible mindset. For more information on how to fund your next big idea, contact us today.

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