Everyone seems to want to be an “entrepreneur.” It’s used everywhere to entice, encourage, motivate and describe business owners today. It’s definitely a buzzword on magazine covers, in the news, with the SBDC and at various business programs and events. But I do not believe every small business owner is an entrepreneur.

When I first published my weekly advertising paper, I thought anyone who hung out a shingle was an “entrepreneur.” It took about 6 months before, out of sheer frustration, I finally acknowledged to myself that was not the case.

It didn’t take long to figure out that just because an owner had a particular area of interest and even more, a desire to be their own boss, did not make them anywhere close to “entrepreneurial.” In fact, I discovered that at some point they became relatively comfortable with their  income and didn’t want to reach beyond that if it required much change in their routines.

Oh, don’t get me wrong! They certainly talked a great deal about the many reasons they couldn’t get ahead: how bad business was, their competition, cash flow, etc. But, even when given opportunities, they rarely took advantage. “No time,” was the well-worn mantra.

• Without a doubt business owners work hard.
  Entrepreneurs aim to work smarter.
• Business owners seem to always be busy, but is it “business or busyness!”
  Entrepreneurs try to develop systems making it easy to delegate, thus able to continue to grow their business.
• Business owners gnenerally think everything can be solved with money.
  Entrepreneurs know money helps, but also know that without the right plan, it could ruin them.
• Business owners frequently blame: economy, taxes, competition, lack of traffic, the weather, etc.
  Entrepreneurs search for solutions, often turning these pitfalls into goldmines.
• Business owners have some interesting attitudes regarding profit and making money. I so often would hear, “Well, I wouldn’t want to be rich like THAT!” (Another post for the future)
  Entrepreneurs intend to make a profit.

In coming weeks I’ll write in more depth about the comments above, hoping to clarify the differences and what a business owner or entrepreneur might choose to do.

Bottom Line: There is nothing wrong with either approach. But we have to know which one we are. Our satisfaction and enjoyment depends on it. Our success also depends on it.

Catch you next week with more thoughts on this topic.  Warmly, Ellie