I get the impression, the tone of your original message was tempered from experience. I don't believe your experience is unique. In our world of glass half full view and not half empty, the positive side of an entrepreneur is always the focus.
After reading Walter Isaacson book about Steve Jobs, I came away with the impression that Jobs was a ***, who I wouldn't be working for, at least not for long. After more research my title suggestion for the man was re-enforced. The few times that I have made the comment about the so called Apple visionary has caused me such consternation, I keep my opinion to myself. Now that I put it in writing the messages will flow.
Survival requires us to evolve. Sometimes to succeed our survival may require a change that otherwise would not seem unacceptable. The Emperor wears the cloths to be Emperor. I'm not confident I could enter the Entrepreneur arena yet leave not having undergone some unwanted change. Just doesn't seem possible with all the well crafted pricks around.
It is possible to consider it to be a bit grim, but it all depends on your perspective and your value system. There are lots of traits exhibited by successful entrepreneurs that we all admire, so for some it balances out. But there are realities of what it takes to achieve success. To have a winner often implies there is a loser. When I was starting out, I thought if you created something new, there was no competition and there would be no loser. I was wrong, it is just not as obvious who loses. Hopefully there is more upside than downside, but the downside is always there somewhere.
I believe that a good part of becoming has to do with putting the time into learning. When I see someone who is self educating, always reading and studying a subject of interest I know that there is potential in this person to be an entrepreneur. The next step is to find a niche where you can apply your skills or knowledge to providing something that a lot of people need or at least think they need. The best niches provide items or services that are not easily duplicated by copycats. Finally you must have perseverance so that you give your endeavor time to grow and mature.
Doug, it’s a grim representation of an entrepreneur’s character and ethics. Almost as if their success relies on predator behaviour and has to be at other people’s cost.
My take on being an entrepreneur is having the ability to run a business that can at the minimum sustain itself.
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