There’s a difference between an entrepreneur and a small business owner.  Small business owners own small businesses.  Entrepreneurs solve problems.

-Simon Sinek

 If you are struggling getting your new business venture off the ground, it is time to visit with one of the masters of business success, Peter Drucker.  He was the leader in the development of management education and invented “management by objectives”.  He wrote dozens of books about business and management.  Drucker was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002.

The article by Eric Wagner, contributor to Forbes Magazine, lists Drucker’s 12 Keys to success (http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericwagner/2013/05/07/entrepreneurship-according-to-drucker-your-12-keys-to-success/).

Today, we are going to look at the first 2 keys and see if you fit Drucker’s keys to being an entrepreneur. 

Key 1: “Those who perform love what they’re doing.”

This is an important first step to your knowing if you can fill the shoes of an entrepreneur.  If you are working because you have to and are only working to make a living, you are better fitted to be in a business or to work in a business.  Entrepreneurship may not be in your DNA. 

However, if you love doing what you are doing and also of course, want to make money doing it, then you fit the first key of being an entrepreneur.  To many people this seems strange, or even revolutionary, the very idea that you can love your work.  Many people have lived their entire lives so run by what they are supposed to do, or with what will make them look good to other people, that they have never discovered what it is they truly love to do.  It’s never too late to find out; without it you will quickly lose interest as you begin to develop your business.

You may find out that you are not suited for entrepreneurship when you hit the first or the tenth pot hole in the road to success.  Suddenly, you hate your work and can’t wait for each day to end.  If you are reading this and say, “that’s me”, it’s time to re-examine your commitment to the venture.

Key 2.“Successful entrepreneurs do not wait until “the Muse kisses them” and gives them a bright idea; they go to work.”

The key here is the last phrase: they go to work.  Are you waiting to start starting?  Then go to work.  Are you waiting for X to occur?  Take the first step; go to work.  X will either happen or not, but the going to work will lead you to the next step and the next step—you get the picture.

Might you make mistakes?  I certainly hope so, since that will show you what is working and what is not.  Remember failure is good.  All failures show that, number one, you are working, and that, number two, the failed action wasn’t the right one.  Only by going to work will you find out what is next.

I am looking forward to your comments and reactions about the first 2 keys to entrepreneurial success.  As always, I appreciate you and your comments!

Photo Courtesy of Oomf.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
•