time that people believe in results and not dreams. Family, relatives, friends and even former corporate workmates will not come to the aid of your business. The sooner one embraces this reality, the better for their initial entrepreneurial journey.
Employees seek direction while entrepreneurs create a way
Employees tend to look for help when a problem arises at work and most are quite good at pointing out problems, debating problems and worrying about problems.
Entrepreneurs on the other hand do not have such comfort and must create the solutions that keep a company afloat. An entrepreneur must have a solution-mindset and cannot afford to spend time worrying about what could be and what isn ' t happening. The solution is the business.
Employees speak while entrepreneurs listen
When engaging customers, a lot of employees are quick to pitch a product to a customer without fully understanding the customer needs. Insurance agents and banking officials we see you. Employees are paid to push a product which often they do not fully understand nor use.
Entrepreneurs understand that before they can introduce any product to a customer, they need to first listen to the customer needs and that this in turn is a daily process. A complaining customer is a blessing to a real entrepreneur. Feedback is crucial. Customer surveys are sacred.
Employees strive for work-life balance while the entrepreneur ' s life is their work and vice versa
Yes, entrepreneurs have more freedom, but they also have more responsibilities. An entrepreneur ' s dream will only be realized to the extent of the personal time he or she is willing to sacrifice, and most entrepreneurs work long, tiring hours with sacrifices made on socializing, sleep and relaxation.
An employee can leave work at work, but an entrepreneur carries their business wherever they go, and in their head. This is the hard reality of the entrepreneur ' s world.
Employees are always working while entrepreneurs are always selling
Employees are heavy on desk work, reports, meetings, PowerPoint presentations, Zoom webinars and endless walks to the coffee dispenser.
Entrepreneurs cannot afford to sit behind a desk too long or have endless meetings and chats with colleagues.
They need to connect with their customers on daily basis. They need to keep in touch with their clientele and this is how they create scarcity and defend their territory.
Employees like silo-structure while entrepreneurs like infrastructure
An average employee focuses hardest on departmental functions that are tied to their monthly targets and more crucially, their annual bonuses. They could care less what was going on in the Finance, HR, Procurement or HSSE departments.
As an entrepreneur though one has to understand finances and how they directly impact business earnings. Entrepreneurs not only have to be everyone in their companies in the initial stages, but they also have to have a good understanding about how everything works together, irrespective of departmental function.
Jan Okonji is the founder, Business Growth Solutions and an entrepreneur with a passion for turning ideas into profitable businesses. He can be contacted for business support services and advice here, or through his email at: Info @ bizgrowth. club, or website: www. bizgrowth. club.