Likes and attitude of an entrepreneur

Keeping in mind that you now know that every entrepreneur is a marketer by nature (Every entrepreneur is a marketer: Top five traits, published on 1 June 2012 in the Daily FT), let us have a look at the likes of an entrepreneur. 

Innovation and idea-storming

All entrepreneurs love it when they hear the word ‘innovation’ or that it’s time for an ‘idea-storming’ session

All entrepreneurs love it when they hear the word ‘innovation’ or that it’s time for an ‘idea-storming’ session. You tend to run like a kid on the block craving chocolate.

Whether it is an innovation to the market, an idea that will change the way we do things, or that extra scoop of ice-cream to the existing products and services, in my experience, entrepreneurs love to talk about it for hours and days, and they are simply addicted to coming up with these every single minute. 

There is one hated fact which is the most critical element to consider – financial capacity and capability. Some entrepreneurs have finance but no resources and skills to implement their ideas and plans, whilst others have the necessary set of resources and skills but have no financial capability, and worst, a majority of them are left with none of these but have ideas and creative ingredients within them. 

Meeting new people

Entrepreneurs are like those sales, business development, and PR professionals, where the ‘outgoing’ personality is required. They love meeting new people in every corner across several domains operating in diversified industries; this is why they mainly make a purchase to those huge forums, conferences and events where there are higher chances of socialising and meeting the perfect set of people. 

Entrepreneurs rarely stay at their office as they are busy meeting new people who eventually turn out to be great personal and business partners and prospects. They are more likely to be ready for anything at any time, and they love to meet people no matter what their size is, whether they are way younger, a competitor, or even a student.

If you take a majority of the corporate sector, executives have a so-called ‘attitude’ problem and only like to meet those who catch their eye; all that matters here is high status and looks, which is actually a kind of corporate racism.

Being an initiator

Unlike those executives sitting in big executive chairs where they have their own room with their name and designation printed either on the door or hanging on a pillar (and also not to mention, their name and designation again embedded on a glamorous silver thing kept on top of their desk followed by their business cards which they are addicted to), entrepreneurs are totally the opposite; they are more concerned about and addicted to their actions and initiatives rather than carrying out personal branding strategies.

Unlike those corporate executives who schedule useless meetings on Mondays and get drunk on Fridays, entrepreneurs do not have this type of behaviour. If that’s the case, you will only come across two types of entrepreneurs: either one who is addicted to meetings and making new contacts always, or the other extreme of a lazy heartbroken entrepreneur who is drunk 24/7 (which I am pretty sure we will never come across).

Leadership spirit

Which entrepreneur hates leadership? None. Every entrepreneur knows this fact and simply loves learning from great leaders. You don’t have to opt into those premium education programmes or executive educations at top universities; you could just become one on your own. 

Leadership is purely on a motive for carrying out their business strategies and day-to-day routines for entrepreneurs, unlike executives who are more motivated by promotions and respect. Many entrepreneurs like to research leadership skills and styles, and more of them learn about the lives of those great entrepreneurs and leaders whose names are remembered by millions of people.

Befriending everyone

Entrepreneurs love to make friends; may it be either with a top level CEO, an owner with a boutique pastry shop, a tea maker, or even a kid on the block. I have personally come across some who love doing this as they simply do not care about their status or where they stand right now. After all, human beings are just human beings; they are created equal, and entrepreneurs really understand and practice this in their day-to-day lives.

If they walk in to a small tea shop, they get really friendly with the owner or even the one who makes that sweet cup of tea. In my experience, they tend to respect and get friendly more towards the tea maker because how will that small tea shop survive without the tea maker itself? It will not, so now you see the reason why.

Trial and error lover 

A majority of entrepreneurs go through the trial and error process; and to be honest, they simply love it and are ready to take on anything that comes their way. On the other hand, there is no difference between an entrepreneur who has succeeded for the first time in the very first venture and an entrepreneur who has gone through much trial and error; they both are in a similar basket, except that the ‘trial and error’ entrepreneurs have more guts and experience.

Winning is not the other extreme of losing; like many say, they are both equal. The advantage here is that the loser has that extra experience on learning to lose and will apply it in future situations.

This is the case with entrepreneurs. Just like marketers who love to take risks and test market their ideas, products, and services, entrepreneurs too love doing the same. Now you understand why every entrepreneur is a marketer.

Conclusion

The reason why these great entrepreneurs have taken their ventures to global brand names is that they all have these likes, practiced marketing as a philosophy, and took it seriously in their strategic decisions.

You should clearly know that ‘sales’ is just another implementing tool that has its own independent dynamic circles and sub-techniques, but it is not ‘marketing’. Many people including top level executives and directors jumble both these words, and ultimately end up being basic calculators, administration heads, or finance controllers. 

(The writer is a professional marketer and visionary strategist. He is also the youngest global member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK. Tweet him on @thanzyl or email [email protected].)