Nowadays, everyone is “entrepreneurial” — influencers, corporate innovation teams, authors, investors, heck — even kids can be “praised” for being entrepreneurial. It’s a watered-down word.
Does it mean “striving for more,” “having grit,” or “lacking patience and respect for the status quo?” It’s probably all of those things, but only if you realize that the only validation you will get on the way is negative.
“It is an acceptance of being uncomfortable that drives change.” ― Curtis L. Jenkins
Athletes in niche sports are my favorite way of thinking about it. If you want to be the best rock climber, ultra marathon runner, or Muggle Quidditch, there are no sponsors, spectators, or awards, just self-driven work. You endure falls, chafing, and constant questioning — with the only progress meter in your heart. Like founders, you “level” externally — doing bigger races or other yardsticks of progress. But, as seasoned entrepreneurs know, raising a Series A is a milestone but not a guarantee of success.
Most jobs require the “entrepreneurial spirit” — from solopreneuring and freelancing to working in a small team.
In a small team, you might be the “Head of X,” but you are also the Body and Soul. The body is the one fatigued and chafed, the soul the one haunting you at night. You might look for better tools or “hacks,” but the only way to finish is to keep at it and improve.
It’s the cliché that you must find inner fulfillment and “do the job even if unpaid.” But it also means nobody will save you when given a challenge. You need to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
The only validation you will get is Negative was originally published in Thinking about Startups on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
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