Entrepreneur: Someone who organizes a business venture and assumes the risk for it.

Sure, being an entrepreneur has its benefits; however, I’m starting to realize that the image of an entrepreneur is skewed in the public eye.   By definition, an entrepreneur holds responsibility for creating and growing their company.  Most often, real entrepreneurs can be found focusing on the continuation and improvement of their companies no matter the role they continue to play in the business.  Who better to obsess about the state of the business than the creator knowing the ins and outs? That’s true even if they have shifted risk by taking on staff and investors as their company grew from what once was an idea.  For most, the role of an entrepreneur doesn’t stop once certain accomplishments are made. Even after a successful exit the founder is likely to stay on board under new ownership.

The twisted assumption, since the dot-com era, is that entrepreneurs have more money and time than they can manage.  When I’m approached about a business idea, unfortunately, the majority of the time I hear things resembling quotes from Clients from Hell. That was a little amusing at first but has become an annoyance.  The reality, as I see it, is that the most successful entrepreneurs are either in it for the love of the money or the love of the game, beyond the money and benefits of being their own boss. Even though we see videos of Mark Zuckerberg “icing” his buddy, he’s worth billions and still shows up to work and stands behind his company through difficult times.

When it comes down to it, most entrepreneurs are interested in more than a dollar sign and are truly passionate about the company they are growing, almost as though it is an extension of themselves.  Rarely is a blockbuster company created with the sole intent of profit and early retirement. Rather, it begins as an innovation to improve the creators’ quality of life or efficiency.  Furthermore, the chance of hitting a grand slam your first at bat is nearly impossible (never mind, bad example). The underlying issue has been, and will be, that successful companies come from relentless passion and devotion, while blockbuster companies happen to arrive to the right place at the right time while being fueled by the same passion and devotion.

For me, however, it’s been a bit different.  Both of my grandfathers were entrepreneurs.  My father’s father operated a uniform company in a small town in the South.  I think that I’ve been brought up with a more realistic, appreciative sense of what it means to be an entrepreneur.  From a young age, I’ve understood that owning a company was more about an intellectual adventure than it was about chasing luxuries.  Money is available through any profession, so being an entrepreneur was more about the excitement of facing challenges and being innovative in your field.

As for myself, I’m a self-employed and bootstrapping the development of a company.  More often than not, my life style is glorified and envied by my peers if I’m logged on to messaging programs all day/night. The reality, fortunately, is that I enjoy what I do and make myself available for my clients.  I enjoy it to the point that I often work through weekends and spend my spare time on the road focused on my work.  More than enjoying what I’m doing, I enjoy the thrill and excitement of facing challenges and building my dreams into reality.  No matter how much devotion and energy I put into what I’m building, I’m left feeling like I’m shooting for the moon on a homemade rocket.  That excites me.