Becoming entrepreneurial is very much like learning a new language. While others are headed off for another predictable day, entrepreneurs are thinking about ambiguity, uncertainty and, even, paradox.<\/p>\n
Eavesdrop on a group of self-employed folks at your neighborhood coffee shop and the conversation bears little resemblance to those overheard in an employee lunchroom.<\/p>\n
To aid in the transition, I\u2019ve created The 21st Century Entrepreneur\u2019s Lexicon<\/em> to help you become fluent as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n Adventure<\/strong>\u2014any undertaking, the outcome of which cannot be known at the outset<\/p>\n Boss<\/strong>\u2014a four-letter word that is banished, unless, of course, it\u2019s what other people call you<\/p>\n Businessperson<\/strong>\u2014Duncan Bannatyne said it best. “Business is not the same thing as being an entrepreneur. Businessmen have fat bellies, red braces and pin stripe suits.<\/p>\n “Entrepreneurs do their own thing to create a business. I want to raise the profile of the entrepreneur and make it a sexier word so that more people will do it.”<\/p>\n Collaboration<\/strong>\u2014working with kindred spirits to produce a project or product of mutual benefit; far more satisfying than the old competition model of business<\/p>\n Comfort zone<\/strong>\u2014place to avoid or exit from quickly<\/p>\n Creativity<\/strong>\u2014the secret weapon of entrepreneurs<\/p>\n Dreambasher<\/strong>\u2014one who attempts to interfere with the dreams of another; also known for nipping their own dreams in the bud<\/p>\n Dreambuilder<\/strong>\u2014person assuming responsibility for creating the life of their dreams<\/p>\n Expense<\/strong>\u2014financial outlay used to run a business<\/p>\n Failure<\/strong>\u2014an option often mistaken for running out of patience<\/p>\n False security<\/strong>\u2014trusting someone else to take care of you<\/p>\n Fun<\/strong>\u2014the acid test of a good idea<\/p>\n Homework<\/strong>\u2014gathering information, doing research, talking to trusted allies; a preliminary to taking action, but not a substitute for action<\/p>\n Inspiration<\/strong>\u2014an entrepreneur\u2019s trusted invisible friend<\/p>\n Integrity<\/strong>\u2014the cornerstone of any worthy enterprise<\/p>\n Investment<\/strong>\u2014financial outlay spent in the expectation of a greater future return<\/p>\n Kindred spirit<\/strong>\u2014those folks whose faces light up when you walk in the room<\/p>\n Laughter<\/strong>\u2014sound emanating from the Joyfully Jobless throughout the day<\/p>\n Lifelong learning<\/strong>\u2014wonderful bonus of being self-employed<\/p>\n Multiple profit centers<\/strong>\u2014the jigsaw pieces that make up your perfect business<\/p>\n Natural monopoly<\/strong>\u2014when you are so perfect for the situation that the competition disappears<\/p>\n Options<\/strong>\u2014the more, the better; sound decision-making comes from considering multiple choices and selecting the best<\/p>\n Problems<\/strong>\u2014the hiding place of great opportunity<\/p>\n Purpose<\/strong>\u2014the guiding light for decision-making and business-building<\/p>\n Quotation<\/strong>\u2014wise thoughts to be collected; a good one is a seminar in a sentence<\/p>\n Remarkable<\/strong>\u2014a worthy aspiration for an entrepreneur<\/p>\n Right brain<\/strong>\u2014the generator of entrepreneurial ideas<\/p>\n Risk<\/strong>\u2014not knowing for sure, but being confident enough to move ahead because you\u2019ve done your homework<\/p>\n Security<\/strong>\u2014knowing you can solve problems, create profit centers, always find a way<\/p>\n Supervisior<\/strong>\u2014see Boss<\/p>\n Ubiquitous<\/strong>\u2014my favorite definition says \u201cappearing to be everywhere at once\u201d; a smart entrepreneur keeps looking for new ways and places to appear<\/p>\n Vision<\/strong>\u2014a place to come from<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0<\/p>\n Although I\u2019ve shared my lexicon in other places, I was inspired to dig it out again today after reading Scott Stratten\u2019s delightful Top Tep Things Entrepreneurs Never, Ever Say.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n If you haven\u2019t seen it yet, check it out for yourself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Becoming entrepreneurial is very much like learning a new language. While others are headed off for another predictable day, entrepreneurs are thinking about ambiguity, uncertainty and, even, paradox. Eavesdrop on a group of self-employed folks at your neighborhood coffee shop and the conversation bears little resemblance to those overheard in an employee lunchroom. To aid…<\/p>\n