Entrepreneurial Thinking is Basic Human Behavior

I believe that entrepreneurship is a birthright of every human being, reinforced by documents like the Declaration of Independence. Entrepreneurship is all about freedom, independent thought, and collaborations based on common values and diverse virtues. I believe it is in the very fabric of who we are as human beings.

Here is my evidence:

• As children (before we are subject to much indoctrination), we have all the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs:
  • taking initiative
  • creative problem solving
  • openness to opportunity
  • looking for a match that feels good to us in any exchange (half a cookie for that marble)
  • tenacity in pursuit
  • seeking collaboration
  • quick recovery from falls or mistakes

  42% of entrepreneurs say they launched their first venture during childhood (i.e. lemonade stand, paper route, etc.).
  –Northeastern University’s School of Technological Entrepreneurship, October 2006 (as quoted by Entrepreneur Magazine)

• As adults, if we need to learn to function differently due to a disability, our values (not someone else’s rules), combine with these same human characteristics to guide us to success in creating work for ourselves.
• We get into trouble when we look outside of our own values (and body wisdom) for how to behave on a day to day basis. And that is what many people do as employees. They ask someone else to tell them how much they are worth, how hard to work, when to eat, when to use the rest room, and more.
• Have you ever noticed how people use entrepreneurial thinking when they immigrate to the USA, even in the bleakest of circumstances? No rich uncle to help them get started, they often do not have much more than their own body, their own existence (which it turns out, is a valuable business asset!). Business is born out of their behavior, not an MBA. (Now, I am not disputing the fact that financial assistance and education are rather helpful in many circumstances. I am saying that people can and do start successful businesses without it. Any help can become a crutch and throw us off-balance, when we lean on it despite our good health.)

What do you notice? And what has that led you to believe about entrepreneurship?