What is an entrepreneur?

Three Mindsets

According to Michael Gerber, author of the E-Myth and small business guru, there are three mindsets that fight for control when you run a business. The technician, the manager and the entrepreneur.

The technician does the thing. Typically they're passionate about that thing, and it's normally on their skill you begin to build a business. They're the plumber, the chef, the decorator or the inventor. In short, the technician creates value.

The manager is the system builder. Whether it be actual business systems or people systems. They allow and empower that technician to do as much as they possibly can. This is typically where the business skills live.

The third, and the most important is the entrepreneur. This is the person that works on the business, not in it. They don't get bogged down in yesterday and today. Their focus is on tomorrow. In making the business better and closing the gap between where you're at and where you want to be.

So what does that mean?

Simply put, that means you're in for some internal conflict as you grow your business. The technician thinks the entrepreneur is an idiot. The manager thinks the technician is lazy. The entrepreneur thinks that both of them don't really "get it".

Part of the balance of being a business owner is finding a way to wear all these hats and more. Knowing when you need to focus on one over the other. Of course it isn't easy. If it was, then everyone would be doing it. The point is that it needs to be done.

The entrepreneur is the lens into the future. And if you don't spend the right amount of time in that role, then something is going to come up that will take you totally by surprise. You're only option will be reactivity, when we should have been able to come at the issue proactively.

So book some time in your calendar to be the entrepreneur. Future you will thank you for it.