ENTREPRENEURSHIPWhy Entrepreneurs Are Unemployable

Entrepreneurship is on the rise and everyone’s aspiring to be their own boss. Research from Mason University says that, “humans are entrepreneurial by nature. We desire to improve our material well-being, which drives us to innovate, often through new business creation.” , it comes as a natural need within us. But a lot is being asked of an individual on what qualities they would be needing to make it as an entrepreneur. The list is endless, with traits that link to eventually having a successful business.

One would think that if you are able to start a business and make it flourish, then you would be attractive to any part of the corporate world. However, once someone enters the entrepreneur world and most especially do so successfully, they become far too useful and productive to go back to the employment pool. Hence, the 8 reasons why’some entrepreneurs are considered to be ‘unemployable’:

1. Entrepreneurs think differently than the common employee.

Most employees are like corporate drones who just do what is asked of them. An entrepreneur on the other hand will question and challenge the tasks and see how it can be improved. This will cause some strife with your employers as most will just prefer if you get the job done, no questions asked.

More than just a suspicion, a research article from the Harvard Business Review confirms that entrepreneurs’ brains are really wired differently. Each experiment they conducted resulted into more positive results towards entrepreneurs’ minds.

2. Entrepreneurs can’t be pigeonholed 

There’s nothing like owning your own business to collect and develop your skills quickly. Many entrepreneurs, especially if they start off on their own, will have acquired skills on areas such as know how marketing affects sales, operations, finance, etc. Once they’ve started employing people, they then also become managers and learn how to manage not only the people but also their stock, cash flow, deliveries, online strategy and sales, and any other parts of the business.

Supported by a panel study by Bat Batjargal for the Davis Center for Russian studies in Harvard University and the Guanghua School of Management in Peking University, entrepreneurial versatility has positive impacts on a firm’s performance. Because of an entrepreneur’s exposure to different departments, they have “the ability to anticipate and structure what types of resources are needed, how much resources are needed, and when resources are needed. Doing this leads them to better assessment and strategy making for entrepreneurial opportunities.

3. Entrepreneurs are quick to think on their feet

You need to be able to think fast and have successful decision-making skills in order to succeed in entrepreneurship. This ability may not always be welcome as an employee because you will have to run your idea by your boss, your boss’ boss, and so on and so forth. An experimental study by MIT have concluded that entrepreneurs really do think differently as their decision making lies in the timing of knowing when to shift between the two forms of thinking (creative and logical).

4. Entrepreneurs offer a fresh perspective

Bringing strangers or outsiders are often something that corporations are weary of. They’ve already built a set system and ideals of how their company works. Entrepreneurs are always keen on offering fresh perspective and this won’t always sit well with people who say “that’s not how we do things here”.

5. Entrepreneurs have an unquenchable desire

According to the studies conducted by Napoleon Hill—the Father of self-development and writer of the classic all-time bestseller, Think and Grow Rich, the wealthiest entrepreneurs who have made the biggest impact on the world have unquenchable desire. Entrepreneurs can always get things done, but the “problem” is that they will always want more. Something that won’t be addressed if they are employed.

6. Entrepreneurs have trouble listening to others

It’s not a bad thing to love to talk about themselves. Entrepreneurs are used to it because they have to describe their latest innovation, sell their services, etc. The love for gab, unfortunately, will not fly in the corporate world.

7. Entrepreneurs get easily distracted

One UK study of note found a genetic link “between a dopamine receptor gene variation associated with ADHD and the tendency to be an entrepreneur”. The constant seeking of new sensations, being a hands-on learner and the like are things that are natural to an entrepreneur. This trait works better for when you have your own business.

8. Entrepreneurs value their freedom

The Max Planck Institute of Economics in Germany and the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom has conducted a study that revealed that the transition from wage employment to self-employment boosted people’s overall life satisfaction. This is generally from the notion that individuals have more freedom when they choose the life of entrepreneurship. They can manage their own time, business, work, etc, and tailor it to their preference. This is perhaps the biggest reason why people are attracted to being an entrepreneur.

Overall, entrepreneurs are risk takers that do not take kindly to having to play by other people’s rules or molding themselves to any other corporation. Entrepreneurs are all about breaking the traditional work rules and doing a lot of things to make it in the end. The journey of every individual who takes on this difficult endeavor is filled with highs and lows. And if these traits consider them “unemployable”, then they can always continue to be their own boss.