Can Anyone be an Entrepreneur?

It’s easy to put ourselves down, but when was the last time we built ourselves up? 

Maybe you’ve thought about starting a business, but you’re quick to put yourself down. Maybe your doubts sound something like this: I’m not young enough, I’m not old enough, I’m not knowledgeable enough, I’m just a nobody, I’ve never even known a business owner - what would make me think I could be any different? If any of that sounds familiar, this blog post is for you.

Sara Blakely (founder and inventor of Spanx, and one of my role models) tells this story when she visited an elementary school classroom and asked the children “what does an inventor look like?”. They said things like “he has crazy hair!” “he wears glasses!” “he’s tall!” And she smiles and says “well, I’m an inventor” and enjoyed watching their little eyes light up. The realization that she could be an inventor was a new and awesome idea. 

We all have an idea of what an inventor, or entrepreneur, looks like. We might picture this person coming from a certain part of the country, or neighborhood, or socioeconomic status, or race. And if we don’t feel connected to that image in our head, it can be hard to overcome that to become an entrepreneur. 

I’m not saying that everyone can become an entrepreneur, but I am saying that anyone from anywhere can be an entrepreneur. 

This idea is played out so beautifully in the Disney Pixar film Ratatouille. Spoiler warning. The animated movie is about Remy, a rat who loves to cook and has aspirations of becoming a great chef despite his unlikeliness of becoming one in the human world (you know, because he’s a rat). Chef Gusteau (his idol) has the motto “Anyone can cook”. At the end of the movie the once-villainized food critic explains the line so beautifully: “The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends. Last night, I experienced something new: an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions about fine cooking is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core. In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau’s famous motto, “Anyone can cook.” But I realize, only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist; but a great artist can come from anywhere.”

How beautiful!

I believe that more than where you came from or what you look like, your character is going to determine if you have what it takes to become an entrepreneur. It may be more challenging for you. You may not  have the same privilege that I do and your journey may look and feel a lot different. But that won’t stop you from becoming an entrepreneur. What will stop you? A lack of problem solving, determination, gumption, discipline, and creativity. 

“The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends.” Do you have a new friend in your business journey yet? I’d love to support you and encourage you in this process. I coach women who are new to business to bootstrap and DIY your passions into a profitable business. Your first call with me is free so that we can see if we'd be a good fit. Book your call here!