Innoveering Nebraska

In “Ignore Everybody – And 39 Other Keys to Creativity” Hugh MacLeod isn’t teaching us to be creative (as “Imagination First”  and “Why Not” did).  Instead he shares his life experiences in falling into the career of an artist and entrepreneur.  This isn’t bad, in fact it’s very useful information and was a courageous thing to do.  It just wasn’t what I was expecting from the title and the hype.

The book is a good look into the life of an entrepreneur (albeit from the perspective of a seemingly grizzled, somewhat jaded and possibly dirty old man-esque entrepreneur). 

I found the book compelling enough to read in one sitting.  Each section is focused neatly on a specific topic with a few overarching themes (control your work, don’t rely on others, and it’s okay to make money from your passion – but don’t make your entire living from it).   

I don’t know that all of MacLeod’s message is relevant for everyone.  However, with the title “Ignore Everyone” I suspect he’d support the idea of readers taking what advice they need and ignoring the rest. 

The book is also freckled with MacLeod’s art – which is often poignant, insightful and not appropriate for children. 

Which brings me to some of the language used in the book.  Some readers might be offended while others will embrace it.  If you fall into the first category, please keep reading.  The book is worth it – I promise.  If you decide it’s not, you can contact me and cuss me out for misleading you. 

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Yesterday I wrote about my belief that there are universal factors to waken entrepreneurs much like Sleeping Beauty was waken with a kiss.  I suspect the degree of intensity for each factor is unique to each potential entrepreneur.

Today I’d like to discuss what these factors may include.  Be assured, I don’t assert that this list is complete.  In fact, I’m very curious about what key factors I’ve forgotten – or which factors you don’t believe should be included on the list. 

In no particular order, here are the factors I think contribute to Sleeping Beauties waking up and becoming entrepreneurs. 

• A willingness to take risks (personal, financial, professional…).  This isn’t just big risks, but also a lowering of your internal threshold for taking small risks. 
• Believing so strongly in something (an idea, product, service, business model) that you’re willing to look silly or be belittled by others
• A dissatisfaction with the status quo in your current organization, situation, environment.  This dissatisfaction needs to rise to the level where you’re willing to take risks and venture out on your own. 
• An openness to and active interest in creativity and new thoughts, processes, ideas, strategies, etc. 
• Resolve to see the business through to its end - whatever that may be.  Entrepreneurs aren’t easy quitters, but they are smart quitters. 
• Flexibility to shift gears or change direction as needed.  This might be rephrased as an ability to roll with the punches – and the successes.

Is the man below a sleeping businessman or an entrepreneur waiting to be waken?  I suspect he’s an entrepreneur if his external environment and internal thought processes have increased the above factors to a level where he’s ready to take action.  Watch out world, the entrepreneurs are awakening!

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A recent TechCrunch blog entry asked “Can Entrepreneurs Be Made?”    The piece is a great summary of recent research in this field.  It’s also generated a lot of useful and fascinating discussions.

Most research indicates entrepreneurs are made.   How entrepreneurs are made is much less certain. 

I’ve given it some thought and believe most people (if not everyone) has the potential to become an entrepreneur.   That said, I don’t think there is a cookie-cutter factory method for making entrepreneurs.  Furthermore, without a large shift in our society, I doubt entrepreneurs can be mass produced.      

It’s a fanciful analogy, but I suspect entrepreneurs are Sleeping Beauties waiting to be waken by the right combination of factors (which probably don’t include any princes or kisses).   I suspect these “factors” are universal, but that the degree of intensity for each factor is unique to each potential entrepreneur. 

The No Idea Factory inspires entrepreneurs everywhere – and causes others to dream of an entrepreneur factory,

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