Innoveering Nebraska

On January 7th I posted some thoughts on what qualifies someone for the “entrepreneur” label.  I still don’t have a firm definition, but I wanted to share a couple of opinions which have recently influenced my thoughts on this matter. 

First, two fellows I met at Awesome Camp in Lincoln on January 30th are very certain that someone can be entrepreneurial without being an entrepreneur.  If I understood them correctly (and I confess it was the end of an exciting day at the end of a tiring week) there must be several livelihoods dependant on the endeavor for someone to qualify as an entrepreneur.  To cite my earlier example, by these definitions my friend’s Lego operation is entrepreneurial, but doesn’t qualify her as an entrepreneur. 

This makes sense to me, but I find it unsatisfactory.  I think more words might be needed. 

In the meantime, I received an email today with a link to Hugh MacLeod’s new prints related to Seth Godin’s latest book, Linchpin.  In Linchpin: Are You Indispensable, Godin has a different definition of artist than Rocco Landesman, the NEA Chairman I quoted in my January 7th post.  Both Landesman and Godin believe artists are entrepreneurs. 

I’m going to quote MacLeod’s website directly, because I can’t say it any better than he has:  By Seth’s definition, an artist is not just some person who messes around with paint and brushes, an artist is somebody who does (and I LOVE this term) “emotional work.”  Work that you put your heart and soul into. Work that matters. Work that you gladly sacrifice all other alternatives for. As a working artist and cartoonist myself, I know exactly what he means. It’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it. – end quote

The idea that people doing “emotional work” are entrepreneurs resonates with me.  However, I have great respect for the two business men I met and their belief that entrepreneurial activities do not qualify one as an entrepreneur. 

I’m wondering if the words and definitions would line up to everyone’s satisfaction if we made a distinction between “entrepreneurs” (those with emotional work and/or entrepreneurial activities) and “business entrepreneurs” (those with livelihoods depending on their endeavor). 

Check out the rest of MacLeod’s prints here or order his book, Ignore Everybody: And 39 Other Keys to Creativity, here. 

Read reviews or order a copy of Godin’s book, Linchpin, here.    

By the way, isn’t it fun to see how one creative work inspires another?  How creative are you feeling today?  Do you think we have any obligation to share our creativity with others?  Who inspires you to be creative?  Can you spend more time with them or their work?  Can you do it today?

Below is one of Hugh MacLeod’s prints inspired by Seth Godin’s Linchpin. 

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Driving back and forth to Lincoln this week I listened to Seth Godin‘s Purple Cow.  It’s one of those books that just sort of resets your focus.  Also, the version from the Omaha Public Library is read by Malcolm Gladwell or someone who sounds just like him.  Check it out if you don’t believe me.   

One of the key points in this book is the concept of otaku which is the Japanese word for something that is “more than a hobby but a little less than an obsession.”  Godin’s point is that if you create a product in an area that has a large number of people with otaku for that area, those people will market your product for you. 

My favorite example from the book is hot sauces.  Lots of people feel strongly about and go to extra effort regarding their hot sauces.  Mustards on the other hand can have even more variety, but far fewer people care about them. 

Being reminded of otaku made me realize how often it had come up recently in my life.  My financial bookclub just read Rule #1 by Phil Town which advocates strongly for only investing in a very small number of companies that A) fit a profile over the last ten years and B) do business in one of your areas of otaku.  For the record Town doesn’t use the word otaku, but his description matches the word. 

The other time I think otaku is relevant is when you’re choosing a business to form.  Often this is described as passion for the business, but passion is built into otaku.  If you start a business around one of your areas of otaku, you can’t help but be passionate about it. 

So what is your otaku?  What do you make time for even when you’re busy?  What brings you joy?  What are you doing when you experience flow?  My otaku is new ideas, writing, maintaining my home and various gardens and teaching.   Nearly everyone who knows me could tell you this.  If you can’t figure out your otaku, ask the people around you.  I bet they know. 

By the way, if you want to talk about this idea with someone, it’s pronounced ew’ tacu (almost like “oo! a taco.” but “tacu”).  I like this word a lot and would love to have it integrated into our American English.   Please help.  It’s a great word and idea.

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