For Your career to be a success you have to own it. You have to be an entrepreneur.
The term “entrepreneur” invokes different images for people: “a doer”; “a real go-getter”; “a business-owner”; or “Donald Trump” are some examples. A more precise picture of what an entrepreneur is can be expressed in the following definition:
“One who Organizes, Manages, and Assumes the Risks and Rewards of an Activity. “
This definition can and should include employment and job search activities. This is often a problem for persons who work for someone else because they fail to adopt a proper mind-set. Instead of following the above mindset they adopt a frame of mind which I refer to as the “ANTI-ENTREPRENEUR.”
Instead of taking charge, the Anti-Entrepreneur tends to harbor attitudes that are self-defeating, such as: “That’s not in my job description”; “following up with job prospects isn’t necessary”; or “I hate networking – I’ll just skip it.”
Anyone who spends their career working for someone else should examine themselves closely and make certain that this type of mind-set is completely absent from their career. If this mindset is present it should be replaced with an attitude that is more appropriate and much more productive for the employee or job-seeker roles.
An employee-entrepreneur focuses on the needs, goals, and problems of the customer, his or her employer, as well as the actions necessary to provide employer-centered solutions. The employee-entrepreneur accomplishes tasks in an efficient manner, provides functional flexibility, and makes no excuses. Flexibility is probably his single greatest trait because it greatly enhances productivity, which equates to profitability from an employer’s perspective. This entrepreneur, like any other, must build and maintain a successful network to accomplish solutions and create successful exit strategies and future opportunities.
A job-seeker-entrepreneur must also focus on the needs, goals, and problems of their prospective customer to win their business (a job). Like any entrepreneur, he or she must know their product (abilities and skills) and how to sell them as the solution to the prospective employer’s problems. The job-seeker-entrepreneur must build sales, marketing, and administrative supports to successfully win the prospect over. This includes resumes, cover letters, interview responses, and elevator speeches. The job-seeker-entrepreneur must make important decisions regarding their time and money. Can you self-help or do you need to get outside assistance. If you need to spend money what is the return on investment? Finally, like the employee-entrepreneur, maintenance of an effective network is essential to the success of the job-seeker, both now and in the future.
We all have to own our careers. This means taking responsibility for success. We all have to make choices that have a direct impact on our destiny. For this reason we are all entrepreneurs.
The term “entrepreneur” invokes different images for people: “a doer”; “a real go-getter”; “a business-owner”; or “Donald Trump” are some examples. A more precise picture of what an entrepreneur is can be expressed in the following definition:
“One who Organizes, Manages, and Assumes the Risks and Rewards of an Activity. “
This definition can and should include employment and job search activities. This is often a problem for persons who work for someone else because they fail to adopt a proper mind-set. Instead of following the above mindset they adopt a frame of mind which I refer to as the “ANTI-ENTREPRENEUR.”
Instead of taking charge, the Anti-Entrepreneur tends to harbor attitudes that are self-defeating, such as: “That’s not in my job description”; “following up with job prospects isn’t necessary”; or “I hate networking – I’ll just skip it.”
Anyone who spends their career working for someone else should examine themselves closely and make certain that this type of mind-set is completely absent from their career. If this mindset is present it should be replaced with an attitude that is more appropriate and much more productive for the employee or job-seeker roles.
An employee-entrepreneur focuses on the needs, goals, and problems of the customer, his or her employer, as well as the actions necessary to provide employer-centered solutions. The employee-entrepreneur accomplishes tasks in an efficient manner, provides functional flexibility, and makes no excuses. Flexibility is probably his single greatest trait because it greatly enhances productivity, which equates to profitability from an employer’s perspective. This entrepreneur, like any other, must build and maintain a successful network to accomplish solutions and create successful exit strategies and future opportunities.
A job-seeker-entrepreneur must also focus on the needs, goals, and problems of their prospective customer to win their business (a job). Like any entrepreneur, he or she must know their product (abilities and skills) and how to sell them as the solution to the prospective employer’s problems. The job-seeker-entrepreneur must build sales, marketing, and administrative supports to successfully win the prospect over. This includes resumes, cover letters, interview responses, and elevator speeches. The job-seeker-entrepreneur must make important decisions regarding their time and money. Can you self-help or do you need to get outside assistance. If you need to spend money what is the return on investment? Finally, like the employee-entrepreneur, maintenance of an effective network is essential to the success of the job-seeker, both now and in the future.
We all have to own our careers. This means taking responsibility for success. We all have to make choices that have a direct impact on our destiny. For this reason we are all entrepreneurs.
By Michael G. Kelly, J.D., M.A., B.B.A.
Certified Internet Job Search Expert, Certified Advanced Resume Writer,
Certified Employment Interview Consultant, Certified Web Portfolio Practitioner
Michael Kelly is a State Certified Career Educator and an industry certified Internet Job Search Expert, Professional Resume Writer, Employment Interview Consultant, and Web Portfolio Practitioner. Michael is Principal of LOGIKEL SOLUTIONS, LLC, a turnkey professional career services firm. He may be reached at kellmich@logikel.com
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