Start-Up Success: What do you wanta be when you grow up?
When I was in second grade, I kept a diary - still have it someplace. (Yes, even then I was pretty much the irreverent snarkster I am today - just didn’t know nearly as many big words, although I think my handwriting was more legible…) In the back, I had a list of what I wanted to be when I grew up. Technical Trainer, Senior Market Analyst, PC and LAN Services Product Manager, Director of Strategic Planning, Director of Worldwide Help Desk Services, and Senior Consultant weren’t on it (all titles I’ve had). Instead, my list was headed by - ta da! - Bat Girl (Close second was Cat Woman. Meoowoooorrrr!)
Of course, even as a child, I knew this wasn’t realistic (for one thing, leaping around tall buildings in skintight latex and spike heels isn’t practical), but I did know that: a. I wanted to make a difference; b. I wanted to have fun doing it. And so it goes with (most) entrepreneurs. You can do all the researching, planning, innovation, renovation, evolving, “moving to the next level” you want - but if you don’t feel you’re making a difference (in something - your family’s quality of life…your community…your industry) and having fun doing it - you’re going to burn out very quickly. You don’t have to be doing anything sexy or death-defying. Some of the happiest, most “balanced” biz owners I know have decidely unglamorous businesses - nary a utlity belt, cape, or spike heel to be found.
So, what do you want to be when you grow up? (Life is too short - and serious - not to have some fun along the way.)
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April 19th, 2007 at 10:11 am
When I was four, I begged my parents to get me a typewriter because I wanted to be a secretary when I grew up. I never did become one, but I do enjoy typing away at my computer
Wonder Woman never did make it to the list of things I wanted to be. Right now all I want to be is happy - isn’t that what we all want?
April 20th, 2007 at 6:59 am
Somehow the female superheroes never really appealed to me, possibly because their costumers all made them look like they had torpedo-boobs and I just couldn’t relate.
I wanted to be an astronaut!
Other than the fact that sometimes Capitol Hill is a lot like Mars, I never got anywhere close to that one. I’m not even sure that I’m boldly going where no one has gone before with my biz, but I am having fun and I flatter myself that I’m even making a bit of a difference.
Great post, Mary. Thanks.
April 20th, 2007 at 9:00 am
I’m a big fan of “making a difference.”
But it’s frustrating to see a big entrepreneur (Bill Gates, Ted Turner, Oprah, etc.) who jumps headfirst into philanthropy get the “he/she’s finally giving back to the community” attaboy from the media and others.
As an entrepreneur, I know that I’m ALREADY making a difference in my community. Sure, I only employ three people right now, but those three people are earning more money (they work for me on the side) and are putting it back into the economy.
If my little contribution is making such a difference to just three people, imagine the difference Bill Gates has made!
I also think that building a company enables a person to learn how to “make a difference.” I don’t think that “Account Manager Bill Gates” would be as effective a philanthropist or “Oprah the Weathergirl” as effective a life-changer as their current incarnations.
And for the record, I wanted to be a garbage man, bus driver or policeman when I was five years old.
April 20th, 2007 at 10:28 am
Timothy, I agree - It’s great that they’re giving so much, but then they’ve got a lot to give (and can still afford 35,000 ft.. houses, private planes and such).
Albuquerque nonprofits would pretty much grind to a halt without all the small biz support.
June 11th, 2007 at 7:52 am
[…] And so it goes. Sometimes what you think works doesn’t for your customers. And that goes for processes and high-tech products as much it does for garage sale alarm clocks. Related Posts: Can You Learn To Be an Entrepreneur? What Do You Wanta Be When You Grow Up? Read More: All my entrepreneur sanity check posts All my marketing troubleshooting posts […]