What does it take to be an entrepreneur?

By / April 21, 2021

A person may think he does not have the right expertise, the right education, or the right training to “be” an entrepreneur.

Many people make assumptions about what is required to start a small business: lots of money, an MBA, or an invention. These things may be helpful and probably would not hurt.

However, money, stuff, or degrees do not make an entrepreneur.

There are two relatively recent articles from the Wall Street Journal that dealt with this issue. In the first article, entitled “How to Raise an Entrepreneur,” the author, Barbara Haislip contended that an entrepreneur can be successful if he is adventurous, dependable and stable, observant, a team player, and leads by example.

In the second article, Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, argues that “Real” entrepreneurship education will occur if a person does the following:

Combine skills. You should make yourself valuable by being able to do many different things fairly well
Fail Forward. You should get paid while you are failing so you can use the experience gaining skills that will be useful later
Find the action. You should move to where the action is because distance is your enemy;
Attract Luck. Luck finds the doers;
Conquer fear. You should replace fear and shyness with enthusiasm; and
Learn Persuasion. In all its forms, you should know how to persuade using psychology, sales, marketing, negotiating, statistics, and even design.

These two authors are not necessarily the experts on what makes an entrepreneur. However, their observations are interesting.

Being an entrepreneur is more about your mental and emotional outlook than it is about having money, a degree, or a new invention.

You need to be wise in how you handle your business, but intellect is not necessarily the determining factor.

The Bible speaks to the attitude you should display in your labor.

Proverbs 28:19 states, “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.” Habbakuk 2:3 instructs us–“But these things I plan won’t happen right away.

Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day.”

At BAMEDU.com, we believe that the most important “qualification” to be an entrepreneur is to have a calling from God to follow the life of a tentmaker.

 Starting a business is difficult enough, but starting a business in a new culture that is potentially hostile to the Gospel brings a whole new set of challenges.  Overcoming these challenges will be more about your attitude and your heart than about any resume or education. 

Be diligent, be wise, and do not fear. 

You will be amazed at how God uses you when you lay it all down for Him.

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