Nature versus nurture: are entrepreneurs born or made?

nature versus nurture entrepreneurs The argument over nature versus nurture is a long-standing one in child-rearing discussion groups. But the same argument can be levelled amongst those who work for themselves. Are entrepreneurs born or made?

It’s often said that you need to be highly motivated and a guru of self-discipline in order to be successfully self-employed entrepreneur. But lacking these traits doesn’t have to mean that you’ve failed in your venture before you’ve even started. There’s more to success. Soloists can be made.

It’s easy to understand the argument for nature. When you work for an employer, you sit at a desk in a corporate office where you are watched by your boss, given a workload and deadlines. It’s noticed if you’re late and there are repercussions if you don’t get your work done. Discipline and motivation are considered key competencies, not necessities.

Are you motivated?

Some individuals have a naturally high motivation level. But this isn’t necessarily the norm for self-starters. Motivation doesn’t have to be a strong constant current, it can ebb and flow like the tide.

Those who work for themselves can hate Monday mornings as much as the next guy. What’s most important is that you choose to work in a profession that you love and enjoy.

When I started working for myself, I found my motivation was really low at first, simply because I didn’t know where to begin. Once my creative juices started flowing, I found my motivation grew daily. Now I can’t wait to get to work – my big problem now is prioritising!

Do you have the discipline?

I don’t like the word ‘discipline’. It offers a negative connotation that you’re forcing yourself to work. Most people know if they’re disciplined or not. A disciplined person will stick to their guns in the face of temptation. They will say no to the dessert menu in a restaurant. They won’t get sidled into meeting a friend instead of going to the gym. If you’re not one of these people, however, you can still work for yourself without feeling ultimate doom due to your lack of restraint.

Try replacing the word ‘discipline’ with ‘balance’. Everyone can achieve balance, with a bit of work and fortitude. Balance means you can order from the dessert menu – occasionally – just have a salad for lunch the next day. As a soloist, balance means you can strive to accomplish goals for your business without sacrificing the other things in life you enjoy.

Specifically, you might find creating a to-do list covering both work and life tasks helps. Reward yourself with a big lunch with colleagues when you’ve completed a project or signed on a new client.

Stick with it

Motivation, discipline and balance will follow each other naturally. They run in a symbiotic circle. Just because you’re not the type of person that can say ‘no’ to chocolate doesn’t mean you can’t run your own business.

What can’t be made is your passion. If you feel passionate about your work, then the rest will follow. All you need now is a great business plan, start-up money and clients!

Michele Hackshall is a copywriter and technical writer with over 12 years’ experience writing marketing material for some of Australia’s most prominent brands. She’s written everything from postcards to books.

2 comments | Add your own

Hi Michele - a great article - my personal motto (don't know who originally said it) is "if its to be, its up to me". I believe that success is best defined as 'achieving your own, difficult, but still achievable, goals' - set them, take responsibility for them and achieve them. Anything else is a distraction, no matter how pleasurable. Grant Hyman from Sydney | Read my articles
Hi Michelle. Great article. I agree that you can run a successful business and still find time for other things in your life. You just need to decide what you want to get out of life and your business. Once that's clear to you, the rest will come. I think there are a lot of other factors about running a solo business that determine whether it's for you or not, such as isolation, everything being up to you (unless you take Sam's advice and get the hired help in!) like being responsible for finding and getting clients, marketing and a million other things that are someone else's responsibility if you're employed. I happily take the distractions along with the responsibility and somehow manage to satisfy my clients and myself! Karen Morris from Sydney | Read my articles

2 comments | Add your own

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