How do you feel about the word 'entrepreneur'?

[itsnathanhere]

I was just reading a blog post, written by a business owner where they talked about a conversation they had with a 'fellow entrepreneur' - and stopped reading right there. I don't know why but people describing themselves as entrepreneurs really boils my blood, same goes for terms like 'influencer' - just feels a bit self-congratulatory. Am I alone in this?

 

[arnydnxluk]

I know what you mean. It's cool these days to be an 'entrepreneur' so the word has been overused. I wouldn't let it bother you though!

 

[Mr D]

Technically many of us (most of us even?) could be called that.

I don't bother referring to myself that way. I have met a few I would refer to as that.

 

[billmccallum1957]

Hate it, hate it, hate it... keep having to check the dictionary every time I use it.

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

I struggle to spell it so I don't use it.

Plus it's french... I'm a Geordie so canne keep widda lingo innit.

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

It is now used as a term to describe any business owner, which is very annoying.
Lost all meaning for me....and when you see recruitment consultants* or estate agents who call themselves entrepreneurs because they retweet Richard Branson...what is the world coming to?

*(No offence intended to recruitment consultants)

 

[Mark T Jones]

It’s been over used to the extent that it is at best meaningless, at worst marks the user as a bell end (technical term)

In the course of my career I’ve met a few real entrepreneurs- none of whom have described themselves as such.

On the other hand, if I receive a proposal from a self-proclaimed entrepreneur, history has taught me to expect lots of hot air and zero substance

Don’t even get me started on micro-business owners who award themselves the title CEO

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

On the other hand, if I receive a proposal from a self-proclaimed entrepreneur, history has taught me to expect lots of hot air and zero substance

Yes for sure the worst thing you can here is "I'm an entrepreneur", or even worse "I'm a serial entrepreneur".
No, you're not. You're a guy who has registered 18 dormant companies, traded from one of them and made a loss...the only person who can really call themselves a serial entrepreneur is Mr Kellogg.

 

[menetworkjadaltd]

I was just reading a blog post, written by a business owner where they talked about a conversation they had with a 'fellow entrepreneur' - and stopped reading right there. I don't know why but people describing themselves as entrepreneurs really boils my blood, same goes for terms like 'influencer' - just feels a bit self-congratulatory. Am I alone in this?

I remember listening to a podcast, probably about 8 or so years ago, where the guy on there said that many years earlier the word was used in a derogatory way... So although in later years he would be described as such, but never referred to himself as one

I like the good ole days

 

[Mark T Jones]

Yes for sure the worst thing you can here is "I'm an entrepreneur", or even worse "I'm a serial entrepreneur".
No, you're not. You're a guy who has registered 18 dormant companies, traded from one of them and made a loss...the only person who can really call themselves a serial entrepreneur is Mr Kellogg.

Hah - you beat me to the gag.

The flakiest 'serial entrepreneur' I ever met had to their credit 2 MLMs. Now; not wishing to MLM-bash, but the model is specifically designed not to be entrepreneurial, even in the loosest sense

 

[Ian J]

It is now used as a term to describe any business owner, which is very annoying.

Or indeed anyone who is self employed.

I have run my own successful business for 18 years yet I don't consider myself to be an entrepreneur

 

[antropy]

Am I alone in this?

I don't find the word annoying but I didn't feel like one until I'd been in business for a relatively long time. I was an experienced developer so when I started up I still felt like a developer for years. Only once I started getting the hang of the business side of things did I realise I had become a businessperson and entrepreneur.

One definition is:
"a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit."

So clearly I am that.

Another, where the word originated from in fact, is:
"One who takes an economic commodity from a place of low value and sells it in to a market at a higher value" and when I re-sell the time of my developers, this is what I do.

The word entrepreneur to me means more than just a business owner, it means someone who understands the principles of business at a very abstract level so that they can apply them to almost any business in any industry. It also carries the implication of a startup rather than big business.

So no, the word doesn't annoy me at all, I think it's a great word to describe someone who is very good at spotting opportunities and starting successful businesses around them.

Paul

 

[Lee Oakley]

I was just reading a blog post where they talked about a conversation they had with a 'fellow entrepreneur' - and stopped reading right there. I don't know why but people describing themselves as entrepreneurs really boils my blood, Am I alone in this?

For me I just think its a little sad and desperate and to be honest I feel a little sorry for people (and we all know some) who feel the need to use the term 'entrepreneur' when they don't have a viable/ongoing/successful business.

Its even worse when done in the 3rd person on their personal LinkedIn or sole trader website.

When you have a business empire and your Personal Assistant writes your online profiles for you ok, maybe its ok then but whats wrong with just saying "im self employed"?

 

[Calvin Crane]

Or indeed anyone who is self employed.

I have run my own successful business for 18 years yet I don't consider myself to be an entrepreneur

It's now anyone with a laptop and an internet connection.

It really is annoying but not nearly as much as 'people' such as Oleg Visneywhatever on Linkedin. Has a team posting for him (unless he really is just doing it 24/7) viral stuff to get reshared and that is nauseating. I rarely use linkedin now such is the feeling it gives me.

 

[OhhEnnEmm]

I thought I was the only one who hates hearing "entrepreneur" and "influencer".

I hate the over-usage of those words for that exact reason too, seems like an ego-stroke.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

How do you feel about the word 'entrepreneur'?

I think it makes you look like a right tw£t

 

[patientlady]

I aways think of 'in your own home' Michelle Dewberry as this seems to be her title!

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Most entrepreneur's are or seem to be investors, they have a idea, fund it and employ someone else to run it whilst looking at the next opportunity. They may be the Chairman of it but the CEO runs the company

That understanding leads to most bosses just being businessmen or women and not entrepreneurs

Maybe you don,t agree but thats how i see it

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I aways think of 'in your own home' Michelle Dewberry as this seems to be her title!

That's a blast from the past ! Is she still around

I avoided Exeter yesterday as Katie Hopkins was marching protesting against any people that do not speak with an Etoinian or Devon accent

 

[Alyson Dyer]

I think entrepreneur is synonymous with plonker if it’s what you call yourself.
It’s a bit cringeworthy if it’s what others call you

 

[itsnathanhere]

Nice to see I'm far from alone in thinking this way! I do wonder if the phrase 'fake it 'till you make it' has been adopted a bit too literally. There seems to be a great deal of people out there who are more interested in looking like they run a business rather than actually running one!

 

[Alyson Dyer]

And “mumpreneur” really makes me queasy.
So you’re a woman, with a child and a job, welcome to our world!!

 

[Noah]

I avoided Exeter yesterday as Katie Hopkins was marching protesting against any people that do not speak with an Etoinian or Devon accent

Opportunity missed - you could have run her over.

 

[seanbarkes]

Yes for sure the worst thing you can here is "I'm an entrepreneur", or even worse "I'm a serial entrepreneur".
No, you're not. You're a guy who has registered 18 dormant companies, traded from one of them and made a loss...the only person who can really call themselves a serial entrepreneur is Mr Kellogg.

Heehee! "Serial entrepreneur" Like Kelloggs?

 

[Mark Laurie]

they are as bad as 19 year old "life coaches"...wtf?

 

[Darkterror]

Absolutely, it's like everywhere, people are just running into some activity not to be cool of how good they are in that business, but just to be cool active and probably successfull enterpreneur So I totally agree with you, I hope that will fix itself along with influencer, too many influencers lately It's getting used and will make it worse for anyone.