I agree that employees play an important role, and just being one doesn’t make you an entrepreneur. But having read the article you cited at JibberJobber, I tend to agree with the overall premise.

Jason (the post above me) actually does a fantastic job of articulating what I’m trying to say.

Being entrepreneurial is almost a brand of sorts that radiates a certain persona we are looking to describe. Very similar to Kleenex. Kleenex is a tissue, but how many people say “Hand me a tissue not even knowing the brand”. People know what they want and have associated that with a word that summarizes their need. I do not think everyone is an entrepreneur but I do think everyone NEEDS to be entrepreneurial.

Guess what I am really saying is that people in the corporate world need to understand that because they invent new ideas, solve problems, and show characteristics of something – that does not make them something they are not. It makes them a good employee. And if they are there, is not that what they are looking for anyway.

Coming from a Fortune 300 company where I tried being entrepreneurial in how I worked (suggesting new ideas and trying to make my area work as efficient as possible), I quickly found out that the existing hierarchy looked at my moves with a questionable eye, always wondering why I worked this way, rather than accepting that it’s my personality. Having now branched out and started my own company, I feel a much better fit in how I work. Sure, setting my hours and schedule is a part of it, but it’s also knowing I’m working on something new and am unencumbered by people who are scared to lose their jobs, titles or what have you.

I understand your point of the entrepreneurial spirit but everyone is not an entrepreneur.

Obviously not everyone is an entrepreneur, in the sense of the word that we are going to start a lemonade stand, software company, speaking career, etc.

But we are all choosing what we are doing with our careers. Where we work, for how long, what crap (or goodness) we put up with, how much we make, etc.

We are choosing to work in industries that are moving forward, or industries that are dying.

We are choosing which skills we hone, which professions we master. We choose who our competition is, what our market value is, what our products are, whether we diversify or focus, etc.

If we don’t, then we suck out our business. What you refer to as the “self-empowering statement,” being CEO of Me, Inc… well, we suck. Guess what, many entreprenuer suck at what they do, fail, and move on. Some die wealthy, and having made an impact on the world.

Some die dirt poor, having made no impact on the world and humanity.

I don’t think that we are all going to be GOOD at running our own career path (I mean, managing our own career, I mean, being in charge of our own career, I mean, BEING CEO of Me, Inc.).

But I do believe that we are all in charge of our own career, as much as an entrepreneur is in charge of his/her own business.

Perhaps I’m using the word “entrepreneur” too loosely. Perhaps the post was developed for my readership, who is concerned about their career path.

Just my two cents.

I’m not good at everything. I don’t like everything. Not that those are prerequisites for being an entrepreneur…it’s just…well, I’m CRANKY. I don’t want to be bothered with *everything*. I feel overwhelmed just imagining it.

An entrepreneur is someone who is not ME.