What is entrepreneurship? The word has been thrown around so often that its meaning seems to have been diluted. It’s often equated with creativity, as if simply having a great idea or being imaginative qualifies someone as an entrepreneur. But let’s set creativity aside for a moment and focus on what entrepreneurship really is at its core.
Entrepreneurship is not merely about thinking up the next big idea. It is about the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled1. This is a critical distinction that separates the daydreamer from the true entrepreneur. Anyone can have an idea, but the entrepreneur is the one who chases that idea, who moves forward even when the resources they need are not in hand.
The True Nature of Entrepreneurship
Resources—or rather, the lack of resources—are what make entrepreneurship difficult. When you strip away the buzzwords and glamour, entrepreneurship is about navigating uncertainty, embracing the risk, and pushing forward when others would be paralyzed by fear. It’s easy to look at successful entrepreneurs and think their journey was one of constant innovation, a straight path of creative ideas blossoming into successful ventures. But this view overlooks the harsh reality: entrepreneurship is about resourcefulness.
The real challenge is not about coming up with an idea, but acquiring the resources—whether financial, human, or technological—that will bring that idea to life. When you don’t have the money to buy top-tier equipment, when you lack the connections to open doors, when you’re bootstrapping and scraping by, that’s when entrepreneurship truly begins. It is in those moments of uncertainty that the entrepreneurial spirit shines the brightest.
Risk-taking becomes the norm. It’s not a calculated gamble based on abundant resources; it’s the willingness to act in spite of limited means. This ambition and vision, coupled with the ability to acquire and manage resources along the journey, is what earns someone the title of entrepreneur. You don’t get to call yourself one just because you had a bright idea—you earn it by grinding, by making something out of nothing, by pushing through adversity and finding a way.
Understanding Resource Acquisition
One of the fundamental lessons that entrepreneurs must learn early on is that resource acquisition is a process. It doesn’t happen all at once. The entrepreneur who grasps this truth is able to strategize better. They are not immobilized by the fear of not having everything figured out from the start. Instead, they understand that they will need to piece things together as they go.
These entrepreneurs possess a clear vision and a certain resilience to fear that others may not have. Fear is often what holds many would-be entrepreneurs back from starting. They look at the resources they lack and convince themselves that success is impossible. But those who succeed are those who can see the vision, even when the resources aren’t immediately in front of them.
Starting a business is not for everyone, and that’s the hard truth. It requires a unique mindset, a willingness to leap without all the tools in hand, knowing that you will need to gather them along the way. Entrepreneurship isn’t about feeling ready. It’s about having the mental courage to take the first step even when you don’t have everything lined up perfectly.
Why Don’t More People Start?
So, what prevents many would-be entrepreneurs from starting? Is it really a lack of creativity? Or could it be something deeper? The truth is, it’s fear. Fear of failure. Fear of the unknown. Fear of starting without knowing exactly how things will play out. It’s not that they don’t have good ideas; it’s that they lack the courage to move forward without seeing all the pieces of the puzzle in place.
To remedy this, aspiring entrepreneurs need to develop the ability to think ahead—to visualize the journey and anticipate what resources will be needed at each stage. This requires a shift in mindset. Instead of waiting for the perfect moment when all resources are available (which will never happen), entrepreneurs need to embrace the journey of gradual acquisition and resource management.
How Can This Be Remedied?
If you’re building a startup, there’s a wealth of information available about the typical life cycle of a business. Veteran entrepreneurs and business consultants can provide guidance, often offering insights into the income and expense patterns of similar businesses during their first and second years. This data can help you prepare for the journey ahead.
But data alone isn’t enough—you need a plan. Write down and organize this information in a way that allows you to see what’s coming. One of the best strategies is to break your journey into manageable time frames. Think in 90-day cycles. Ask yourself: what will happen in the next 90 days? What resources will be required? What are the challenges you’ll need to overcome? By breaking things down into smaller time periods, you can gain a better understanding of both the time element and the resource requirements for each phase.
This method gives you a roadmap for the short term while allowing you to maintain a sense of the bigger picture. Seeing your progress in 90-day increments also reduces the overwhelm that can come from thinking too far ahead all at once. Time is crucial for startups, and understanding how time impacts your resources and decisions is critical.
Conclusion: Is Entrepreneurship for You?
Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. It requires more than just creativity; it demands a relentless pursuit of opportunity despite the odds. It’s about seeing the vision when others don’t and moving forward even when you lack the resources. It’s about resilience, courage, and above all, the ability to adapt.
For those who have the drive, who are willing to plan in cycles, gather resources along the way, and remain steadfast in their vision—entrepreneurship offers endless possibilities. But for those who wait for the perfect conditions, entrepreneurship may always feel just out of reach.
If you’re ready to start, don’t wait for everything to be perfect. Embrace the challenge, and start now. Use the next 90 days to identify what you need and how you can get there. You may not have all the answers, but as you continue forward, you’ll learn, adapt, and grow. In the end, that’s what being an entrepreneur is all about.
