The Entrepreneurial Spirit

by Joey

5 12 2006

Instead of letting the Greater>Than idea slide like I have done with so many others, I surprised myself by starting to think about what it would take to make it a reality. It just so happened that as I was developing this Greater>Than concept I was also discovering that I was an entrepreneur.

I’ve been a vegetarian for about 8 years. Vegetarianism is one of those lifestyle choices that people feel comfortable asking you about, so I’ve answered the question “Why did you become a vegetarian?” dozens of times. It’s a bit of a delicate social situation; I don’t like to come across as too fanatical or strident. So I deflect. “It’s about the animals; it’s a health thing…” and I trail off. While these reasons are true, the real explanation is a little more nuanced. The way I see it, I didn’t so much decide to be vegetarian as discover that I was one already.

Vegetarianism flowed logically from beliefs I had internalized but hadn’t thought through consciously. Once I had put the pieces together in my mind, though, I had no choice but to embrace the consequences. The typical follow-up question is “Don’t you miss eating meat?”, and the answer is that I can’t un-discover who I am, and wouldn’t if I could.

I feel the same sense of awakening now that I’ve started to embrace my entrepreneurial spirit. I’ve been an entrepreneur for a while, I just hadn’t discovered it yet (which made me a totally inactive entrepreneur, which makes about as much sense as a meat-eating vegetarian, which I was before that awakening). Now that I’ve given myself permission to see myself in a new way, it makes a whole lot of sense. It’s even turning shortcomings into strengths.

For example, in my short professional career so far I’ve been impressed by many colleagues who can concentrate on the whats and hows of business day in and day out. I tend to get bogged down on whys. As an entrepreneur, I’m allowed to think about those more philosophical, foundational issues as much as I want. Further, I’ve always felt like the fact that I’m a man without a specialty was a liability; I’ve always felt like a dilettante compared to my friends and classmates who decided on a path and followed it relentlessly. For an entrepreneur, intellectual curiosity and a willingness to take on new challenges are huge assets. I’m enjoying the paradigm shift.

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Date : 5 December 2006
Categories : Entrepreneurism, Personal

6 responses to “The Entrepreneurial Spirit”

8 12 2006: Sarah (12:54:08) :

I love this thought “Now that I’ve given myself permission to see myself in a new way, it makes a whole lot of sense. It’s even turning shortcomings into strengths.” It is too often that we beat ourselves up for not falling in line the way we believe we should. The beautiful things about us are those that are unique. Although the things that set us apart can be frustrating, they should be embraced - since they set us apart. Congratulations on ‘discovering’ your entrepreneurial spirit, I imagine that this discovery will lead to many more I hope to hear about on your blog.
2 03 2007: Ashley Ornelas (10:06:41) :

Hello, my name is Ashley and I am in Ms. Kelly’s ieghth grade class. My idea for the greater than t-shirt is generosity>competition or generosity is greater than competition.
2 03 2007: sherilyn (10:08:38) :

Hi my name is sherilyn and i go to G.V.M.S. I am a student in AVID and i have an idea for the greater than thing.I think that giving is greater than taking is a great greater than phrase. A good picture would be a person giving a gift to someone to symboloize giving is greater than taking.thank you and i hope you like my idea.
2 03 2007: Cecilia Martinez (10:09:17) :

I am an eight grader in Ms. Kelly’s class. I attend Gavilan View and this is my idea:

Dignity>Popularity

I do not have any ideas on how to draw it, but my brother is studying graphic design and he has ideas on the word lettering. Please e mail me if you have any questions.
2 03 2007: Alex Nunez (10:10:46) :

Hi my name is Alex,and i go to GV in Salinas, im in AVID and your mom is my teacher(Ms.Kelly)
this is my idea:

Sportsmanship>Winning

You can draw a pic. for this by:
drawing two men shaking hands with a scored board in the background (5-4)The score.

HOPE YOU LIKE IT!!
2 03 2007: Eddie Solis Jr. (10:15:28) :

I am an 8th grader in Ms. Kelly’s core class at Gavilan View Middle School. I have excellent ideas for your shirts, here they are;

celebrating life > mourning death,

looking towards the future> regretting your past,