‘Rework’ book excerpt: Enough with “entrepreneurs”
After yesterday’s post about how Entrepreneur magazine sues small businesses who use the word “entrepreneur,” I wanted to make good on my earlier promise to continue sharing good tidbits from Rework, a book for entrepreneurs.
Well actually, we don’t say that word anymore—and not just because we don’t want to get sued by Entrepreneur. We don’t say it anymore because:
Let’s retire the term entrepreneur. It’s outdated and loaded with baggage. It smells like a members-only club. Everyone should be encouraged to start his own business, and not some rate breed that self-identifies as entrepreneurs.
There’s a new group of people out there starting business. They’re turning profits yet never think of themselves as entrepreneurs. A lot of them done even think of themselves as business owners. They are just doing what they love on their own terms and getting paid for it.
So let’s replace the fancy-sounding worth with something a bit more down-to-earth. Instead of entrepreneurs, let’s call them starters. Anyone who creates new business is a starter. You don’t need an MBA, a certificate, a fancy suit, a briefcase, or an above-average, tolerance for risk. You just need an idea, a touch of confidence, and a push to get you started.
Now quick: someone go start a magazine called Starters so you can sue people every time they use “your” word.