WHAT IS AN ENTREPRENEUR

Entrepreneurship can be seen as one who creates a company or an organization, however,

the concept is much broader; it involves specific features, benefits and disadvantages and
a number of concepts to consider.

Nadia Luna

The opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are personal.

Nowadays talking about entrepreneurship has taken on great relevance for the economy,
as well as the subject capable of making that happen: the entrepreneur, a concept that has
been the subject of various treatments throughout history, how would you define it?

Many times, when asked what an entrepreneur is,we think of the people who focus on
composing a business idea and developing it. It is an accurate picture, but perhaps limited.
Beyond that, it refers to those people who are able to generate projects, launch them and
assume with autonomy and responsibility the consequences that derive from them,
according to the writer and expert on the subject Javier Pelayo González.

1. We recommend: Podcast Entrepreneur #1: What is an entrepreneur?

For Andy Freire, Argentine entrepreneur, and author of several books on

entrepreneurship "it is to make things happen" and shares that "the secret is to wake up,
turn off the autopilot that we all have on at times and decide to be fully".

Thus, Freire describes the entrepreneur as one who has a philosophy,a way of
approaching reality with provocative dynamism and the certainty that understanding who
we are and how we look at the world is fundamental to achieve what we want.

These authors, like others, agree on some characteristics and attributes that the
entrepreneur must have and / or develop:
1. Initiative
2. Inspiration
3. Autonomy
4. Ambition
5. Passion
6. Creativity
7. Leadership
8. Organization
9. Risk tolerance
10. Ability to adapt to changes

Do you consider that you have any of these characteristics? If you think not, don't worry,
in reality more than one can develop, as is the case with creativity, organization, or risk
tolerance... The main engine is in the desire to want to be an entrepreneur.

And how to be an entrepreneur?

It is not only about having those characteristics, in addition, you have to take advantage of
them with a well-focused purpose. The natural steps you would have to follow are the
following:

1. Attention toopportunities. Stay alert to capture business opportunities, for which

it is recommended to pay attention to how markets move: trends, new fashions,
needs, tastes and preferences of consumers.
2. Gatherresources. When you detected a good opportunity, it's time to activate the
resources part. There are ways like looking for financing, other experts recommend
that you be autonomous and start with your own resources, the 'do it yourself',
but of course, not everyone suits the same path. And there are multiple ways to
finance your project,from the private to the state,it is a matterof analyzing the best
options according to your venture.
3. Start yourbusiness. In this case it is recommended to minimize the risk by
analyzing, preparing and planning well objectives, strategies and courses of action,
and then assigns resources, coordinates activities, and directs and leads its workers
in the start-up and subsequent management of your business.

Like everything in life, entrepreneurship has advantages and disadvantages. It is important

that you have the photograph as complete as possible in case you analyze being an
entrepreneur.

Advantages:

1. Be your own boss. No more subordination. Now you will be the master and lord of
your company and also, with the benefit of being able to choose your work team.
2. Set your own schedules and rules. Only you will decide how much to work and at
what times.
3. Satisfaction of creating something of your own. Something that can also give you
great social prestige and will be part of your heritage.

Disadvantages:

1. Choose between money and free time. You have to be willing to work hard for a
season, possibly a long one. You must prepare, research and study about what you
will develop before starting and that takes time.
2. Your health will be tested. If you know how to manage stress, it will be a great
advantage, because the path of the entrepreneur is rarely smooth. In addition, it
requires, especially in the beginning, a great effort and since your business
depends on you, it is best to take care of your health to the maximum.
3. Economic risks. No one guarantees the success of your venture and if it is your own
resources that are involved in the project, you have to take into account that they
will always be at risk.
4. Uncertainty. Closely linked to the previous point, the entrepreneur should never
take anything for granted.
5. Discipline. A feature that you must develop to the fullest, but if you have problems
with it, they can charge you a strong bill, because discipline is the basis for projects
to be concretized.