What is an entrepreneur?

We call an entrepreneur or entrepreneur a person who organizes and directs some type of for-profit organization , running a margin of financial risk. Not to be confused with ” entrepreneur ” although initially both terms meant the same thing. The term entrepreneur comes from the 18th century , when industrial capitalism began. The economist Richard Cantillon defined it as someone who “pays a certain price to resell a product at an uncertain price. 

Making decisions about obtaining and using resources, and admitting the risk inherent in the venture.” Today, however, certain business leaders who follow their personal passions through sustainable and lucrative business initiatives are called entrepreneurs . An entrepreneur is the one who runs the risk of inaugurating viable projects, motivated by a specific business vision .

Characteristics of an entrepreneur :

  1. Profile of an entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are driven by an inner vision , that is, they are passionate. They are creative enough to convince others that by working together something great can come to fruition. They are people with business vision , but much bigger aspirations than simple profit. In other words, an entrepreneur is not someone who simply dreams of becoming rich or powerful.

But a person who sees the tools of the business world as a means to turn his world vision into reality. You can be a technological entrepreneur determined to maximize the scope of space exploration, or one who aspires to solve the world hunger crisis through a resource that is sustainable over time . Entrepreneurs are people who undertake the solution of problems.

  1. Types of entrepreneur

A distinction is usually made between several types of entrepreneurs:

  • Corporate or business entrepreneurs. These are those who risk capital, effort and time to found a young and innovative company (often known as Startups ), through which they can bring their passions to life and use their knowledge .
  • digital entrepreneurs. Characteristic of the digital age or era 2.0, they use the Internet and the new information and telecommunications technologies as a means of offering different types of services.
  • Social entrepreneurs. They are dedicated to the creation of foundations, associations and organizations not necessarily of a commercial nature, such as NGOs and other political or community organizations, with a more social or political than lucrative role.
  1. Differences with a businessman

Entrepreneurs and merchants can carry out their work without an innovative spirit , passion and creativity. They can run their business in safe paths that lead to financial gain.

In this sense, businessmen and merchants can be mere producers or resellers of merchandise or services. Your commitment may be limited to the perpetuation of your business over time.

Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, consider feasible projects that generally go far beyond mere economic gain. His aspiration is to change people’s way of life . In other words, entrepreneurs do not aim exclusively at profit but at offering change.

  1. Passion

Because they are not just entrepreneurs, but creators and founders, good entrepreneurs tap into their deep, personal motivations . Their actions are based on the ideals that mobilize them in life. His ventures aim to turn his passions into reality . Therefore, their commitment to the business will go far beyond a salary or financial profitability.

  1. Vision

An entrepreneur requires a capacity for future projection that allows him to perceive, understand and take advantage of the windows of opportunity that are presented to him. Only then will he discover the possible business niches, the unsatisfied demands of the people or the future needs to solve.