Adrie's Blog

Artificial

When I was watching TV this morning, I again saw people who have never been anything that remotely resembles an entrepreneur, tell others how to become one. The first thing they all say is that you have to develop "passion" for something. In my mind, an entrepreneur starts with that Passion - it is not something that you can learn. You also see more and more interest groups, plead for money from the government for "their" group - whether it is because they are a minority, a majority of simply in the wrong industry in this time of recession.

A government has the obligation to ensure that everyone has the same opportunities and access to the same chances in life - when applying that to entrepreneurship, it is not that government should become involved and meddle amongst entrepreneurs or found companies simply to generate employment. Doing that merely leads to false competitiveness amongst entrepreneurs in a certain industry, those that are funded by the government and those that have had to get there under their own steam. I have had that experience repeatedly at the start of my career - being confronted by competitors that were funded with the tax money I actually paid!

I am concerned that many people become entrepreneurs in this time and are simply held up artificially by subsidies and other incentives. When they have to stand on their own two legs later on, they will experience entrepreneurship is a real job. The credo at the moment is, that you can always become an entrepreneur if you lose your job. Please note that I have the highest respect for anyone starting their own company and passionately apply themselves to fulfilling their vision, no matter what. But it should not be held up by crutches offered by the government.

The government has a duty to ensure that our youth gets the right eduction and offering everyone equal chances to obtain that education. That there is sound education on possible careers, including entrepreneurship where experienced entrepreneurs can teach the starting, or would-be entrepreneurs about the pitfalls. Government also has to ensure that starting entrepreneurs have access to risk-bearing capital and financing, without making a distinction between one or the other, subject to the merit of their business plans. And the government has to use its position as majority shareholder in the banks, to stimulate the money stream to entrepreneurs and ensure that it flows based on decent business plans and strength of its management, irrespective of its background and upbringing.

Access to money and education - those are the key role of a government, not running the companies itself.

Something that is bothering me more and more are all those people in suits that are now earning large fees at the expense of those that are desperately seeking money. You see these people more and more on television and even worse, on all the social media - like Twitter - where you are being bombarded by people telling you how you can earn US$1000 a day with their "method". The only one that benefits from those methods, are the people that proclaim to help you. Ask other entrepreneurs for advice, people you can trust, people who have experienced it before. Be careful how you spend your money and with whom. Don't spend on people offering a "sure-proof method", but use your common sense, look at the service on offer, look at your own budget and the contribution of your employees. And make sure you keep learning.