Entrepreneurship is a journey full of challenges, opportunities and responsibilities. As an entrepreneur, you are the driving force behind the success of your business, but your role is much more complex than just running a business. You fulfill multiple roles that often overlap and sometimes conflict with each other. You are a shareholder, but you are also a professional with a certain profession that you are good at and where you make a career within your own company. Moreover, you have to jump into all kinds of gaps that cannot be filled by other people. In addition, you still have a private life with your ego, spouse, possibly children and friends and family. As an entrepreneur, all these roles often overlap. It helps to look independently from each perspective to see what is best and then see where things are going wrong. Where does the energy leak?
Shareholder
One of the most important roles of an entrepreneur is that of shareholder. As the owner of the business, you have a financial stake in its success. This means making decisions that can increase the value of your shares. From this perspective you look at how you can grow the company as fast as possible and make as much impact as possible.
Professional
In addition to your role as a shareholder, you are also a professional in a specific field. You have built up expertise in a specific industry or discipline, which enables you to understand and lead the operational aspects of your business. This expertise enables you to make strategic decisions based on your knowledge of the market, technology and trends. You must constantly stay up to date and adapt to changing circumstances to stay competitive. If your company is still small, you often have to take on many different tasks. Some of those tasks may not suit you very well at all. It is an art to discover what suits you and what gives you energy. Which tasks can you delegate to other? As the company grows, other disciplines are needed. A large company is not a large version of a small company. As an entrepreneur, can you also grow with the organization? How does this relate to your ambitions as a shareholder?
Private life
Entrepreneurs are also individuals with personal lives consisting of family, hobbies, and personal desires. This is where your ego and emotions come into play. Sometimes pride, ego, family or personal stress can influence business decisions and interactions with employees or partners.
Finding a balance between these roles can be challenging, but it is critical to the entrepreneur's success and well-being. Here are some considerations:
Prioritizing: Entrepreneurs need to prioritize and understand when to act as a shareholder, professional or individual.
Delegation: It is important to delegate responsibilities and place trust in employees to manage professional and operational tasks.
Self-Reflection: Entrepreneurs should regularly practice self-reflection to understand their personal motivations and their impact on their business decisions.
Seeking help: It's okay to seek help from mentors, coaches, or advisors to find and maintain the right balance.
In conclusion, the life of an entrepreneur is a complex dance between different roles. The ability to effectively manage and balance these roles is essential for business success and personal fulfillment. The process of self-reflection and understanding the impact of personal emotions and ego is just as important as making financial decisions and business strategies. A well-balanced entrepreneur can be successful not only in business but also in leading a fulfilling personal life.