Aardsma

On life and business.

Growing up I wasn’t interested in being an entrepreneur because I was a very cautious kid and I thought entrepreneurs were risk-loving daredevils. Didn’t sound like my gig at all.

After leaving college for an ill-fated stint working for my dad, I needed an income. I decided to take a shot at freelance software development, my most marketable skill. So, true to form, I went about it in the least risky way I could. I bought no furniture, I rented no office. I used the computer I already had, set it up on an old kitchen table and that was my basement office. A few wires connected me by phone and Internet to the outside world and I was good to go.

My cautious little business was profitable and cash-flow positive its first week in existence. And the first month, and year. Eventually I realized that caution in business is a good thing, and daredevil instincts are not required (or even recommended). My childhood perception of entrepreneurs as risk-lovers was simply a misconception. So I became more confident in my cautious way of doing business and stuck with it.

I was a little bothered though because I thought the word entrepreneur was etymologically related to the word intrepid, which means fearless or dauntless. Well, I should have checked the dictionary. I did today and it turns out the word entrepreneur originates from words meaning “one who undertakes something”. It’s about initiative, not risk. Now initiative, that is an essential quality of a successful entrepreneur, to be sure.

Starting a business involves risk, but not in the Ready, Fire, Aim sort of way. Take the smallest risk that will accomplish your objective. Consider carefully, then act decisively.