Comments on: Use the entrepreneurship boom to improve your corporate job http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:52:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: JanBeckers.com » Blog Archive » Great times for Entrepreneurs? Yes! But what are the reasons and how long will it last? http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-137025 JanBeckers.com » Blog Archive » Great times for Entrepreneurs? Yes! But what are the reasons and how long will it last? Mon, 03 Mar 2008 02:25:45 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-137025 [...] one can read it very often that we live in a “Great Times for Entrepreneurs” both the underlying reasons as well [...] […] one can read it very often that we live in a “Great Times for Entrepreneurs” both the underlying reasons as well […]

]]> By: Dwyane Jango http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-136346 Dwyane Jango Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:42:58 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-136346 Penelope, I understand that certain jobs can be a big help in building entrepreneurial skills, however, often companies with rotational programs do not like it if you bring up the fact that you are looking to eventually start a business. They rightly figure that they are making a large investment in you, and would hate to have you leave for something else, at the end of the program, or half way through. I've interviewed with many companies, and whenever the interviewer asks about career aspirations and I bring up wanting a business of my own, he scribbles notes down. Sometimes I can detect in the interviewer a little disappointment at my answer. I don't want to be dishonest with the interviewer, but it seems like few firms will gamble on entrepreneurs. Penelope,
I understand that certain jobs can be a big help in building entrepreneurial skills, however, often companies with rotational programs do not like it if you bring up the fact that you are looking to eventually start a business. They rightly figure that they are making a large investment in you, and would hate to have you leave for something else, at the end of the program, or half way through. I’ve interviewed with many companies, and whenever the interviewer asks about career aspirations and I bring up wanting a business of my own, he scribbles notes down. Sometimes I can detect in the interviewer a little disappointment at my answer. I don’t want to be dishonest with the interviewer, but it seems like few firms will gamble on entrepreneurs.

]]> By: Coryan Recommends: Five Articles on Midlife Career Change | U-Turn Ahead http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135528 Coryan Recommends: Five Articles on Midlife Career Change | U-Turn Ahead Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:16:14 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135528 [...] Use the Entrepreneurship Boom to Improve Your Corporate Job - This post is from a blog in my blogroll, Brazen Careerist. It talks about being an entrepreneur with your own business or on the job. [...] […] Use the Entrepreneurship Boom to Improve Your Corporate Job - This post is from a blog in my blogroll, Brazen Careerist. It talks about being an entrepreneur with your own business or on the job. […]

]]> By: Man http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135479 Man Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:19:06 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135479 I like all of your tips, especially the fifth one. Assuming the corporation has a similar feel as the company you want to build, he idea of saving up the money from your current corporate job, can help you stay in that job long enough for you to gain experience. As with out experience, your new venture will be harder than necessary. I like all of your tips, especially the fifth one. Assuming the corporation has a similar feel as the company you want to build, he idea of saving up the money from your current corporate job, can help you stay in that job long enough for you to gain experience. As with out experience, your new venture will be harder than necessary.

]]> By: Dave Atkins http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135467 Dave Atkins Sun, 10 Feb 2008 04:22:51 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135467 This is helpful to understand ways to tap the entrepreneurial spirit in everyone. It's not an either/or proposition of wage slave vs. entrepreneur. The reality is that a very small percentage of people truly want to abandon their jobs and become entrepreneurs, but nearly everyone wants autonomy, influence, and a sense of creating something in their work. And of course for many who have families to support, abandoning the corporate paycheck is irresponsible until they can assure some basic safety net. Intrapreneurship can be a bridge across what would otherwise be impractical. This is helpful to understand ways to tap the entrepreneurial spirit in everyone. It’s not an either/or proposition of wage slave vs. entrepreneur. The reality is that a very small percentage of people truly want to abandon their jobs and become entrepreneurs, but nearly everyone wants autonomy, influence, and a sense of creating something in their work. And of course for many who have families to support, abandoning the corporate paycheck is irresponsible until they can assure some basic safety net. Intrapreneurship can be a bridge across what would otherwise be impractical.

]]> By: Doug http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135409 Doug Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:13:08 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135409 I am entrepreneur, and at least for me, "intraprenuership" is a euphemism for someone who really wants to start their own company, but doesn't have the bal, I mean guts, to abandon their corporate paycheck. I am entrepreneur, and at least for me, “intraprenuership” is a euphemism for someone who really wants to start their own company, but doesn’t have the bal, I mean guts, to abandon their corporate paycheck.

]]> By: etavitom http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135407 etavitom Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:50:06 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135407 great advice! thanks so much, brad great advice! thanks so much, brad

]]> By: Milena http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135403 Milena Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:49:44 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135403 <p>All I can say about Whateverlife is...seriously?<br /> She lives in my own backyard - Detroit, MI - which is suffering from an economic recession and she's buying houses and painting her walls pink. Awesome and I'm super-jealous. </p> <p>Question. How do you know if you are entrepreneurial material? I've never gone out on my own 100%, but I've always had side-jobs and I know I work a lot better and more efficiently as a one-woman show. Every job I've had with some degree of autonomy has given me a rush and feeling of purpose. The biggest problem is that I have a low threshold for instability - without an idea of income and cash flows I get freaked out.</p> * * * * * * * <I>Milena, I think you've already answered your question yourself. You want a job with autonomy and purpose and steady cash flow. I think you can get that from a good corporate job. --Penelope</i> All I can say about Whateverlife is…seriously?
She lives in my own backyard - Detroit, MI - which is suffering from an economic recession and she’s buying houses and painting her walls pink. Awesome and I’m super-jealous.

Question. How do you know if you are entrepreneurial material? I’ve never gone out on my own 100%, but I’ve always had side-jobs and I know I work a lot better and more efficiently as a one-woman show. Every job I’ve had with some degree of autonomy has given me a rush and feeling of purpose. The biggest problem is that I have a low threshold for instability - without an idea of income and cash flows I get freaked out.

* * * * * * *
Milena, I think you’ve already answered your question yourself. You want a job with autonomy and purpose and steady cash flow. I think you can get that from a good corporate job.

–Penelope

]]> By: Kosta Kontos http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135395 Kosta Kontos Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:12:54 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135395 @John Take a look at the open source database system called <a href="http://www.postgresql.org" rel="nofollow">PostgreSQL</a>. It is one of the most advanced relational database platforms in use today, and thanks to its flexible licensing, _nobody_ owns it. And what nobody owns, nobody else can buy. Perhaps this truly open source movement (none of that MySQL GPL nonsense) will be the turning-point. Personally, I'm quite optimistic about this business cycle. @John

Take a look at the open source database system called PostgreSQL. It is one of the most advanced relational database platforms in use today, and thanks to its flexible licensing, _nobody_ owns it.

And what nobody owns, nobody else can buy.

Perhaps this truly open source movement (none of that MySQL GPL nonsense) will be the turning-point. Personally, I’m quite optimistic about this business cycle.

]]> By: John http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135379 John Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:20:02 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/02/06/leverage-the-entrepreneurship-boom-to-make-your-corporate-job-better/#comment-135379 > The future media giants will be born from > these sites that launch now and secure their > following as they build. The days of owning > multi newspapers and other media sources will > be replaced by those of us who can control > readership and listenership right here on the > web. I keep hearing this, but don't see it. When these web sites become hot enough, conglomerates will buy them. A few independent types will hold off, but most will cash in their chips. Big businesses have resources no "web entrepreneur" in a spare bedroom can match. If you look at computer magazine articles just after the home computer debuted in the late 70s-early 80s, they whistled this same tune. Didn't happen. Or it did briefly, but the small companies grew big and corporate or were swallowed if they refused. No one's shown me yet why this business cycle will be any different. > The future media giants will be born from
> these sites that launch now and secure their
> following as they build. The days of owning
> multi newspapers and other media sources will
> be replaced by those of us who can control
> readership and listenership right here on the
> web.

I keep hearing this, but don’t see it. When these web sites become hot enough, conglomerates will buy them. A few independent types will hold off, but most will cash in their chips. Big businesses have resources no “web entrepreneur” in a spare bedroom can match.

If you look at computer magazine articles just after the home computer debuted in the late 70s-early 80s, they whistled this same tune. Didn’t happen. Or it did briefly, but the small companies grew big and corporate or were swallowed if they refused. No one’s shown me yet why this business cycle will be any different.

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