And you know what..... I couldn't be happier. Well I would be happier if my last employer and I can see eye to eye on the subject of some money still owed to me - rather a large amount as it happens.
It is this disagreement again and the fact they didn't seem to see it as a problem that prompted my leaving, not the team I left, not the ideas that we had, not the speed of progress made, not the changing of the world or the changing of the seasons.
Yet, something deep inside me puzzled me about my leaving, so it was with interest that I read the below about entrepreneurship, as it might just be that I don't have a mental problem, it might just be a gene inside me, a gene, called the e gene.
Recent research by Amway has revealed that, to become a successful entrepreneur, you must be in possession of the 'e-gene', which is categorised by six different personality traits as identified by Chris Coleridge, an innovation researcher at the London School of Economics. And you see - I have several of them - if not all of them.... to an extent.
Recent research by Amway has revealed that, to become a successful entrepreneur, you must be in possession of the 'e-gene', which is categorised by six different personality traits as identified by Chris Coleridge, an innovation researcher at the London School of Economics. And you see - I have several of them - if not all of them.... to an extent.
The six traits of entrepreneurship are:
Difficult background - left on a doorstep when I was two, taken into two care homes, adopted by a loving family (of a different race and religion)
Minority/disadvantaged group - originally rather poor - mixed race - luckly adopted see above.
Disability - mild dyslexia (yes I couldn't spell that without spell check - why is that word so silly anyway! I also wear glasses (very strong ones) and I am a bit odd socially (great on stage but not in groups.)
Risk-lover and optimist - I would say the latter rather than the former, but looking back on it - not starting a career till 36 and always running my own businesses from 16 probably says "risk"
Independence and social distinction - fiercely so to the extent it has become a disability (see above) and what else motivates a man to write a blog like this :)
The need for achievement and power- again former rather than the latter. (See above see above)
However, an important distinction it that - power is something - I care not one jot for - and am a firm believer that power simply corrupts - the less of it in the hands of men the better (and I do mean men here not men as mankind.) The more power to the people rather than to man made bureaucracies (and again I mean man made not woman made.)
Coleridge argues that a combination of these six traits can be identified in all "successful" entrepreneurs. Which brings up the subject of success which creates another points. As many / most entrepreneurs are failures for a long time, some argue that it is that ability to be a failure in the eyes of the world and still love what you do, still continue, still work at it and become successful that is another characteristic (and even a necessary part of the process.)
But isn't this the same of all artists and creators? When looking into the "Over night success stories" from musicians to comedians you often see the magic 10 years and the irony of them being called over night successes. However, back to Coleridge's e-gene traits. According to the research, Richard Branson has four of the traits – disability, risk-lover and optimist, independence and social distinction, and need for achievement/power, whilst Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, possesses three - difficult background, minority/disadvantaged group, and independence and social distinction.
"Having researched entrepreneurs' personalities and traits, most of the successful possess an effectual logic – an approach to solving a problem that starts not with the desired end but with the available means, limiting the risk of failure," he adds.
Which pretty much sums me up.
And for the record I have all six traits - which cannot be healthy.
But not everyone agrees (which is good otherwise the world would be boring) as serial entrepreneur Jonathan Richards believes that an entrepreneurial mindset is the sum of all our experiences and it is not something that we are born with.
"An entrepreneur is created when an idea comes together with a person who is happy to balance creativity and management; understand, live with and manage risk; evangelise the idea in the face of negativity; and stay responsive and positive," he says.
However, if you see the six traits, less than half are you born with.
Former Dragons' Den judge and founder of School for Startups Doug Richard also believes that nobody is ‘born’ an entrepreneur and that entrepreneurship can most definitely be taught.
But he would as he teaches it. And very well might I add. Sometimes with my help.
What Doug says is...
"If you give a group of people a violin, certain people will have a natural ability of course, but that becomes irrelevant if everybody is given a chance to learn and practice. We all need to do exactly that in whatever we choose to do professionally or otherwise. Nobody can claim to be born an entrepreneur, and nobody wakes up one day with a successful business and brand. Hard work, mistakes and a determined attitude combined with the right support at the right time are the not-so-magic formula."
After reading the Outliners book and others it would seem that 10,000 hours should do the trick and then everyone would be entrepreneurs. The problem with this thinking is that some personality types, many of whom I have met now as I have had a job, simply wouldn't want to ever become a entrepreneur.
Perhaps entrepreneurship it is like greatness. Some are born great, some make themselves great and some lucky ones through clever marketing and PR have greatness thrust upon them! :)
Either way it is with the spirit of an entrepreneur I create my consultancy contract for working with a geo location mobile software specialist start up called Justaxi. They have a great technology, an eager investment team, some real pedigree in entrepreneurship on the board, a great culture and new team (lead by me) and an amazing £1 billion market to aim at.
I am going to do their marketing and business development, bringing in social and mobile, maybe even a bit of augmented reality, definitely some gamification for the app experience and loads of digital guerrilla marketing ... as a consultant at first.... but you never know I might let them employ me :)
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