Define Entrepreneur

[jerkyguy]

Hi everyone. I am sorta of new here. I have been reading for a while but decided it was time to register and put my two cents in where I felt it could be a benefit.

Define Entrepreneur....American Heritage Dictionary defines it as such: A person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a business venture.

With this definition could a person who is a distributor or representative or affiliate not be considered an entrepreneur? You are assuming risk and you are operating a business venture.

The reason I write this is because I saw a post earlier that stated those of us involved in network marketing are not necessarily entrepreneurs and I whole heartedly disagree. You do actually have to run a "business" if you want to be successful.

Anyway, there are the two cents I warned you about.

Good luck and much success to you all.

Scott

[radreality]

You stated "American Heritage Dictionary defines it as such: A person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a business venture".

"organizes, operates, AND assumes the risk"

according to that definition, network marketing would not qualify as entrepreneurship because you don't assume the risk of the company.


Another definition out of the diction I have is: "One who undertakes to start and conduct an enterprise or business, assuming full control and risk."

Network Marketing doesn't qualify under that definition either, because you don't start the company nor do you take full control and risk of it.


The whole idea behind someone "having their own business" in network marketing is a psychological ploy to make people feel good about themselves for owning a business, to increase that companies membership.

Do you have a business license?
Do you report taxes under a business name? (not a schedule C attached to your 1040)
Does your business have a tax id? (not using your own personal ssn)

Is network marketing bad? no. It has done a lot of good for some people. It just depends on what you enjoy doing. Network marketing isn't for everyone, just like starting a real business isn't for everyone.

______________________________
Robert Falk
Business Developer / Investor
Self Help & Success Forum

[Xanifur]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrepreneur

[jerkyguy]

I disagree with the fact that you are not assuming risking with network marketing. You are in fact operating your own solo business. You are responsible for bringing in business, pay expenses, taxes, marketing, etc. Yes you are getting products and services from another company but you are in fact operating on your own.

Can you incorporate? Absolutely.

Can you use a tax ID instead of your SSN? Of course.

Do you have to? No.

But you are not required to for any business. If you start a website or sell items on ebay and you use a drop shipper to supply your products, are you not considered an entrepreneur? Of course you are.

I feel the same things apply to network marketing. You are not a W-2 employee of that company. If I have my own sole proprietorship and I do consulting and receive 1099s from various companies I do work for, does that disqualify me from being an entrepreneur?

I agree that some network marketing companies are bad and take advantage of members but so are some governments, some stores, some websites, some schools....there are bad apples in everything we do. But that doesn’t have to reflect on all companies in that field.

Again, just my humble opinion.

[Cole Taylor]

LOL a beef jerky MLM

[silversurfer]

I disagree with the fact that you are not assuming risking with network marketing. You are in fact operating your own solo business. ...

nope, you're a semi-unpaid employee. You're going to get a LOT of push-back from your definition and you know it. Keep trying if you want a flame war, but I don't see the value in fighting that kind of uphill battle.

[radreality]

I feel the same things apply to network marketing. You are not a W-2 employee of that company. If I have my own sole proprietorship and I do consulting and receive 1099s from various companies I do work for, does that disqualify me from being an entrepreneur?

The same arguement could be used for a lot of doctors and attorney's as well. And I doubt most people would consider them entrepreneurs; even though they have their own practice and have gone through more of the legal end of things that most network marketers.

I'm not bashing anyone.....Like what jerkyguy said, this is just my opinion. I've personally been on the network marketing side of things, and have seen some success, so I wouldn't consider my opinions coming from a "blinded" point of view.

______________________________
Robert Falk
Business Developer / Investor
Self Help & Success Forum

[sniping4dummies]

I think everybody here is debating on the premise that you have to define 'entrepreneur' with one of those 'official' definitions. Someone else wrote that definition, and I think a basis of entrepreneurship is that you write your own definitions?

I believe an entrepreneur is simply one who takes a carefully considered commercial individualist stance, and acts on it, through whatever means immediately procurable, for positive societal advancement. By that definition, an entrepreneur is anyone who can think for themselves, sell the fruits, and become successful.

I think 'entrepreneur' is one of those words like 'love.' We throw it around way too callously. I just think it should have a bit more reverence.

But hell, that's just my opinion =). I'm a classical liberal so I don't think anyone should have to follow any more rules than absolutely necessary.

[jerkyguy]

silversurfer, if having a discussion and expressing one's opinion openly and without malice is going to cause a flame war, then I think I need to find a new place to discuss my ideas.

radreality, i appreciate your opinion and you make good points, it is just different from mine. I personally think that a doctor or lawyer who has their own practice is absolutely an entrepreneur, by all definitions given here, but again, my opinion.

sniping4dummies - PERFECT, very well put! I don't think anything else needs to be said after your post.....although I just did.

Thanks for the discussion guys.

[silversurfer]

silversurfer, if having a discussion and expressing one's opinion openly and without malice is going to cause a flame war, then I think I need to find a new place to discuss my ideas.
...

it's not the place, it's the topic. If you're unaware that MLM scams cause major upheaval everywhere you go, then you were unaware. But you aren't unaware now.

[jerkyguy]

Are you saying all MLM are scams, that is a very narrow minded way of thinking. I will be the first to admit there are scams in MLM. There are also scams in affiliate marketing, and on eBay, and insurance, and banking, and in governments, and in religions.....
You can't fault an entire industry/group of people over what some do. Do I need to mention Worldcom, Enron, etc.....

[radreality]

I personally think that a doctor or lawyer who has their own practice is absolutely an entrepreneur, by all definitions given here, but again, my opinion.

I need to clarify what I said apparently. I said that doctors and lawyers are entrepreneurs. That they did even more things that would consider them entrepreneurs, compared to network marketers. BUT, generally, most people wouldn't consider them that. They are usually just considered high paid professionals.

______________________________
Robert Falk
Business Developer / Investor
Self Help & Success Forum