I have started one business in my career. It was a writing, editing, and translation services company I started with my wife. So it wasn’t a tech product or anything fancy. We both did this while working full time. And I did enjoy it: trying to get new business, looking after customers, creating a business plan, drafting a sales plan, dealing with invoices and making sure we got paid – I learned a lot. It lasted about 4 years. I preface that because I am going to write about intrapreneurship.
But first let me say something. There is a certain sexiness about entrepreneurship, and it’s been happening for the last 30 years or so. And I get it: developing a product, working for yourself, driving change, working at one pace – fast. And everyone seems to want to be one today. And that’s fine. But I want to defend “the traditional” enterprise, the everyday company.
I am an intrapreneur. And I’m proud of it!
Definitions of Being an Intrapreneur
There are various definitions of what being an intrapreneur means. Any search for it brings up a number of variations, including:
- A manager within a company who promotes innovative product development and marketing. (Note: I don’t believe you have to be a Manager, but you get the point.)
- Intrapreneurship is the act of behaving like an entrepreneur while working within an organization or company.
- Intrapreneurship is known as the practice of a corporate management style that integrates risk-taking and innovation approaches, as well as the reward and motivational techniques, that are more traditionally thought of as being the province of entrepreneurship.
The main difference between entrepreneur and intrapreneur is that an Intrapreneur is an employee, and an entrepreneur is free and the leader of the operation. That’s a loose definition, but you get my point.
The term “intrapreneur” wasn’t really used until it started to rise in the 1980s with a peak in the early 2000s, according to Google Trends, and there’s still a high rate of the term being used, but not as much as 20 years ago, according to Google search. But it pales in comparison when viewed against the term “entrepreneur.”
Why So Much Hate for the 9-to-5 Grind?
What I want to understand is why the “hate” on working for a company, or working for someone? You hear it a lot. The rigor of the 9-to-5, the monotony of it, working for a boss, not being able to control your salary, not working in a cool workspace that promotes collaboration, and on and on it goes.
But maybe these are people who hated their jobs when they worked “9-to-5?” Could that be true? (Also, 9-to-5 doesn’t totally exist anymore. Companies have become more flexible on start and end times, as the workforce has demanded that shift).
I love what I do. I get to lead Digital, Ecommerce, Marketing, and Branding for an apparel company. I get to work with talented people all day. I get to build a team, drive change, develop strategy, and work with unbelievable partners who are an extension of our team. So that entrepreneurial spirit people talk of? I believe I have loads of it; I just happen to work for a company that has been in business for over 40 years. And I believe there are many in similar roles – where they felt like they were an entrepreneur in a traditional “9-to-5” company. And I’m here to tell you – be proud of that.
All Successful Companies Have a Team Behind the Name
I think the world needs a good mix of both entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs. There exists no successful company that is a one-man or one-woman show. Apple, Tesla, Starbucks, Amazon – these companies all have thousands of employees working for them. It may have started with 1 genius’s idea, but it needed a team to develop and scale that growth.
Count me among the people who are very good at taking a product(s) or brand(s) and getting consumers to browse or consider or shop for it and hopefully love it and continue to shop it. Currently, I am better at taking products to market than creating them. It’s just a different skill set I have.
And I love what I do. And remember – you don’t need a specific title or need to be at a certain executive level to lead or drive change in your organization. And if you drive change, think outside the box, move quickly, and have confidence in your product in a “traditional” company, then you’re an intrapreneur, and you should embrace it.
Intrapreneurs can drive change too. There are millions of us. However, your company may not be letting you drive a whole lot. And that may be another issue. Maybe you have a boss, or a system that prefers slow, steady, comfort, and consistency, rather than someone who drives change and takes a risk now and then. If you’re not enabled or encouraged to drive or lead change, and you feel stifled, then you don’t need to start your own company necessarily, and become an entrepreneur. You just may be at the wrong company.
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