"I want to master Entrepreneurship!!"
The first word that came to my mind to describe this bizarre marriage of words was - "Oxymoron."
Entrepreneurship is a word that depicts a state of mind. There are tons of definitions of entrepreneurs: insatiable characters, adrenaline addicts, successful, inspiring, bizarre, flawed, brilliant, anti-risk- adverse. No matter how you describe them, entrepreneurs are unequivocally; a different breed.
In order to master a craft, you need to practice repetitively, learn from those who have gone before you, be aware of (if not abide by at times) the rules, follow some patterns and sometimes make your own, but always optimistically assume a planned outcome.
In sport, dance and synchronized arts, there is an old aged rule book that has been referenced and mastered by those in which partake.
Music lessons teach us the chords, the key strokes, the lyrics. In sport, we learn the plays, the rules and the fouls. In dance we learn the choreography, the technique and performance.
In all of these examples, the act of Entrepreneurship would be related to as 'free styling.'
Entrepreneurs have no rule book, no rule of thumb, no proven step by step manual. There is no paint by numbers option. Entrepreneurship is an instinct, an intuition, a decisiveness. and an unshakable belief in an at-that-moment; unproven vision.
Indeed, many fall into Entrepreneurship without realizing what this sporadic lifestyle involves.
This 'role' is one that embodies an inordinate amount of oneself. I can concur that there is no off switch. There are no set hours. You are your business and your business is you.
Work life balance? Sure, after you have mastered the art of rejection, failure, success, leadership, delegation, trust, agility, vulnerability, tenacity, redemption and some more rejection.
Then you need to become a visionary, an innovator, a marketing maven, acquire acute senses and then of course a proven success.
Somewhere in between this amalgamation of brilliance, stupidity and chaos, you can attempt to find a work life balance!
Circling back to the initial statement that influenced this post, the words 'master' and 'mastering' ruffle me a little. When does one truly master anything? We can only improve by means of deliberate practice; a term that Geoff Colvin references in his book 'Talent is Overrated'. But even then, there is no such thing as pinnacle triumph. Inertia is a death sentence. Thus, we always need to strive for continued evolution.
Otherwise, what now?
An Entrepreneur doesn't ask "What Now?", they ask "What Next?"
Malcolm Gladwell also struck a chord with me in his book 'Outliers' where he states that in order to become an expert at ones craft, it takes at least 10,000 hours of physical practice accompanied by constant manifestation and visualization. I believe this notion wholeheartedly. Except, the theory alters a little in the world of Entrepreneurship You see, we may be able to become an expert at our chosen craft, but we can never master or perfect a constantly evolving and improving skill set.
And let's face it, who would want to.
~ Victoria Louise Rabin