How To Be An Entrepreneur and Pick Up A Monthly Wage at The Same Time…
Do you ever get frustrated at work, feeling like your ‘voice’ isn’t heard and that you aren’t truly valued?
In an ideal world, you would own your own business, be your own boss, make your own decisions, and make a ‘real’ difference to society.
But that’s in an ideal world. Not this one.
The one you’re in right now is full of responsibility, and the fear to branch out on your own is far too great.
You need that monthly wage. Your NEED the security.
Well, what if I told you there was a way you could get the best of both worlds?
Would that perk your interest and stir your curiosity?
Because there is, and this is how…
Introducing The Next Big Thing… ‘Intrapreneurship’
Intrapreneurship is like having your cake and eating it.
In this article for Inc Magazine, Murray Newlands describes it as “a relatively recent concept that focuses on employees of a company that have many of the attributes of entrepreneurs. An intrapreneur is someone within a company that takes risks in an effort to solve a given problem.”
Wait, so Murray is trying to say there’s a way to be entrepreneur with the safety-net of a monthly wage?
Craziness, right?
Not at all.
In fact, more-and-more forward-thinking businesses are embracing this approach, because they value a creative mind. They don’t wish to keep their most talented minds in a bubble any longer.
This goes against the ‘old way’ that suppressed such initiative, innovation, and creativity for decades. Many of these old-school companies with old-school approaches feared such an approach.
They feared they would lose their most talented people.
The thing is, the opposite is true because most people only create their business due to frustrating work conditions (that treat them like a cog in a machine).
So for many people, intrapreneurship is an ideal solution that provides you:
- Job security…
- Freedom and creativity…
- Fulfilment at work…
- Personal growth and development…
- The confidence to try new things (and therefore make mistakes, fail, and learn)…
So, if you like the idea of having your cake and eating it, Intrapreneurship may be for you.
How To Become an Intrapreneur
Intrapreneurship isn’t for everyone.
Some people are born to start their own business and build an empire (they need to lead, not take direction from others).
Likewise, not everyone is born to be a business owner.
The risk, pressure, and everything else… it’s too much.
Maybe you are one of these, or maybe you like the idea of owning your own company one day, but you need more experience (and right now, you NEED that monthly wage that takes care of your family).
You are in luck!
You face opportunity like no other generation has, and diving into the world of intrapreneurship could help you fulfil your dreams and live your ‘one true’ life.
This is how to become an intrapreneur in three steps (no matter what your current job situation is)…
STEP 1: Pick The “Right” Company Who Will Value You
The most important question you must ask right now is:
Does my current employer embrace intraprenurship?
If the answer is yes, fantastic. You can move straight to Step Three.
But if your answer is no (and for the vast majority, it is), then you owe it to you and your family to find a company that values YOU.
Because let’s throw a little math at the situation:
- Each week you get 168 hours…
- On average, you work 50 of these (when you account for travel and email)…
- That’s 30% of your life at work…
- Which is 2,620 hours each year…
- And 104,832 hours over a forty-year career…
That’s a lot of hours, my friend.
If you’re doing something you love, it’s time well spent.
But if you spend the vast majority of this time:
- Unhappy…
- Feeling like your voice isn’t heard…
- Waiting for your next promotion that may or may not make you happy…
- Frustrated…
- Imagining a better ‘life’…
… well, what will the eighty-year-old version of you say?
So I will ask you that question again:
Does your current employer embrace intraprenurship?
If not, move on to the next step…
STEP 2: The Best Time For You To Begin Your Search Was Yesterday!
You should have begun this seach years ago, but the next best time to commit is right now.
The best bit about this is, you can become an intrapreneur starting today (as in, the moment you finish this post).
Because one of the fundamental traits of an intrapreneur is, they are proactive.
But when it comes to getting a job, most people are NOT proactive (not even slightly).
This is how it tends to go:
- ‘Company X’ needs a new employee, so they advertise the role…
- ‘Person Y’ wants this job, so completes an application…
- They then become part of the ‘process’…
- Where they go up against hundreds, thousands, or even tens-of-thousands of other people…
And would you like to know why ‘Person Y’ became part of that process?
Because they waited for permission.
They waited for ‘Company X’ to realise they needed a new worker.
They then waited until ‘Company X’ advertised this role.
But at this point, it feels like you need to win the lottery.
What if I told you there was another way, and all it requires is a proactive approach (that showcases your intrapreneurial talents)?
There is, and this is how:
#1: Highlight Five Companies You Would Like To Work For
Your first step is to highlight companies you would like to work for. You no longer have to settle for companies in your local area, as more businesses are hiring people on virtual contacts (meaning you can work from anywhere in the world).
In fact, this is a good indicator of which companies embrace intraprenurship, because those with no fixed location (including the likes of Buffer and Infinitus) tend to give their employees freedom and flexibility.
#2: Highlight One Person in Each Company To Speak To
Once you have highlighted a few businesses you would like to work for, it’s time to research ONE person you need to speak to.
This could be the founder, HR manager, or head of operations. Search their website and jump onto Linkedin, and find their details (name, email, and phone number).
#3: Come Up with 3 Pain-Points For Each Company (that you can fix)
You now have a list of people to connect with, but before you do you need to come up with some ideas.
Continue your research into each business and search for their pain-points.
These could centre around time, revenue, reach, or something specific to a single department (like email marketing).
For instance, let’s say one of the companies you’ve highlighted have a blog, but they only post intermediately. This is a potential pain-point, because it shows they don’t have the resources to write consistent content.
The question now is, how can you fix this for them?
#4: Share ONE Idea with Each Person You Highlighted
Once you have come up with a list of ideas for each company, reach out to your contact and share ONE idea.
Introduce yourself, sing their praises, and unleash your ONE big idea.
Don’t share the others yet. You can do that once you get on the phone with them.
#5: Persist Until You Get A Reply
Chances are, you won’t get an immediate response.
Don’t take it to heart. They are busy.
Your job is to persist and get creative, which is how you showcase your true intrapreneurial skills.
If you send an email, follow this up a week later.
Still no reply? Reach out to them on Twitter (or Linkedin, Facebook, etc…).
Still no answer? Get on the phone.
Think outside of the box and come up with new ways each week to speak to them (write a letter, send them a personalised gift, record a short video…).
Do what it takes until you get an answer and start a conversation.
All that’s left to do is…
#6: LEARN
Once you have connected with them, take it all on board.
Share your other ideas and listen to their feedback.
In short, LEARN!
You may not get the job offer, but part of the intrapreneurial process surrounds failing, making mistakes, and overcoming adversity.
This leads to your final step…
STEP 3: Commit To Becoming a “Forever Student” (Now & Always)
Would you like to know the biggest difference between an “intrapreneur” and an employee?
An intrapreneur NEVER stops learning (like an entrepreneur doesn’t).
As soon as you think you have ‘it’ figured out, something comes along and humbles you.
This is good, because it forces you to grow, evolve, and move with the times.
Don’t fight this; embrace it!
To be an intrapreneur is to embrace your mistakes and accept your failures (to learn from them).
Everything is a lesson. Everythings provides a chance to learn and grow.
An employee seeks validation, whereas an intrapreneur seeks growth and progression.
This means you will make mistakes and fail.
But all this proves is you’re growing (and you remain a student with much to learn).
This is What Happens Next…
Intraprenurship isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve made it this far it might suit you.
The only thing stopping you from taking that all-important first step is fear.
So right here, right now… commit to pushing your fear to one side.
You don’t have to quit your job. You don’t have to go-it on your own.
It all begins with:
- Step 1: Highlight 5 Companies You Would Like To Work For…
- Step 2: Highlight 1 Person Within Each of These Companies…
- Step 3: Come Up with 3 Ideas For Each…
- Step 4: Share ONE Idea with Your Contact…
- Step 5: Persist Until You Start a Conversation…
- Step 6: LEARN!
What do you say… is intrapreneurship for you?
