Let’s start from some wisdom of Abraham Lincoln, proposed in 1859. He wrote:

A few men own capital. And that few avoid labour themselves. With their capital they hire or buy another few to work for them.

A large majority belongs to neither class – they own no capital, and neither work for others, nor have others work for them. Quite tough a state.

The prudent, penniless beginner, however, labours for a while, saves a surplus with which to buy tools or land for himself; then labours on his own account for some while more, and at length hires another to help him. This is the just and generous and prosperous system, which opens the way for all, gives hope to all, and energy, progress and improvement of condition to all.”

Then Tom Peters, in his book RE-IMAGINE! released about a decade ago, puts it like this:

Suppose you are the Finance Controller for a 1,200–people company. Twenty eight people report to you. Your high qualification and strong experience got you the position.

Here is my question. What difference is there between you and the head of the 23-person David Jones & Associates, the finance advisory, audit and tax consultancy having an office on the other side of the street from you?

If you don’t see the difference I do see at least one, and a big one at that, and here it is: At the end of the month, the Managing Partner of that David Jones & Associates calls in cheques on all invoices his company has sent out to clients. The external clients pay, because he and his Associates have provided services of value to them.

As for you, Finance Controller, what would happen if you sent your invoices to your internal clients? After all you too provide equally valuable services in same areas as David Jones & Associates specialize in. How do you suppose your internal clients would then respond?

Further more, in strategy sessions, your division falls into ‘Cost Centre’. You yourself are an ‘Overhead’.

How about if you cut the crap. Promote yourself to a Managing Partner before the new computerization project gets in soft wares that take over your job!

Entrepreneurs are simply people who, as individuals, have started or acquired businesses which keep growing or altering to a point where they are cashing in on the rewards.

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