💡 Solutions Wanted
If you are a content creator, you aren't just a blogger, podcaster, or vlogger, you are an entrepreneur. Content marketing may be a new phenomenon, especially digital content, but entrepreneurship is as old as society, so it's worth reflecting on what this means for you personally, as you build. Michael Hyatt, defines an entrepreneur as someone who "solves a problem for a profit." That's a noble pursuit.
What Problems Are You Solving?
As an entrepreneur, every level of success requires a new level of solving problems, and making the world a better place. Solving problems with a profit is important, because profit is a sign that you have both picked the right problem to solve and that you've solved it in an efficient manner.
So, what problems are you solving as a creator, with this added clarity that you are an entrepreneur?
The Entrepreneur / Employee Gap
Some people think the difference between entrepreneurs and employees is simply whether or not they are self-employed, but in many ways that differentiator is irrelevant.
On some level, we are all self-employed because we choose what to do with our time and energy each moment of each day (although we may choose to follow someone else's preferences in exchange for resources to buy the food, shelter, and other things we want).
Some people say the difference between an entrepreneur and an employee is the level of risk they can handle. Entrepreneurs are seen as people who take risks in the hope of rewards. But what could be more risky than tying your entire livelihood to a single client, your employer? In an economy with mass layoffs in every industry, this becomes immediately clear that this is a risky approach.
The Source of Your Reward
So let's revisit our definition of an entrepreneur, "someone who solves a problem for a profit." Does that mean the difference lies in whether or not you solve a problem? No, as a matter of fact employees in every industry solve very important problems each day.
Instead, the primary fundamental difference between an employee and an entrepreneur lies in the payment, or reward. An employee is compensated for input, so they get a paycheck or hourly wage for their time and effort that is typically the same regardless of the outcome (or output) from their work. An entrepreneur is compensated for output. Profit, after all, is the reward for a job well done as measured in non-negotiable financial results.
Many entrepreneurs exist in the workplace, who are technically W-2 employees (in the US) but are compensated primarily based on sales, marketing, or profit results. Entrepreneurs solve a problem for a profit. That includes you. What problem will you solve today?
