The entrepreneurial spirit, much like religious spirituality, defies easy definition through words alone. It’s a burning desire that smolders within, slow and profound. Some individuals have a clear sense of their aspirations right from the start, while for others, it’s a revelation that strikes like a hammer blow after a job loss or a significant life event. They awaken to the realization that toiling for the enrichment of others doesn’t align with their inner calling. They yearn to be their own masters, crafting their schedules, managing risks, and taking ownership of both their triumphs and their setbacks.
The aspiration to become an entrepreneur is universal, but, like faith, authentic entrepreneurship must withstand the test of time. In Hebrews 11:1, the Bible tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” These words resonate deeply in the world of business. As entrepreneurs, we commence our journeys with little more than a vision of what could be. Guided by faith, we invest in the dream of what might materialize. The unpredictable nature of life restricts our capacity to anticipate every obstacle that could potentially complicate, impede, or shatter our dreams. Interestingly, it is from these very obstacles that the true entrepreneurial spirit emerges.
Starting a business is something anyone can do, but sustaining it demands more than mere initiation. It’s our faith, our unwavering determination, and an intangible essence that is challenging to articulate that fortifies many of us, enabling us to persevere. The connection between entrepreneurship and faith is so intertwined that it often goes unnoticed or underestimated. In many respects, the entrepreneurial spirit is akin to a spiritual awakening, a realization that the world you once lived in, complacent and unquestioning, suddenly gains new dimensions and clarity. Instead of being a part of a queue, you comprehend for the first time that you are the queue itself, and you have sole control over its destination.
In simpler terms, it’s the profound sense of being “accountable for all yet beholden to none.”
