Entrepreneur and businessman are not synonymous. Despite the confusion that people often make between these terms, the difference is substantial. In general, being a businessman is a profession, while being an entrepreneur is a behavior, a way of seeing and placing yourself in the world.
The business consultant of GoGetter Consulting, Priscilla Mannis, explained that “the main difference between entrepreneur and businessman is the ability to transform a purpose/idea into a business, despite the various difficulties faced at the beginning of the venture. The entrepreneur is guided by purpose, by idea, by solving a problem, and by innovation. The businessman is focused on continuing the business”.
See more characteristics of each profile:
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurial people are able to identify problems and opportunities, develop solutions and invest resources in creating something that has a positive impact on society, even if there are risks involved.
This does not mean, however, that this person has a business of his own. Entrepreneurs have entrepreneurial behavior on a daily basis, regardless of the activity they perform.
With high market competition, companies have valued professionals with an entrepreneurial profile. Mannis pointed that “the amount of transformations the market has been experiencing each year and the speed that they occur, I believe that the profile with the greatest demand is entrepreneur because it is a professional who will be constantly seeking new challenges and solving problems”.
Developing an entrepreneurial mindset, even for today’s businessman, is a matter of survival in the market, which is increasingly fluid and constantly changing – there are innovations per minute!”.
Some common characteristics in entrepreneurs:
- Knowledge and taste for doing what they do;
- They see opportunities and are always looking for something new;
- They have interpersonal skills;
- They have vision of the future.
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Businessman
Businessmen, on the other hand, can also be entrepreneurs, but their skills are usually focused on profits and the perpetuation of the business.
Most businessmen choose to run their businesses in a traditional and conservative way, without major innovations and risks, unlike entrepreneurs.
Some common characteristics in businessmen:
- They know how to manage company’s resources;
- Ability to adapt to changing market scenarios;
- Knowledge of administration and people management techniques;
- Leadership spirit to collaborate with development and results.
Putting forces together
Knowing these two profiles, it is easy to understand that the combination of them can be a solution for your business. The union of forces gives the company more possibilities to stand out, since it is recognized as innovative and creative, and it is able to keep its processes running efficiently.
This balance of forces can be developed within the same person. While it is essential for entrepreneurs to seek knowledge about business management, for businessmen it is important to look for inspiration in creative and innovative projects and practice.
The consultant explains that the best way to balance both forces is “knowing how to apply them in strategic moments of the business. At the beginning, for example, the ideal is to focus on the entrepreneurial mindset. After the launch period, there will be a time of accommodation when it may be more appropriate to focus on the businessman mindset to stabilize and solidify the business”.
If we observe carefully, inspirations to do different and to make a difference are everywhere.
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